Rise in tourism industry, real estate development and labour migration to gulf countries are taking its toll on agriculture in Kerala. Adding to the shift is the declining area under cultivation in the state.

“At this rate, in 10 years paddy cultivation will disappear.” That’s how P C Balakrishnan, associate director, Regional Agricultural Research Station, Kasargod, describes the falling agriculture output in Kerala, a state that has been losing agricultural output year on year.

In nine out of Kerala’s 14 districts there was a reduction in agricultural output between 2000 and 2005, according to the recently released ‘District level agricultural gross district domestic product 2005-2006’, compiled by Indicus Analytics.

Four of these districts — Kasargod, Kollam, Thrissur and Alappuzha — are of particular interest as they figure among India’s worst performing districts in terms of agricultural output growth. Kasargod, Kerala’s northern most district, is losing output at a rate of 10.8 per cent per annum, the highest for any district in India.

Sustained loss in agricultural output in Kerala is not due to natural causes, it is rather the result of a curious mix of socio-economic factors. The rise in attractive alternative opportunities is the main reason behind this decline. “Agriculture is becoming unprofitable for people and there are alternative means of income,” says K V Peter, vice-chancellor, Kerala Agricultural University. Migration to Persian Gulf countries of Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia is one of the most attractive alternative opportunities, he said.

A booming Rs 9,000 crore tourism industry and a surge in construction due to tourism and NRI investment in housing have also played a large part in diverting labour from agriculture to other sectors.

... contd.