Panels to monitor adherence to annual pokkali rice and fish cycle

District and taluk-level committees to monitor adherence to annual pokkali rice and fish cycle amid farmer complaints of flooding.

District and taluk-level monitoring committees will be constituted soon to monitor adherence to the annual pokkali rice and fish cycle, District Collector N.S.K. Umesh, who is also the chairman of the Pokkali Land Development Agency (PLDA), has said. The move comes in the wake of complaints from farmers that the coastal paddy fields have not yet been drained in preparation for sowing ahead of the rainy season.

“The two-level panel will monitor adherence to the annual pokkali rice and fish cycle, control the saline water flooding of the fields, and issue appropriate directions,” said a communication from the PLDA.

Farmers under the Pokkali Samrakshana Samithi had complained to the district authorities and PLDA that pokkali fields at Maruvakkad paddy collective in Chellanam panchayat continued to be flooded with saline water, putting rice cultivation at risk.

“Though the Collector ordered the fields to be drained by April 15, no action was taken. This has jeopardised the cultivation of the unique rice variety as the pokkali fields should be drained for ploughing before sowing begins with the monsoon rains,” said Francis Kalathunkal of the samithi.

Farmers said saline water flooding on 425 acres of Maruvakkad fields has also affected residents due to seepage. The committees at the taluk level will be headed by the tehsildar, and the Fort Kochi Sub-Collector will monitor the coordinated efforts across the district.