Pokkali rice

The pokkali variety is known for its saltwater resistance and ability to flourish in the paddy fields of coastal districts of Kerala.
The uniqueness of the rice has brought it the Geographical Indication (GI) tag and is the subject of continuing research.
Now, Sundarbans farmers are planning to use pokkali seeds as about 80% of the rice paddies in the Sundarbans faced the problem of saltwater incursion.
Five kilos of Vyttila¬11 variety of pokkali seedlings were sent to Sunderbans.
Vyttila¬11 is the latest variety to come out of Kerala Agricultural University.
Vyttila¬11 promises better yield of about 5 tonnes per hectare than the previous varieties, and is crossed with the Jyoti variety of rice popular in Kerala. The crop duration is about 110 days.