1. Agricutural regions of kerala
Sajna P T
B.Ed in Geography

2. Agriculture in kerala
Kerala, God’s own country, is hugely
dependent on its agricuture. Kerala is famous for
spices in olden days. It is believed that , the
agricutural activities were started from Lohayuga
in Kerala. Now , agriculture is the basics of
notonly for Kerala but also for the Nation, India.

3. The important features of agriculture in Kerala
are:-
Regional imbalances in agricultural growth.
The productivity of crops still remains lower as
compared to other states.
 Wage rates very high
Trends towards mixed cropping pattern, which
helps in reducing risks due to fallin price
Existence of Kerala land use act, which prohibits
shift of land under paddy cultivation to any other
cropof a particular commodity.

4. The State Agriculture Department of Kerala
classified the state in to different agricultural
regions based on 3 criterias,
1.Criteria no. 1 – on the basis of
physiography
2. criteria no. 2 – on the basis of soil
types
3. Criteria o. 3 – on the basis of
agricutural practises i.e, crops and
livestock

5. CRITERIA NO: 1
Kerala is a land with
highly diversified physical features and agro-ecological
conditions. The state can be divided
into four zones based on the physiographical
features:-
1.High ranges
2.High land
3.Mid land
4.Low land

6. 1. HIGH RANGES:-
These are the Mountain land with elevation ranging from
750-2500 as above MSL along with high ranges. Most area is
reserve forest. (1.94 lac ha) . The major crops growing are Tea,
Coffee, Rubber, Cardamom
2.HIGH LANDS:-
Its elevation ranging from 75-1500 m above MSL,
(16.71 lac ha), located of the foot with of Western
Ghats. Contains high content of organic matter. The
major crops are Tea, Coffee Rubber, Pepper,
Cardamom.

7. 3. MID LAND:-
The elevation of the land is ranges from
7.5-75.0 m above MSL covering 16.23lac ha.
Undulating terrain with rivers, small hills
and valleys. Annual and perennial crops are
cultivating here like Rice, Coconut, Tapioca,
Banana, Sugarcane, Pepper,Ginger,
Areacanut, Cashew and Rubber.

8. 4. LOW LAND:-
Strips of land running along the coast
bordering the Arabian Sea with a coat line of
590km with an elevation less then 7.5m
above sea level. Characterized by
backwaters. Land is subjected to salinity
intrusion.
 Rice, Coconut

9. Criteria no : II
AGRO-SOIL ZONES OF KERALA:-
In the state of Kerala, super imposing six moisture
availability regimes over seven soil groups identifies
twenty agro-soil zones.
1.DRY FOREST LOAM:-
 In and around Chinnar
Plantation crops other than spices, coconut and
tapioca

10. 2. SEMI DRY RED LOAM:-
 Isolated pockets in Thiruvanthapuram
and Neyyattinkara Taluks
 Coconut, tapioca, paddy and fruits plants like
cashew & mango
3. SEMI DRY LATERITE:-
 Parts of Quilon, Chirayinkeezh, Thiruvanthapuram,
Neyyattinkara & Nedumangad taluk
 Paddy, coconut and fruit crops like mango and
cashew

11. 4.SEMI DRY ALLUVIUM:-
 River beds and coastal areas of Quilon, Chirayinkeezh,
Thiruvanthapuram Neyyattinkara, Ottappalam
Talappillly, Palakkad and Alathur Taluks.
 Paddy, coconut, tapioca, mango and cashew.
5.SEMI DRY BLACK SOIL:-
 Eastern most parts of Chittur and Palakkad taluks
 Paddy cotton and Coconut
6. SEMI DRY FOREST LOAM:-
 Kumily and parts of Peerumedu taluk
 Tapioca, tea, coffee and rubber

12. 7.SUB HUMID RED LOAM:-
 Kasaragod and Kannur. Parts of Kasaragod, Hosdurg and
Taliparamba taluks
 Coconut, cashew, paddy, rubber, pepper and arecanut
8. SUB HUMID LATERITE:-
 Parts of Kannur, Tirur, Kasaragod, Trichur ,Chittur, Ernad,etc
 Paddy, coconut, rubber, cashew, pepper,
arecanut, tapioca and mango

13. • 9. SUB HUMID ALLUVIUM:-
 Coastal areas and river beds
 Paddy, coconut, Mango, cashew, rubber,
Pepper, arecnut and Tapioca
10.SUB HUMID SALINE:-
• Pokkali lands in the coastal partsof
Kanayannur and Cochin taluks
• Paddy and Coconut

14. • 11. SUB HUMID FOREST LOAM:-
 Parts of Ernad, Mannarkkad, Devikulam and
Pathanapuram Taluks
 Pepper, tea, cardamom, tapioca and paddy
12. HUMID LATERITE:-
 Parts of Kasaragod, Taliparamba,
Thalasherry, Qualiandy, Kozhikode,
 Vegetables, cashew, folder grass and
• pineapple

15. 13. HUMID ALLUVIUM:-
 western part of Chengannur and Mavelikkara
taluks, coastal areas of cherthala, Ambalapuzha and
Karunagapaly
 Paddy, coconut, cocoa, tapioca, arecanut, mango
and banana
14. HUMID GREYISH- ONATTUKARA:-
 Onattukara – parts of Mavelikkara, Karunagappally
and Karthikappally taluk
 Paddy, coconut, Seasamum and tapioca

16. 16. HUMID FOREST
LOAM:-
 Parts of Ernad, south
Wayanad and North
Wayanad, Kasaragod,
Hosdurg,
Taliparamba taluks;
Thalassery, Pathanamthitta,
Pathanapuram,
Neyyattinkara, Devikulam
and Peerumed taluks
 Coffee, tea, pepper,
cardamom, rubber, ginger,
paddy, mango and jack
15. HUMID SALINE:-
 Around Vembanad lake
(areas with
acid Saline Soils)
 Paddy and coconut

17. 17. PER HUMID
LATERITE:-
 Parts of S. Wynad,
Quilandy, Ernad,
Kunnathunad, Devikulam,
Todupuzha, Kothamangalam,
Meenachil and Kanjirappally
taluks
 Paddy, coconut, tapioca,
rubber, pepper, Arecanut,
cocoa, mango, jack,
cashew, ginger and
banana
18. PER HUMID
FOREST LOAM:-
• A small pocket in and
around Vythiri,parts of
Devikulam, Thodupuzha
andPeerumedu taluk
• Paddy, coconut, coffee,
Tapioca, pepper, tea,cocoa
and cardamom

18. 19. WET LATERITE:-
 Parts of South Wynad,
Ernad, Mukundapuram,
Devikulam,Peerumedu,
Pathanamthitta Taluk
Cardamom, Tea, Coffee,
Rubber, Pepper, Tapioca,
Ginger and Paddy,
20. WET FOREST
LOAM:-
 Parts of
Neriamangalam,
Devikulam,
Thodupuzha, Kanjirappally,
Meenachil
and Peerumedu Taluk

19. CRITERIA NO: III
1. INTENSIVE SUBSISTANCE
FARMING ( PADDY
DOMINANT):-
The staple crop grown in
Kerala Is the rice or paddy.
There are about 600
varieties of rice grown in
the paddy fields of Kerala.
The Kuttanad region of the
Alappuzha district of Kerala
is known as the 'rice bowl
of the state'.

20. Rice Eco Systems of Kerala:-
 based on topography, soil , abiotic factors
And counting of seasonal differences
1.Midland and Malayorum ecosystems
2. Palakkadu plains and Chittoor black soil
agro-ecosystem
3.Kuttanadu agro-ecosystem
4.Pokkali agro-ecosystem
5.Onattukara agro-eco system
6.High range agro-ecosystem

21. 2. COMMERCIAL PLANTATION :-
 crops includes coconut, rubber, cashew nut,
banana, tea , coffee, and vanilla.
 coconut :-
 tvm, kollam, alappy, pathanam thitta,
ernakulam, trissur,
palakkad,
malappuram,
calicut,
kannur &kasargode

22. Rubber:-
 kollam, pathanam thitta, kottayam, idukki,
ernakulam, malappuram etc
Cashew nut:-
 alappuza, ernakulam, malappuram, kozhikode
and kannur

23. tea, coffee, vanilla:-
 idukki, wayanad

24. 3. COMMERCIAL SPICE CULTIVATION:-
 Kerala is famous for spices. Merchants from ancient
Phoenicia travelled to Kerala to take its spices to the
Mediterranean lands. There are a wide variety of spices
grown here which includes pepper, chilli,cardamom,
cinnamon, ginger, cloves etc.
 TVM, idukki , ernakulam, malapuram, calicut, kannur &
kasarkode.

25. Agriculture in kerala

26. 4. SPECIALISED HORTI CULTURE:-
 The major fruit in Kerala are banana & plantain, which
are used as vegetable, fruit as well as for processing into
chips. Other important fruits grown in the state are mango,
pineapple, papaya and Jackfruit.
 All most all the districts of kerala.
 A wide variety of vegetables are grown in Kerala. The
important vegetables are tapioca, drumsticks, bitter gourd,
snake gourd, okra, cucumber, pumpkin, ash gourd, green
chillies, brinjal etc. Winter season vegetables like cabbage,
carrot, cauliflower etc are grown in high altitude regions of
the state namely Wayanad, Idukki and Palakkad.

27. 5. FLORI CULTURE:-
 Small quantity of local supplies in form of Jasmine from
Alappuzha and Palakkad are prevalent. However, the state
has a significant presence in the production of modern
flowers like orchids, anthurium ornamental
Even though Kerala based well known companies like “AV
Thomas” and “Beena Nursery” started export of live young
plants, ornamental plants, cut flowers etc.foliages and cut
foliages.

28. 6. COMMERCIAL DIARY FARMING:-
 The livestock sector in Kerala is concentrated mainly in the rural
areas.
 Major live stock population of Kerala are Cattle, buffalo, goat, pig,
poultry and duck . There are 22 diaries functioning in Kerala.
These diaries are run by both the private and the co-operative
sector. Out of the 22 diaries, 12 are in the Co-operative Sector
called Milma and 10 are in the private sector or charitable
societies.

29. Government agencies related to Agriculture
Premier Government agencies supporting
agricultural activities in kerala include Department of
Agriculture,Kerala Agricultural University ,Coconut Development
Board,Krishi bhavans,district agricultural farm,regional
agricultural training centers,seed farm,soil testing
laboratory,Kerala state horticultural products development
corporation,State farming corporation of kerala,Kerala
kerakarshaka sahakarana federation(KERAFED),The plantation
corporation of India,Regional research laboratory,Centre for
water resource development and management (CWRDM),Rajeev
gandhi centre for biotechnology,Kerala state poultry
development corporation.