Agriculture in Kottayam

Agriculture in Kottayam

Agriculture forms the livelihood of the majority in the district. It is also the main factor influencing the economy. Food crops as well as cash crops are cultivated here.
Paddy

The important crop at the low land area is paddy. Usually hybrid seeds are cultivated. The total area under cultivation is 24695 hectares.
The area besides the Meenachil and Vembanad rivers are below the sea level and forms part of the Kuttanad belt. The paddy fields at Pallom, Ettumanoor, Kaduthuruthy, etc. are known as "upper" Kuttanad.

Rubber

The area under rubber is estimated to be 107647, which is about 60% of the cropped area. Kottayam accounts for 25% of the entire rubber plantation in the country. The agro-climatic conditions in the district is best suited for rubber plantation. The entire district, barring a few villages in the low land region, lying close to Vembanad lake, is found to be suitable for rubber cultivation. One of the factor for the promotion of rubber in the district is the location of Rubber Board  Head quarters and Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII).It s tha only agriculture crop which provides an assured and steady income to the farmer.

Coconut

Coconut is the second important crop being cultivated in 41531 ha in the district. The area under coconut had been recording a steady decline over the last two decades. The area shrinked from 51,115 ha in 1981-82 to 41,531 ha in 1993-94. The cultivation of coconut is mainly confined to three taluks viz. Vaikom, Kottayam and Changanacherry, comprising the low lands and midlands is being replaced by rubber.

Pepper

Pepper is also an important crop in the district. The crop is mostly found in the mid and high land portions of the district, taken as intercrop. Pure crop plantations are not very common in the district. Being an important export commodity, the pepper has a prime place in the economy. But the highly fluctuating prices and the "Quick wilt" disease has discouraged the farmers from the expansion of the crop leading to its decline from 12,868 ha in 1981 to 8,783 ha in 1994.

Cocoa

Cocoa is cultivated in 2,827 ha in the district. The area under crop had been dwindling due to the high demand of rubber plantation among farmers. However, the crop is still found to be a viable inter crop among Coconut and Arecanut gardens. As farmers are now getting better prices for Cocoa, it is likely to pick up in future, especially in low lying areas.

Pineapple

Pineapple is another horticulture that is popular in the district. The present area under pineapple is estimated to be around 783 ha. The crop is both taken as pure crop and mixed crop. The crop is recommended for inter cropping in the young rubber plantations. It is also possible to take the crop in the boundaries of other crop provided sufficient sunlight is available.