Lok Sabha Question No. 586 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-03
Subject: Integrated Paddy-Fish Farming in Pokkali Fields
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Dr. Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 586 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03 FEBRUARY, 2026

## Integrated Paddy-Fish Farming in Pokkali Fields

## 586. Dr. Shashi Tharoor:

Will  the  Minister  of FISHERIES,  ANIMAL  HUSBANDRY  AND  DAIRYING be pleased to state: (a) whether it is true that a proposal has been mooted to permit year-round integrated paddy fish farming in the traditional Pokkali fields of Kerala, departing from the existing seasonal cultivation cycle; (b) whether the Government has commissioned or approved any scientific, environmental or agronomic study to assess the feasibility, sustainability and ecological impact of such year-round farming; (c) if so, the institution(s) involved, scope of the study, timelines and funding provided; (d) whether the Government has examined potential risks to the Pokkali ecosystem, soil salinity balance, biodiversity and long-term productivity; and (e) whether the Government will take any policy decision only after placing such scientific findings  in  the  public  domain  and  consulting  local  farming  communities and  if  so,  the

- details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

(a)   Pokkali is a salt tolerant variety of rice grown in the coastal saline soils of Kerala. Pokkali cultivation  has  been  evolved  through  ages  by  the farmers of  the  area for  the maximum utilization  of  available  resources  without  affecting  the  ecosystem.  After  the paddy cultivation, the fields are used for prawn/fish cultivation. In more than 90 percent of single cropped lands, rice cultivation is done during the low saline phase from MayJune to September -October. Due to hike in labour cost, agriculture is not being practiced in many fields. A detailed survey of such fields where agriculture is not being practiced and the land is suitable for fish/ prawn farming have been done in Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kannur districts. As of now, no proposal has been received from the  State  Government  for  year-round  integrated  paddy-fish  farming  in  Pokkali  fields, departing from existing seasonal cultivation cycle.

(b) to (e):  As informed by the Government of Kerala, a combined survey has been done by the officials of Department of Fisheries, Department of Agriculture and the Local Self Government Department (LSGD) to identify fallow areas suitable for aquaculture, where the paddy farming is not being done for more than three decades. No other scientific, environmental or agronomic studies have been made by the Department of Fisheries, Government  of  Kerala  in  this  regard.  No  proposals  received  by  this  Department  for permitting  year-round  integrated  paddy  fish  farming  in  the  traditional  Pokkali  fields  of Kerala. However, based on the representations received from Kerala in August, 2025, a team of experts from the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute  (CMFRI),  ICAR-Central Institute  of  Brackishwater Aquaculture  (CIBA),  and  the  National  Fisheries  Development  Board  (NFDB)  have conducted  field  visits  to  study  the  challenges  being  faced  by  the  paddy  farmers  and potential  integration  of  aquaculture  in  the  rice  fields  of  Kuttanad  Agroecosystem.  The Department of Fisheries, GoI is implementing Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)  in  all  States  and  Union  Territories  including  Kerala.  Under  the  PMMSY assistance is provided towards various fisheries related activities including input support towards  integrated  fish  farming  (paddy  cum  fish  cultivation,  livestock  cum  fish,  etc.). During  last  six  years,  Department  has  approved  fisheries  developmental  proposal submitted by Government of Kerala worth Rs. 1418.51 crore for development of various fisheries activities in the State.

*****