Kerala’s Heritage Organic Pokkali Rice
The name Pokkali comes from the height of the paddy. It grows to around 1.5 meters. In Malayalam, Pokkam implies height and Aali implies plant. This is exceptional Kerala’s Heritage Organic Pokkali rice.
Remarkably, it is also amongst the oldest known crops grown by organic farming methodologies in the world.
Origin of Pokkali
The interesting history of Pokkali rice dates to a great flood. The seeds of this abundant grain washed down from the Western Ghats. They nestled in the low-lying saline plains. There it has developed as a solid challenger versus the ravages of nature.
The rice nourished the villages that lived amicably with Pokkali farming. It is the oldest type of rice in Kerala. The state has a practice of at least 3000 years in rice farming.
Pokkali Rice was packed in muslin bags
The Speciality of Pokkali rice?
Pokkali is a distinctive saline tolerant rice type. It is nurtured organically in the water-logged seaside regions of Ernakulam, Alappuzha, and Thrissur districts. The organically cultivated Pokkali is renowned for its unusual taste and high protein level.
What Exactly is rice fish culture?
Pokkali is an ancient cultivation method. A rice-fish method is a unique polyculture practice that combines rice agriculture with aquaculture. Usually, it is freshwater fish. The farming tradition of the Pokkali rice-prawn system is considerably distinct from usual wetland paddy farming. Drifting water in and out of the fields through high tide and low tide situations is believed to be the foremost difference between the two systems.
Kerala’s Heritage Organic Pokkali Rice
It is centered on a jointly advantageous interdependent correlation between rice and fish that is created when established in an identical environment. Intriguingly, one season of rice farming is interspersed with another season of prawn culture. The prawn seedlings swim in from the sea and the backwater after the rice is reaped. The prawns feed on the remnants of the Pokkali stems while the prawn shell wastes nurture the paddy. Rice cultivation is for seven months while aquaculture takes five months.
Pokkali is Organic Rice
The current era of organic agriculture is getting social, political, and scientific acknowledgment for its impact on sustainable farming. Boosting rice production from a genuinely organic farming system like Pokkali rice lands, which is an abiotic troublesome area, is crucial to realize the sea change in rice farming.
Kerala’s Heritage Organic Pokkali Rice- Unique Merging with Prawn Culture
Merging organic rice with organic freshwater prawn culture in paddy fields as rotational crops attained more net revenue than the mixture of traditional rice versus conventional prawn production. This clearly proves the potential for organic farming.
The prawns feed on the decayed Pokkali stems while the prawn shell wastes nurture the paddy.
Kerala’s Heritage Organic Pokkali Rice
The Sea level is soaring around the world and the rice strains that can flourish in both saline and fresh waters have fantastic potential. Large-scale cultivation should be advocated. It is said Pokkali can give Basmati, stiff competition when it comes to taste. Organic is the future and that’s where Pokkali rice steps in.
Dosa I made with Pokkali Rice
Read more of my travel blogs. Srinagar Travelogue Part I and Travelogue on Kashmir | Doodhpathri and CauseAChatter Blogs Andhra style Moringa leaves stir fry, Teaching Grandchildren how to garden, How to grow marigolds from dry flowers, How to Grow Microgreens at home, From Garden to Table| Mango Ginger Preserve, Natural way to get rid of garden pests, From Garden to table-Ajwain ke pakode
‘This post is part of Blogchatter’s CauseAChatter’
@wordsmithkaur
@wordsmithkaur
Never heard about Pokkali Rice. So far, Basmati is supposed to be one of the most flavorful and aromatic rice. But good to know about Pokkali Rice. If get a chance, would like to give it a try sometime.
Honestly dear, this was a new info to me. I had never heard about pokkli rice and fish rice culture before. learnt a lot about it with your post. as you said rightly that organic is the future, so I am sure pokkli rice will get immense popularity in future.
If rice and aquaculture can go together,then that’s wonderful.I haven’t heard of this rice ,but the idea seems robust enough.
I am so glad to read about the goodness of Pokkali rice. Shall try to get my hands on this protein-rich variety and make something healthy for the family.
Interesting to read about the rice fish culture. I’m not sure if I have had this rice but I’m sure I’ve had and not known the name of it. Should check.
Wow this is something new I have learnt today. Haven’t heard of Pokkli rice before as it is organic it appeals to me and would love to give it a try.
I’ve never heard of this variety at all. Completely new but your post gave me all. Details about pokkali. Will definitely look for it next time when I go for grocery shopping. Maybe can try replacing basmati with this for a briyani
I didn’t know about this rice at all and the unique way it is cultivated. I am sure it’s nutritive value would be par excellence too.
Interesting. i did not know about this rice or about aqua culture – it is so good to have a multi utility kind of approach.
i have not even tried this rice, or heard of it. organic is definitely the future as people grow more aware..
This is super original and new information for me. the rice looks like brown rice. you have shared all the details from cultivation to the final product.
The history and the process of the Pokkali rice made me eager to have it soon. With Pokkali rice benefits I am sure soon people will start having it.
I had no idea about such kind of rice . Pokhali rice and fish rice culture both are new things for me and I am so excited to try out .
This was completely new to me. I’ve never before read or heard about Pokkalli rice when half of my extended family come from kerela. It was indeed an interesting read.
Good to know all these things.