Demand to give world heritage status to Pokkali fields

The government appointed committee, which submitted its report to Minister for Port K Babu today, said acreage of such fields in the state have come down drastically and it was on the verge of extinction.

The Pokkali fields which span over 24,000 hectares in Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Thrissur districts, have now been reduced to just 5,000 hectares, it said

The committee had been asked to submit its recommendation on Pokkali Agriculture Policy,

The special feature of Pokkali fields is that besides rice, fish and shrimp farming is also carried out. Rice harvested here is a unique saline tolerant variety, considered very nutritious and also having medicinal properties.

Among other recommendations, the committee said Pokkali farmers be given Geographical Indicator Certificate and Plant Gentry Community Award.

To keep Pokkali fields free from pollution, it suggested introduction of the 'polluter pays Principle'. For marketing Pokkali rice, a special Pokkali Park should be set up,it said.

It also wanted the State Civil Supplies Corporation to procure Pokkali rice with a floor price of Rs 50 per kg and new farming technology to be introduced by deploying Mini Tractor, Floating Harvesting Machine. The state government should ask the Kerala Agro Industrial Corporation for these machines suitable for Pokkali fields, it said.