of population (819 per Sq.Km.). The state is well known for its produces like Rubber,
Coconut, Arecanut, Tapioca, Coffee, Cardamom and Tea. Kerala is the single largest
producer of a number of other crops like Cashew, Ginger and Turmeric. Kerala’s cropping pattern is characterised by a predominance of perennial crops.
Shift area of important crops
(1) Paddy
Rice is life-reflects the importance of rice as a primary food source to the Keralites.
During 1985-86 nearly 6.78 lakh hectares were under paddy and during 2004-05 it was only 2.90 lakhs ha. Thus within two decades, there is a decline of nearly 3.88 lakh hectares in Kerala. The gross area of paddy in Kerala comes to 7.46 percent of the total geographical area. There is a decline of 57% of area under paddy during this period in the State. The productivity trend of autumn paddy (Rice) during the last decade shows an increase of productivity from 1844 kg/ha to 2295 kg/ha. The same for winter is 2039 kg to 2253 kg and for summer 2519 kg to 2512 kg. The low profitability in paddy cultivation appears to have contributed to the shifting of paddy land to other crops. The future of the rice production in Kerala lies in improving productivity with reasonable cost of production through promotion of high yielding varieties of seeds and scientific management of cultivation to make rice production a remunerative enterprise for the farmers. The paddy fields have been converted for various other crops and for non-agricultural use.
(2) Coconut:-
In 1985-86 the area under coconut crop was 7.05 lakhs ha in Kerala. The area under
coconut crop has increased to 9.0 lakhs ha in 2004-05. There is an increase of 28% under the area of coconut over a period of 20 years. The productivity of coconut/ha increased from 5638 nuts to 6673 nuts during the period of 10 years. The productivity trend of coconut is not encouraging when compared with other States.
(3)Sesamum:-
Other important oilseeds crops are ground nut and sesamum. There is a decrease in
the area under groundnut (11010has to1346has) and sesamum (14285 has. to883 has). The decrease in area under sesamum crop is observed in all the districts. The percentage of decrease is 94%. The cultivation of sesamum may not be seen in the state within a few years.
(4) Arecanut:-
In 1985-86, the area under Arecanut was 59000 ha. It increased to 1.08 lakhs ha in
2004-05. But the productivity of Arecanut has been declined from 1213 kg/ha to 1026 kg/ha.
(5) Spices and condiments:-
The important spices and condiments cultivated are Black pepper, Ginger, Turmeric
and Cardamom. In 1985-86, the area under ginger crop was 16000 ha. After 20 years, the cultivated area of ginger is only 10,000 ha. Similarly there is a decline trend in the case of turmeric. In the case of Pepper cultivation, there is a positive trend. But the productivity of pepper shows negative trend. i.e. In 1995-96, the productivity of Pepper was 358 kg/ha. In 2004-05 it has come down to 315 kg/ha. The productivity of Ginger was 3594 kg/ha in 1995-96 and it went up to 4535 kg/ha in 2004-05.
(6) Plantation Crops :-
The important plantation crops cultivated are cashew, tea, coffee and rubber. In
Kerala, there is an increased percent of area under rubber crop. In 1984-85 the area under rubber was 3.3 lakhs ha. In 2004-05, the cultivated area of rubber is 4.8 lakhs ha. In Kerala, there is an increase of 45 percent of area under rubber plantation. Similarly in the case of Coffee, crop area increased by 29% during the last 20 years. The productivity of rubber was 1057 kg/ha in 1995-96. It is 1437 kg/ha in 2004-05. I n 1985-86 the area under Cashew crop was 1.38 lakhs ha. The area under Cashew crop has decreased to 0.82 lakh ha in 2004-05.
There is a decline of 41% of area under Cashew crop. The productivity trend declined from 801 kg/ha to 743 kg/ha. There is no negative or positive trend in the case of Tea crop area during the last 20 years. But it is to be noted that the productivity of Tea decreased from 1873 kg/ha to 1413 kg/ha.
(7) Fruit Crops:-
The important fruit crops cultivated are banana, pineapple and plantain. In 1985-86
the area under banana crop was 16500 ha and in 2004-05 the area under banana crop area has increased to 59000 ha which accounts 257% percent increase. But the productivity of banana has decreased from 13816 kg/ha in 1995-96 to 8075 kg/ha in 2004-05. In the case of plantain, during the last 20 years, the area has increased by 50%. The productivity of plantain has increased from 4925 kg/ha in 1995-96 to 7619 kg/ha in 2004-05.
(8) Tapioca:-
In 1984-85 tapioca was cultivated in 2.03 lakhs ha and its area has decreased to 0.88 lakhs ha in 2004-05. Thus within the span of twenty years there is a decline of nearly one lakh ha in area of tapioca in Kerala. (i.e., 56% of decrease). The productivity in 1995-96 was 22008 kg/ha. Now the productivity of tapioca is nearly 27123 kg/ha. In general, during the last two decades the area under paddy, cashew, tapioca, sesamum, ginger crops declined drastically. The area under rubber, coconut, arecanut, banana, plantain, pepper and coffee have increased. The [productivity of pepper, cashew, tea, arecanut, turmeric and banana are declined.
From the above facts, it is understood that there is a tremendous decline of the
cultivation of paddy, tapioca and other cereal substitutes in Kerala. The production of Cash crops like ginger etc. has registered an increase. Rubber production and coconut production also increased. But the percentage contribution of these crops to the total production shows a downward trend. This is not because of the decline in the area of the cultivation of these crops has decreased but due to the fact that states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andra Pradesh have started large-scale cultivation of these crops. For example, the area under coconut and its production have registered an increasing trend here, but the percentage contribution of coconut production in Kerala is just 45% in contrast to 75% since twenty years back. Similar
is the case with rubber though still now Kerala is the biggest production of rubber in India.
The area under the crops paddy, sesamum, ragi etc., has been declining consistently
here. The main factor is the in-attractive price of the produces. Another factor is the
increased cost of cultivation in Kerala when compared to other States. The scarcity of labour is yet another factor that defers the cultivators from cultivation. If a fair price, price which is attractive to the cultivators, is assured the paddy production may be increased. Also steps should be initiated to control the conversion of paddy land to non-agricultural uses, which is a menace to the paddy production in the State.
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