Arundhati Roy’s Aymanam: A charming fish farm here attracts global tourists

At a time when many paddy fields, tracts of land and homesteads paint a picture of neglect in Kerala, Kottayam-native George John is treading a unique path in tapping the tourism potential of fish farm, adventure sports and farm stay at his private property. George, also known as Johny Moose, hailing from Aymanam, a quaint hamlet that became popular through Arundhathi Roy’s Booker Prize-winning novel ‘The God of Small Things’, does fish farming in a water-filled land near his house. Moose, who got the 2013 Best Fish Farmer award instituted by the State Fisheries Department, became aware of the marketing prospects of farm tourism when many people started participating in harvesting of fish at his more than five-acre fish farm.
And that’s when Moose put in place adequate facilities for visitors to walk around the fish farm, catch fish and cook fish-centric dishes. Slowly but surely, tourists visiting the sought-after Kumarakom tourist center nearby showed keen interest in ‘Johny Moose Backwater Farm’, and the facility grew into a worthy business entity in farm tourism. 

After taking voluntary retirement from ‘New India Assurance’, George, who was into agriculture and related activities, built two cottages for tourists on his house premises. ‘Ullasakottaram’, which was constructed as a get-together space for George and his friends, was first converted into a cottage after providing requisite accommodation facilities. Another cottage by the name of ‘Sallapakoodu’ near the pond was completed last year.  A hall with related amenities named ‘Nomad Kadavu’, is being built for tourists coming in groups on one side of the farmland near the Meenachil River. The cottages come with a bedroom, drawing room, verandah, toilet, air-conditioning and other facilities. They also have a refrigerator, microwave oven, induction cooker and electric kettle. 

Angling fun 
George has listed the facilities available at his backwater farm on websites such as Booking.com and Airbnb. The first guests, who arrived from the UK, reserved the cottages through Airbnb in 2018. George says that the cottages, which are rented out for Rs 3,000-Rs 5,000, are occupied every other day throughout the year. 

Moreover, many famous personalities of Kottayam along with their families visit the farm on holidays for angling and other activities. Farm visits are free with an eye on sale of the fish caught. As the visitors itself catch fish from the waters, they don’t mind paying a premium price for the fish caught by them, George points out. A kilogram of ‘tilapia’ fish costs Rs 250. As per request, arrangements will be made for the visitors to cook fish at the farm. 

The facility is nature-friendly, and there is no other building apart from the spick and span cottages and toilets, he adds. Fish farming had been scaled up, and fishing nets and rods made available for the visitors to catch fish. The tourists can also indulge in kayaking, stand-up paddling and cycling, which are done under the guidance of an adventure tourism company. In a bid not to meddle with nature’s offering, George desisted from building a swimming pool or laying tiles around the cottages. “People who want to have a first-hand experience of farming in the tropical climate are not expecting any artificiality. They want unadulterated farming. Cleanliness is prioritised, and the visitors are served less spicy traditional food. It’s better to avoid luxury and artificiality in the farm,” George notes.  

What keeps George going in fish farming is its immense tourism potential. The farm has a stock of 40,000 tilapia fish, and the fish are kept in small tanks after harvesting to sell them off to visitors. Fish farming can be profitable only if the fish are sold periodically, he adds. Plans are anvil to rear 30,000 pearl spot fish and around 10,000 nutters and tilapia fish in the next season. Moreover, George plans to cultivate ‘kalanji’ (sea bass) fish in cages, as well as ‘Assam vala’ (ribbon fish) and carp. Efforts are also to spruce up the amenities for tourists visiting the farm.