Hello, hello, Prinson repeats. Chikoo doesn't seem interested in greeting him back. All her attention is on Prinson’s shirt, she keeps pecking the collars. There is a lot of love in the room. Prinson hugs her tight. Knowing that she is in no mood to talk, he leaves her alone. The blue and gold macaw goes back to its branch, attracting curious visitors dropping in scores at a time. The Agricultural & Aqua Pets Breeders and Traders Association (AAPBAT) has put up an exhibition of rare breeds of plants and animals, called Noah's Ark, at the Marine Drive ground in Kochi. Prinson is the coordinator and Chikoo his pet.
“All the exhibits are from various farmers,” Prinson says, showing a variety of tapiocas. “It is to take their products to the public that we put up the exhibition.” Behind the many rare varieties is the photo of K.V. Raghu, a man who has produced many of the kappas exhibited. Then there is Reji Jose with his chenas (yam). “The idea is to show that all these rare varieties are produced in India, none of these are from outside the country,” Prinson says.
There is everything from Wayanadan kachil to fruits like Sooryanam cherry, hybrid papaya, 30 to 35 varieties of mango, 10 varieties each of ginger and tamarind. “Chengazhaneer Kizhangu that you see is believed to be there only with the tribal people, and nearly extinct.”
The birds at the exhibition are mostly fancy, exotic ones. There’s the scarlet macaw, the rainbow lorikeet, yellow-bibbed lory and of course Prinson's Chikoo. “These are all birds which are allowed to be kept as pets. A lot of the time, without knowing the law, people adopt animals or birds which are not supposed to be taken as pets.”
After the birds are a row of rare fruit plants and indoor plants. Like Miracle Fruit, the taste of which lingers in your mouth four to five hours after consuming it. There is Israel Green, Padavalam, Nam Doc Mai, Rose Varikkai, black cashew apple and variegated guava. “Which means this guava has green and white colours.” There are flowering plants too. There are also sales of seeds and a jackfruit fest.
The exhibition is on from 11 am to 8.30 pm till May 2.
