Chapter 3

Agrarian Economy and Farming Systems of Kerala

CHAPTER 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Sl. No. Title Page No.

3.1 Kerala Economy – An Overview 43

3.2 Agrarian Economy of Kerala 50

3.3 Farming Systems in Kerala 56

3.4 Kerala in a Nutshell 62

CHAPTER 3

AGRARIAN ECONOMY AND FARMING SYSTEMS

OF KERALA

The present chapter provides a bird’s eye view of Kerala, especially her

agrarian economy to perceive the regional and economic contexts in which the

study has been undertaken. The contents are presented under the following four

subheadings viz., (i) Kerala Economy – An Overview, (ii) Agrarian Economy of

Kerala, (iii) Farming Systems of Kerala and (iv) Kerala in a Nutshell.

3.1 Kerala Economy – An Overview

The Kerala state is walled off by the Western Ghats on the East and

Arabian sea on the West. The narrow strip of land with the maximum east-west

width of 120 kms and the minimum of 35 kms, stretches along the shore for a

distance of 650 kms with a total geographical area of 38,863 square km. The

geographic location of the state with mountains on the East made it slightly

isolated from the rest of the country. With the long seacoast, intense commercial

trade with foreign countries was possible since 3000 B.C.

The state is endowed lavishly with natural resources. It enjoys both south-

west and north-east monsoons. About 39,000 square km of coastal sea, 32,000

hectares of salty lakes, 65,200 hectares of brackish water, 44 rivers with 85,000

hectares and innumerable ponds, tanks etc. enhance Kerala’s potential for water

resources. In fact Kerala occupies five per cent of India’s total water potential.

There are 13 agroclimatic regions reflecting enriched biodiversity of the

state. The moderate tropical climate provides a healthy physical environment. The

human settlement pattern is unique with separate houses and home gardens.

Independent settlements contributed to personal cleanliness, maintenance of

hygiene and a unique ecosystem called homestead farming. These homegardens

provided subsistence food, fire wood, timber, cash income, habitat function,

43

aesthetic roles, recycling of family waste, rearing up of milch animals/poultry and

many other domestic functions to family. However the traditional homegardens at

present have come under great pressure from the dynamics of new agrarian

structure and shifts in cropping patterns, leading to erosion of generic resource

base, increased market dependence of the households and adverse impact on food

security.

3.1.1 Historical Legacy

Development experience of Kerala in the post-independent period can be

understood only if it is set in a historical perspective. The very intense commercial

trade with foreign countries enabled through the long sea coast from B.C. 3000

provided rare opportunity to the state for close interactions with different cultures

of the world from very early days of history. Reference of trade with Kerala can

be seen in the period of Moses, King Solomon (B.C. 1000), Herodotus (B.C. 483-

475), Periplus (A.D.I. Century), Pliny (A.D. 23-79) and Ptolemy (A.D. 126-161).

Jews came from Cyrus in the sixth century B.C. and Christians in the fourth

century A.D., both were accepted by Kerala kings with absolute freedom of

religion and offer of fabulous facilities. But the visit of Vasco de Gama in 1498 in

Calicut from Portugal launched an era of colonialism, followed by Dutch, Spanish,

French and British. Travancore Government promoted commercialization of

plantation sector with foreign capital. Agrarian economy witnessed some basic

structural changes by Government Regulation of 1818 which gave wasteland to

people for agricultural use. Property rights were given in 1865 to tenants and

eviction of tenants was prohibited in 1867.

Nonformal education existed in all parts of Kerala from the time of known

history organized around temples and residences of reputed teachers. Matriarchal

system in Kerala enabled females to get education and caused the establishment of

first women school of India in Kerala. Though Roman Catholic Missionaries

arrived in 1543, it was with the arrival of Protestant English Missionaries,

Christian schools were started by 1806. In 1840, there were 94 schools run by the

Protestant missionaries. The Queen of Travancore in 1817 declared the state

44

policy of free education and government aid to private schools. By 1881, there

were about one school in every village of Travancore and state expenditure on

education increased from 6% in 1904 to 18% in 1924.

Along with the traditional base of education, in the area of health also

Kerala has a long history of indigenous medical system (Ayurveda). Local

medical system, healthy natural environment and personal cleanliness of people

contributed comparatively better health in the state. By 1937-38, all persons were

covered by compulsory vaccination. About 5% of the government expenditure

was for health at that time.

Arabs who came from West Asia by B.C. 300 were followed by Jews,

Christians and Muslims at various periods and contributed to trade, education,

health and cultural activities in early periods, entered into all spectrums of social

life as good as local people. Thus, Kerala economy during the post independence

period initiated developmental activities on a stronger base, created by

philanthropic rulers, religious leaders and progressive tradition.

3.1.2 Demographic Features

The demographic trends in Kerala are far more positive in several aspects

compared to other states in India. Kerala’s population as per census 2001 was

318.39 lakhs consisting of 154.69 lakhs males and 163.70 lakhs females with a

decadal growth of 9.42 per cent only. Kerala has the lowest population growth rate

compared to other states in India. Kerala’s share in the population of India is 3.1

per cent. Of the total population of Kerala, 74 per cent live in rural areas. The

2001 census also shows that the State of Kerala is the only state in India where sex

ratio is above the equality ratio with 1058 females per 1000 males. Further, the

density of population for India as a whole is 324 persons per sq. km where as the

density of population for Kerala is 819 persons per sq. km. Among the Indian

states, Kerala is in third in respect of density.

In 1881, Kerala’s population density was 134 persons per sq. km. During

the last 120 years the figure has gone up almost 6 times. Kerala’s life expectancy

45

for males is 70 and 73.62 for females during 2002. For the age under five years,

infant mortality rates are one of the lowest in Kerala. Thus, Kerala has achieved

very good health standards in areas like birthrate, death rate and control of

infectious diseases. But now, the problems like high morbidity rate, low

maintenance of health, infrastructure, re-emergence of some diseases like malaria,

tuberculosis, dengue fever etc. are rapidly increasing medical cost. Kerala

achieved high health standards through widespread growth of three systems of

medicine; viz. allopathy, ayurveda and homoeopathy.

The literacy rate in Kerala is 90.92 per cent in 2001 as against 89.81 per

cent in 1991. The male and female literacy rates are 94.2 per cent and 87.86 per

cent respectively. The literacy rate in Kerala has always been much higher than

the all India rate, and the difference between male and female literacy rates is

much narrower in Kerala. Kerala spent Rs.3101 crores for education during 2003-

2004. The proportion of education expenditure to total expenditure of

governments (Centre and States) was 9.9 per cent in 2002-03, whereas in Kerala

the proportion was 11.7 per cent in 2002-03.

In Kerala, according to 2001 census, there are 10.3 million workers which

constitute 32.3 per cent of state population, out of which six million (73%) are in

rural areas. The work participation rate in India and Kerala during the last three

census shows that though overall work participation rate has increased marginally,

the work participation rate of women has declined, particularly in rural areas.

3.1.3 Economic Parameters

Kerala economy lagged behind the country with regard to overall growth

rate, though it has the highest rank in terms of human development index. In terms

of several important indicators of development other than the per capita income,

Kerala stands first among the Indian states. We find that Kerala model has

basically led to two outcomes. First, the economy in terms of total and per capita

income grows only slowly and therefore continued to remain at a low level of per

capita income. Second, despite this low per capita income and low rate of growth,

46

the state achieved remarkable progress in education, health status, distributive

justice, social amenities, agrarian relations and quality of life, all of which led to

sustainable living conditions and status of the poor and the weak. The cultural,

geographical and climatic factors as well as the lifestyle of the people also have

contributed to the unique characteristics of Kerala’s development.

Though Kerala’s economy is integrated fully with the all India economic

structure, many features of Kerala’s labour and commodity markets are quite

distinct from the pattern prevailing in the rest of the country. There are three

features of labour market which distinguish Kerala from other states in India. The

first relates to the rate of employment. Kerala has the highest rate of rural

unemployment in India. The second is the comparatively high rate of participation

of women in the labour force. A third feature is that Kerala has the third highest

wage rate for agricultural labourers in the country; after Punjab and Haryana. The

male wage rate is 90 per cent higher than the wage rate prevailing in the

neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu.

Coir industry in Kerala is a traditional industry, generating employment to

more than 3.75 lakh workers of which 76 per cent are women. The handloom

sector in Kerala employs about 1.75 lakhs of people and this industry stands

second to the coir sector in providing employment among the traditional industries

of the state.

Kerala is endowed with a number of minerals such as heavy mineral - sand

china clay, iron ore, graphite, granite etc. However, mining activities on large

scale are confined mainly to a few minerals such of heavy mineral-sand, china

clay, silica sands, limestone and graphite. Infact, heavy mineral sands and china

clay contribute more than 90 per cent of total value of mineral production in the

State. Khadi and Village Industries Board comes out with its activities through

cooperative societies, registered institutions and departmental units by availing

financial assistance from state government, Khadi Commission and nationalized

banks. In Kerala, there are 398 cashew processing units employing about 2,23,000

workers.

47

Demographic features of Kerala compared to all India conditions are given

in Table 3.1

Table 3.1 Demographic Profile-Kerala and India – Sexwise, 2003-04 Sl. No.

Indicators Kerala India

1. Population (Million) 31.84 1027.02 i. Males 15.47 531.28

ii. Females 16.37 495.74 2. Decadal Growth Rate of

Population 9.42 21.38

3. Urban Female Population (Million)

4.25 N.A.

4. Sex Ratio 1058 933 5. Rural sex ratio 1059 922 6. Sex ratio (SC) 1029 922 7 Sex ratio (ST) 996 972 8. Juvenile Sex Ratio 962 N.A. 9. Life Expectancy (Years) 73.3 61.1 (i) Males 70.4 60.4 (ii) Females 75.9 61.8 10. Proportion of Women in

Reproductive Age Group 56% 51.1%

11. Median Age of Marriage (years) i. Males 25.5 N.A.

ii. Females 27.5 N.A. 12. Effective Age of Marriage of

Girls (Years) 22 19.5

13. Proportion of Girls Marrying after 21 years (%)

63 25.9

14. Proportion of Girls Marrying between 18 and 20 years (%)

32.3 53.4

15. Marital Status (Widowed/ Divorced/separated (%)

i. Males 1.5 2.5 ii. Females 10.5 8.0

Source: Economic Review 2004

Women of Kerala are relatively more developed in terms of social

indicators. But these indicators do not seem to add up to empowerment. Though

women literacy rate in Kerala is far above figures for all India and other states,

they are more unemployed than men in the state.

48

3.1.4 Kerala Today

Kerala at present constitutes 1.18 per cent of the area and 3.10 per cent of

the population of the country. But the quality of life enjoyed by the people is as

exceptional as its historical legacy and geographical richness. According to Moris

(1983), the Physical Quality of life Index of Kerala was 79.2 in 1981. It was

improved to 90.52 in 1990. The Human Development Index of the state was 0.651

in 1987. At present it is 0.638. The CMIE Index of development of the state is

117 in 1991. Economists have noted this exceptional performance of the economy

in human development as “Kerala Model”. Durning (1989) has all the praise for

the Kerala model of development. Though the work participation rate and per

capita income of Kerala are always lower than the national average, her PQLI is

the highest among other Indian states due to cent per cent literacy rate (1994) and

adequate health facilities along with structural adjustments like effective Public

Distribution System, progressive land reforms and salubrious atmosphere. Certain

studies conducted by International Food Policy Research Institute about Kerala

(1979) have shown that public distribution of food grains has increased the

material welfare of the people.

Kerala has a unique path of progress which need not be qualified as a

“model” to be replicated because as Franke and Chasin (1990) observed, it is an

example of development without growth. In Kerala manufacturing sector is lagging

behind and agriculture is not capable to meet food requirements. The share of

agriculture in the state domestic product is only 24.90 per cent with dominant role

to service (50.7%) and lowest to industry (24.4%) as per 2002-2003. Work

participation rate and per capita income are low. However the high investment in

education and health has created a flourishing service sector, producing abundant

skilled personnel, serving in the state and other parts of India and abroad. Foreign

remittance is estimated as about 12% of the SDP and expenditure on social

services accounted 40% of the total government expenditure covering free or

subsidized education, health, family welfare, water supply and sanitation, housing,

training and public distribution of essential commodities. Therefore the monthly

average household consumer expenditure of a Keralite (Rs.268) is above of an

49

average Indian (Rs.189) and the people below the poverty line is also lower (17%)

than the national average (29.9%).

The replicability of the so called Kerala model depends on the scope for

emulation of factors contributed to such a development viz., (a) historical legacy,

(b) progressive sociopolitical movements, (c) planned provisions for social

services, (d) role of private sectors in education and health and (e) cultural and

climatic conditions of the state. Development experience of each economy is

unique, though there are factors which can be adopted and adapted. With all

remarkable development indices, Kerala urgently needs measures to increase

income, employment and output.

3.2 Agrarian Economy of Kerala

Kerala has a tropical vegetation and groves of coconut palms intermingled

with several other crops especially paddy. The entire state gives appearance of a

village with small size of holdings entirely brought under cultivation. The entire

area available around each household is utilized for cultivating a variety of crops.

Out of a total geographical area of 38.85 lakh hectares, net sown area is about 56

per cent and forest occupies around 28 per cent. Land under non-agricultural uses

was 9.98 per cent.

3.2.1 Physiography

The land mass of Kerala can be distinguished into three broad natural

physiographic divisions – (i) Highlands, (ii) Midlands and (iii) Lowlands.

The highlands slope downwards from the Western Ghats which rise to an

average height of 900 metres, with a number of peaks well over 1,800 metres in

height. This is the area of major plantations like tea, coffee, rubber, cardamom and

other spices. The mid lands, lying between the mountains and the lowlands, are

made up of undulating hills and valleys. This is an area of intensive cultivation.

Cashew, coconut, arecanut, cassava (tapioca), banana, rice, ginger, pepper,

sugarcane and vegetables of different varieties are grown in this area. The lowlands

50

or the coastal area, which is made up with the river deltas, backwaters and the

shore of the Arabian sea, is essentially a land of coconut and rice. Fisheries and

coir industry constitute the major industries of this area.

Kerala is a land of rivers and backwaters. Forty four rivers (41 west-

flowing and 3 east-flowing) cut across Kerala with their innumerable tributaries

and branches, but these rivers are comparatively small and being entirely

monsoon-fed, practically turn into rivulets in summer especially to the upper areas.

The backwaters form a specially attractive and economically valuable

feature of Kerala. They include lakes and ocean inlets which stretch irregularly

along the coast. The deltas of the rivers interlink the backwaters and provide

excellent water transportation in the lowlands of Kerala. A navigable canal, 367

km long stretches from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala, to Tirur in the

far north, is an underutilized potential.

3.2.2 Agro-Ecological Zones

Four parameters that together evolve distinct agronomic environments

wherein a distinct cropping pattern flourishes are altitude, rainfall pattern, soil type

and topography.

(i) Altitude : Altitudinal variations influence the temperature regime. High

altitude generates temperate climatic conditions in a tropical area like Kerala. The

low altitude region, endowed with humid tropical climate is spread over the entire

length of the state.

(ii) Rainfall : The state is relatively rich in rainfall endowed with an annual

precipitation around 2600 mm. Ninety per cent of this precipitation is during the

two monsoons – June to August (south-west) and October to November (north

east). About 60 per cent of annual rainfall is received during south-west monsoon

period and about 30 per cent during northeast monsoon. From December to March

there is very little rainfall, but the occasional rainfall during this period is very

critical requirement for cultivation as we still depend upon rainfall for raising

51

many of the crops. The state is divided into two halves namely the areas of south

and north of 11°N latitude (approximately south and north of Thrissur) with

rainfall pattern I and II respectively. The southern region is having relatively well

distributed rainfall with maximum in June for south west monsoon while the

northern region has relatively ill distributed rainfall with maximum in July for

south west monsoon.

(iii) Soil types : The major group under the soils of Kerala is laterite and its

variations. District zones have been identified based on special soil types such as

river bank alluvium, peaty soil (kari), though the rainfall pattern and topographic

models are the same. In the traditional midland region the dominant soil type is

typical laterite with the B-horizon present. The areas of Western Ghat and the high

ranges which together form the traditional highland region have laterite soil where

the B-horizon is absent. In the coastal area, the texture of the soil especially of the

garden lands is considered as a distinguishing feature in identifying two separate

zones, one with sandy loam and the other with sandy soil. The soil characteristics

of the paddy land such as peaty (kari) and saline soils (pokkali) have also been

associated in delineating the zones.

(iv) Topography: Areas having similar rainfall pattern and soil type are further

delineated into zones based on topographical features.

Following the above approach and using a matrix built upon altitude,

rainfall, soil and topography, the state has been delineated into thirteen agro-

climatic zones. Block Panchayat has been taken as the unit purpose of delineation.

The parameters for identifying agroecological zones and principal characteristics

of each zone are summarised in Annexure-I & II. The map showing

agroecological zones of Kerala is also depicted in Annexure-III.

3.2.3 Cropping Pattern – Major Crops, Area, Yield and Productivity

The highly diversified agroecosystems in Kerala support a multitude of

crops and allied enterprises. Since the pressure of population on the land is high,

more than 90 per cent of the cultivable area (24.65 lakh hectares) is brought under

52

plough. The important crops and their sequences in the four physiographic regions

of the state are given in Table 3.2.

Table 3.2 Cropping Patterns Followed in Various Physiographic Divisions – Kerala

Sl. No. Physiographic

division Category of crops Crop species

grown Crop sequences followed

(i) High Ranges Perennial Coffee, tea, rubber, cardamom

Sole cropping

(ii) High Land (a) Perennial (b) Annual (c) Seasonal

Pepper, cardamom, coffee, tea, coconut, rubber Tuber crops, banana, ginger, turmeric Pulses, vegetables, rice

Coconut based or rice based farming systems. Rice-rice- rice, Rice-rice-Pulses/ vegetables/ sweet potato, Rice-banana-tapioca Rice-Rice-fallow rotations

(iii)

Midland (a) Perennial (b) Annual (c) Seasonal

Rubber, cashew, coconut, arecanut, nutmeg, clove, pepper, betelvine, cocoa Tapioca, ginger, banana, yams, tumeric Pulses, groundnut, vegetables, rice

Homestead farming systems rice-rice-pulses/ vegetables/ sesamum rice-banana, rice-sugarcane, rice-sweet potato, rice-tapioca rotation

(iv) Lowland (a) Perennial (b) Annual (c) Seasonal

Coconut Tapioca, banana Pulses, vegetables, groundnut, sesamum, rice

Rice-rice-pulses/ vegetable Rice-rice-fallow Rice-vegetables/sweet potato Rice-fish mixture or rotation

Source: John and Mercy (2003)

53

Out of a gross cropped area of 29.76 lakh hectare in 2003-04, food crops

including tapioca occupy only 13.7 per cent. The area under rice has come down

from 3.11 lakh hectare in 2002-03 to 2.87 lakhs ha in 2003-04. Kerala state which

had low base in food production is facing serious challenges in retaining even this

meagre area. Kerala agricultural economy is undergoing structural transformation

from the mid seventies by switching over a large proportion of its traditional crop

area which was devoted to subsistence crops like rice and tapioca to more

remunerative crops like coconut and rubber.

Rice which is the staple food of Kerala, has experienced continuous decline

in area over two decades. Consequent to the enormous pressure from high value

crops like coconut, banana and pineapple, area under paddy and rice production

declined.

With a coverage of nine lakh hectares, coconut occupies 41 per cent of the

net cropped area and provides livelihood to over 3.5 million families in Kerala.

The productivity levels in Kerala are also lower than other major producing states.

Export of coir products from Kochi port during 2002-03 was 99319 MT valued at

Rs.428.92 crores.

The state continues to enjoy a near monopoly in area and production of

pepper, accounting for 95 per cent in the country. Area under the cashew crop in

Kerala, has been declining steadily from 1.25 lakh hectare in 1988-89 to 0.88 lakh

hectare in 2003-2004 and the production declined from 108 lakh MT to 0.65 lakh

MT during the period. The share of Kerala in the area under cashew in the country

has come down from 23 per cent in 1987-88 to 11 per cent in 2002-03 and the

corresponding decline in share of production is from 31 per cent to 13 per cent.

Rubber, tea, coffee and cardamom together occupy 6.40 lakh hectare,

accounting for 29 per cent of the net cropped area in the state and 42 per cent of

the area under these crops in the country. Kerala’s share in the natural production

of rubber is 92 per cent, cardamom 73 per cent, coffee 24 per cent and tea seven

per cent. Kerala accounts for 83 per cent of the area under rubber in the country.

54

The area under coffee in Kerala was 0.847 lakh hectare out of 3.55 lakh hectare in

the country during 2003-04 which works out to 24 per cent. The share of Kerala in

production is 23.60 per cent during 2003-04. Against the total area of 5.11 lakh

hectare under tea in the country, Kerala accounts for only 0.37 lakhs hectare. In

respect of production, the share of Kerala declined slightly to seven per cent in

2003 from eight per cent in the previous year. The share of Kerala in the

production of cardamom at the all India level increased from 28 per cent to 75 per

cent in 2003-2004.

The most important organic product groups are vegetables, fruits, potatoes,

beverages, spices, milk products and cereals. While the demand for organic foods

is increasing, supply continues to lag behind.

The livestock economy shows no signs of improvement mainly due to cost

disadvantages with neighbouring states. Milk production declined in 2003-04 to

21.11 lakh tonnes in 2003-04 from 24.20 lakh tonnes of the previous year. Egg

production declined to 1277 million from the previous year’s figure of 1347

million. There was an increase in the production of poultry meat. However

produces milk, cattle dung and draught power forming inputs to other subsystems

like household, agriculture and rural transport.

In Kerala, majority of livestock owning farmers are either small and

marginal or even landless. In view of its suitability for combining with crop sub

sector and as a household enterprise with the active involvement of women, it is

emerging as a very popular supplementary avocation in the small farms. In Kerala,

nearly 94 per cent of the livestock population is concentrated in rural areas. Most

of the cattle holdings are one cow farms. Nearly 65 per cent of the meat required

is met from animals of neighbouring states. Regarding the cattle feed concentrate,

state does not produce even half of the requirement. Now KCMMF and Kerala

Feeds Ltd. are taking conscious steps for facing this challenge. Despite

considerable increase in the proportion of high yielding crossbred cattle, average

milk yield per day remains low at 6 litres compared to its potential of 8-10 litres.

55

However, the average productivity attained by Kerala is higher than the national

average (2.78 litres) and has been increasing.

The state has all the requisite natural endowments for building a strong

fisheries economy in tune with the national strategy. They include a stretch of

coastal belt extending over 600 km and an extensive inland water-spread of around

four lakh hectares. But the inland fish production accounts for only about 11.50

per cent of the total production. There are 222 fishing villages in the marine and

113 fishing villages in the inland sector where fishing and related activities provide

livelihood to a vast majority of population. The marine fish production in Kerala is

stagnant and seems to have achieved a saturation level whereas the inland fish

production showed signs of improvement.

Diversification of agriculture and introduction of new high value crops

have been happening more due to the initiative of progressive farmers. This need

to be accelerated through the intervention of Krishi Bhavans which now have

sufficient flexibility in preparing local level plans for the village panchayats,

according to the local need and potential. The extension work needs to be backed

by appropriate research regarding multiple cropping and introduction of livestock

in homesteads.

3.3. Farming Systems in Kerala

Farming systems represent an appropriate combination of farm enterprises,

viz., cropping systems, livestock, fisheries, forestry, poultry and the means

available to the farmer to reap the maximum income. It interacts adequately with

the environment without dislocating the ecological and socioeconomic balance.

Model farming system could enhance the productivity of the farm, improve the

profitability of the farmer and sustain the productivity of the soil through recycling

of organic source of nutrients from the enterprises involved. The choice and size

of the farming system enterprises depend upon the availability of human and

natural resources. Kerala is rich in its diverse resource base. Agroclimatic

classification helps to regionalize a particular area into homogenous territories on

56

the basis of agro-climatic parameters for the easy identification of the production

constraints. The chief parameters considered for the agro-climatic zonation of

Kerala are physiography, climate, soil characters, sea water intrusion and land use

pattern. Kerala has four highly distinguishable natural physiographic divisions

namely high ranges, high land, mid land and low land based on the altitude, the

characteristics of which are given in Table 3.4.

Table 3.3 Natural Physiographic Divisions of Kerala. Sl. No.

Topography Location and Extent Characteristics and Resources

1. High ranges (>75 m above MSL)

Along and bordering the Western ghats constituting the entire Wynad and Idukki districts and eastern parts of other districts. Comprises 7% of the land area of Kerala

Most of the reserve forests in the state are in this tract. Rocks and loamy soil cover the land. Plantations of tea, coffee and cardamom dominate in this region.

2. High lands (75-750 m above MSL)

Hilly tract on the western side of Western ghats. Comprises 41% of the land area supporting 14% of the population in the state.

Soils are forest loams with wide variation in depth and organic matter. Apart from forests, plantations of tea, coffee, cardamom and rubber are common.

3. Mid lands (7.5-75 m above MSL)

Mid land plain sandwiched between high lands and low lands and extends to the entire length of the state. 42% of the land area and 59% of the state’s population are in this tract.

Soil is chiefly laterite. Clayey and loamy soils also seen. The terrain is undulating with rivers and rivulets intersecting the area. Crops grown are: rice, sugar cane, tapioca, banana, ginger, coconut, arecanut, pepper, cashew, rubber, etc.

4. Low lands (upto 7.5 m above MSL)

Low land bordering the Arabian sea comprises of 10% of the land area of the state. The area supports 26% of the state’s population

Soil is sandy loam with alluvium on river banks. Some regions are below sea level. Swamps, lagoons and backwaters are seen. Rice and coconut form major crops.

Source: John and Mercy (2003)

57

The three basic types of farming systems followed in Kerala according to

the above mentioned physiographic divisions are the following:

(i) coconut based system comprising a number of intercrops like pepper, arecanut,

cocoa, clove, vegetables, green manure crops and cover crops.

(ii) rice based system in low lands with single or two crops of paddy, summer

vegetables, pulses or oilseeds with or without aquaculture components.

(iii) homestead farming system including a large number of components like

perennials, food and fodder crops, livestock, fishery, poultry, apiary etc.

Coconut based farming system is a time-tested practice in Kerala. Due to

the availability of sufficient interspace in coconut garden, a variety of crops are

grown as intercrops. The declining land availability made the farmers to cultivate

fodder in coconut gardens to sustain a viable dairy unit. Tree fodder, guinea grass,

legume fodder and congosignal fodder yield in coconut garden. Coconut is a

major crop in the households of the coastal belt of Kerala.

Byproduct utilization in coconut based farming systems is in its maximum

and sufficient to meet the fuel requirements of a farm family. Studies at Central

Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasargod (Maheswarappa, 2000) had shown

the added advantage of using coir pith as bedding material in poultry farms. The

toxicants in the coir pith get reduced and it gets enriched with nutrients from

poultry droppings by this practice. The enriched coir pith is a highly acceptable

organic manure for coconut and other crops.

Rice based farming system are mainly in Kuttanadu, Kole and Pokkali

where unique farming systems based on rice cropping were developed. In both

Pokkali and Kuttanadu ecosystem, integrated farming systems with rice,

fish/prawn, livestock and poultry have been developed. However, in Kole

ecosystem though it is very similar to Kuttanadu, only rice monocropping is

practised at present. Small pond fish farming has increased in popularity over

recent years. However, only a small number of farmers have practised with raising

58

fish in the rice fields. To increase the income of the small and marginal farmers of

irrigated lowland areas, farming systems with rice-poultry-fish-mushroom were

undertaken in Kerala.

Homestead farming system is a highly complex and dynamic combination

of crops, livestock and other related enterprises for achieving food, nutritional and

economic security through the efficient utilization of available resources like land,

solar energy, water and manpower. In Kerala, most of the homesteads are coconut

based. Homestead or homegardens represent a promising land use system and are

common in Kerala, where the average size of farm households is small.

Homestead farming has been one of the survival strategies of the traditional

farmers of Kerala since time immemorial. Kerala homegardens can be regarded as

the most popular and successful integrated farming system model in the state.

Homestead farms in Kerala can also be classified into (a) Coconut based

system (b) Rubber based system with smallholdings with rubber and rubber as a

component of larger homestead farms and (c) cashew based system (followed

especially in wastelands), (i) with cashew as the lead component of homesteads

with distant spacing and accommodating all other species and (ii) cashew crop as

seen in Kannur, Kasargod, Kozhikode and Kollam districts in the laterite soil tract

and also in the laterite as well as red soil areas in Thiruvananthapuram. The

introduction of rubber based homegardens completely altered the existing cropping

systems in many parts of Kerala, especially in central Travancore region. Two

distinct rubber based systems were evolved viz., the small holdings with monocrop

of rubber and larger homesteads with rubber as a component of the system.

In Kerala most farms possess a small number of domestic animals. These

include chicken, ducks, pigs, and cattle. Chicken and ducks are generally raised for

egg and meat consumption while pigs and cattle provide a valuable source of the

cash income. Chicken, ducks and pigs are reared on household scraps and rice

bran as well as scavenging nearby village. Poultry will be an efficient enterprise

which can be integrated with cropping under low land condition. Rearing of

poultry birds under deep litter is another viable alternative in the integrated

59

farming system. Goat rearing under deep litter system as a component in

integrated farming system will be combined with the modified and existing

cropping system. Dairy based mixed farming practised in marginal farmers’

holdings with three milch animals was more remunerative than other mixed

farming practices. Based on the number of dairy animals available, a biogas plant

can be constructed near the farm shed itself. Silk worm rearing gives more

employment generation also. All types of soil with well drained capacity are

suitable. Few boxes for honeybee rearing can be kept in suitable places. Farmers

can get additional income. Intensification and diversification of aquaculture

practices are recent trends to increase production with great scope for further

improvement. In most of the coastal areas both the indigenous and exotic carps are

cultivated.

In hilly areas, production system as a concept takes into account the

components of farming namely livestock, horticulture, agroforestry, silviculture

system and other resources with the farm family at the centre managing them

independently. The important production systems are cereal based production

system, horticultural/agri-horti production system, livestock based production

system and agri-horti-silvi pastural production system. Silvi-agri-livestock

production system is an indigenous farming system practised in high ranges which

has combination of forest, agriculture, livestock and fisheries with organized soil

and water conservation base. The system has forestland on the top of the hill,

water harvesting tank in the middle and livestock yard and paddy fields at the foot

hills. The water loss is controlled through pudding. The system also encourages

for rearing livestock as a subsidiary source of income. The high land mixed

farming system incorporates the cultivation of a range of cereals, legumes, fodder

and livestock.

Field experiments were conducted in Kerala, involving cropping, poultry,

piggery, duck, goat, fishery and mushroom enterprises in all possible combinations

with a view to recycle the residue and byproducts of one components over the

other. The recycling process could reduce the cost of production per cent of grain,

60

meat, milk, egg, edible mushroom, biogas etc. and thereby widen the gap between

gross return and the production cost, resulting in handsome net return.

The rice-fish sequential farming system in the Kuttanad area of Kottayam

district, a recently introduced enterprise combination of the low lying rice fields,

registered spectacular increase in output and net returns over the traditional rice

monocrop.

Terrace farming facilitates better time and space utilization, disposal of

household organic garbage as compost for vegetable cultivation, proper harvesting

of sunlight, reduced incidence of pests and diseases, reduction of family

expenditure and nutritional security by increased physical and economic access to

fresh, hygienic and eco-friendly vegetables. Poultry rearing and azolla cultivation

can be done along with vegetable cultivation on house terrace so as to tap the

potentialities of symbiotic and synergetic relationship among them.

Vermi composting is an effective process of recycling farm residues like

rice bran, banana sheath etc. to enrich manure by earth worms to increase humus

content in soil. Medicinal plants as intercrops have proved to be a feasible and

remunerative proposition.

Kerala homegardens can be regarded as the most popular and successful

integrated farming system model in the state. In Kerala, most of our farmers have

no sustainable livelihood from their small holdings. A combination of two or more

interactive farm enterprises in the same unit of land alone can make these small

farmsteads’ production enough to support a family. The designing of suited

farming systems should be done on a location specific basis. Integrated farming

methods are highly beneficial in development of homesteads. Lack of location

specific technology for organic waste recycling and lack of awareness of its

importance among farmers stand as major hurdles in the adoption of integrated

farming systems in Kerala. Necessary steps from the part of Government are

needed to develop location specific integrated farming system models in Kerala.

61

3.4 Kerala in a Nutshell

Mythologically Kerala is carved out of sea and bounded by mountains. It

enabled her to open the economy to the world far and near, making the society a

cradle of various civilizations. But by the arrival of Vasco de Gama in Kozhikode

in 1498, Kerala turned to be the gateway of European imperialism to the whole of

Asia. Gifted with the bounties of nature and historical legacy, the God’s own

Country is thickly populated with highest density. The declining land man ratio

with lowest per capita availability of land and falling prices of agricultural

products transformed farming less attractive and made many farmers quite difficult

to keep their soul in the body. But on the other side Kerala model of development

is always boasted as a highly emulative paradigm of progress with equity and

social justice. The high human development index achieved by Kerala is not

sustainable due to the lack of adequate industrial and tertiary infrastructure.

Farmers, though they constitute less than a quarter of the population have to be

insulated against the vicissitudes of fallacies of our policies and pressures of new

scenario in world economy. Present study turns to be a clarion call of the day to

make the remaining farms remunerative and sustainable.

62