Tour Description: Pokkali farming is a unique community-based initiative to preserve and conserve a one of its kind, the saline-tolerant strain of rice, threatened by extinction. In a stunning backwater setting, this tour gives an opportunity to understand one of the oldest known crops cultivated through a symbiotic farming tradition involving rice and prawn culture. Pokkali is known for its tolerance to salinity and hence positioned as a climate change-resistant food.

To reach the Pokkali backwaters area, we will join the locals as they take the ferry from Kochi to Vypeen. From there, it is an hour's drive.

• Local ferry ride
• Visit to the village Agri-Service centre, and walk through the village
• Farm visit and interaction with a farmer who sustains the tradition against many constraints
• Thoni (country boat) ride in the scenic backwaters, seeing daily life in the area
• Interactive cooking and lunch with the women of the village.

You will be accompanied by a trained story-teller fluent in English and will come back with a deeper understanding, not only of the ecology of the region but also of Kerala's inspiring community-based self-help groups and co-operative bank movements.