Novel farm tourism initiative PAADI gets rolling in Ezhikkara

Kochi: Ernakulam district tourism promotion council (DTPC) in tie up with Palliyakal Cooperative Bank Society (PSCB) launched ‘PAADI’, a unique farm tourism initiative that is turning the historic Pokkali farms of Ezhikkara in North Paravur into memorable experiential tourism destinations.The initiative was officially set in motion on Thursday when district collector Priyanka G, IAS, inaugurated the ‘Sowing Fest’, the first phase of PAADI. The ceremony also marked sowing of Pokkali seeds and distribution of seeds to local farmers for growing fruits and vegetables ahead of Onam festival.“At its core, PAADI aims to empower local agriculturists while showcasing Kerala’s rich rural heritage. Visitors experience real-time farming activities, from the recent sowing phase to manuring, and eventually the reaping in Sept-Oct, followed by live fishing in the winter.

It’s a round-the-year village tourism experience for tourists,” said Lijo Joseph, DTPC secretary.“The local farmer can be empowered through tourism mode. To ensure the community remains the primary beneficiary, 70% of the project’s net profits will be distributed directly to participating farmers and local stakeholders,” said PSCB president A C Shan.Instead of staying at typical resorts, the tourists will have the rare opportunity to spend an entire day on Pokkali farms.

The visitors will receive a tech-driven, immersive guiding experience throughout the village tour.“We are providing audio-guide assistance for the guests. When they reach the site, it automatically enables GPS on their mobiles, triggering location-specific insights as they move from the interpretation centre to the fields,” Joseph explained.Pokkali is a prestigious, GI-tagged, climate-resilient, and completely organic rice variety cultivated through a unique bio-farming cycle.

For six months, rice is grown; for the next six months, the fields host prawn and crab farming. The leftovers of each cycle naturally manure and sustain the next.Because a single visit cannot capture this entire cycle, PAADI maps the journey through a curated narrative called the ‘Story of Grain’, supplemented by video documentation of the missing seasons. The year-round experience transitions smoothly across distinct stages.During the village tour, the visitors can try traditional skills like coconut leaf thatching and cooking authentic regional dishes.“The guests will be exploring the village using a blend of cycling trails, traditional tuk-tuks, and peaceful canoe rides down local waterways. The day culminates in a sumptuous traditional Kerala Sadhya, served right at a farmer’s house using fresh, locally cultivated ingredients,” Joseph added.Fully implemented over the next two to three months in the chief minister’s constituency, PAADI is poised to become a benchmark for cooperative societies across Kerala, proving that tourism can successfully protect indigenous farming while directly enriching the hands that feed us, he said.