Pokkali Farming System Transition and Socio-ecological Sustainability

AbstractThe decline in indigenous farming systems worldwide poses a critique of the sustainability of socio-ecological systems. In this context, the study explored the transition of the indigenous Pokkali farming system (PFS) practised in the saline coastal wetlands of Kerala. A single-site case study method was selected for Ezhikkara Pachayath in the Ernakulam district of Kerala. Extensive fieldwork was conducted in Ezhikkara and primary data were collected through individual in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with various stakeholders, utilizing a purposive sampling design. The findings revealed that despite having potential for achieving multiple SDGs, Pokkali farming in Ezhikkara is declining due to adverse social, economic, ecological, and policy-related externalities. Anthropogenic activities hurt the ecosystem, posing multifaceted socio-ecological challenges to local communities. The study highlights the transition in PFS in Kerala and its implications for socio-ecological sustainability in Kerala. A paradigm shift is necessary for a practice rooted in ecological justice that enhances the socioecological well-being of the community and the natural ecosystems, which sustains and supports us all.