News: Farmers in West Bengal are experimenting with the pokkali variety of rice to tide over a crisis-like situation created by severe seawater incursion into paddy fields in the Sundarbans.
Facts:
- Pokkali: It is a unique variety of rice known for its saltwater resistance and is cultivated in the districts of Alappuzha, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts of Kerala.
- GI Tag: The brand Pokkali has received a GI tag from the Geographical Indications Registry Office,Chennai.
- Vyttila-11: It is the latest variety of pokkali developed by the Kerala Agricultural University.