A study conducted at Thrikkaipeta village

Wayanad district

Rijo P. GeorgeP 29026

Background

Cropping pattern is the sequence of crops grown in a piece of land

Special features of Kerala Land Ceiling and land redistribution Preference to cashcrops

last fifty years agriculture has changed

methodology

Semi structured interviews Focus Group Discussions PRA exercises A questionnaire survey conducted on

youth of the villageSecondary data

Krishibhavan Basic Data RegisterVillage office Field DiaryPanchayat office padhathi rekha

Limitations

Demarcation of the village boundary Administrative actions

District, Krishibhavan No definite secondary data Literature unavailable Recall method Biased responses from the farmers

Transformation in Farming practices Slash and burn Coffee, tea estates by Europeans Mechanisation and Green revolution

Technologies were adopted Presently organic agriculture is

sought after

The Transformation

changing crop pattern2.swf

Causes

Land holdings-reorganised made way for perennial crops

Commercialisation of agriculture The settlers from travencore Intervention by external bodies Labour shortage Change in climate Water scarcity

Consequences

Falling food crops Vulnerability of farmers Reducing product quality – coffee, tea Traditional employments The women –direct contribution is less Coping strategy

Animal Husbandry Agro forestry

Crop MatrixCrops High Yield Price

return

Pest and

Disease

Resistance

Market Low Input

Cost

Less cultural

operations

and attention

Overall

points

Remar

ks

Paddy 5 5 5 6 2 2 25 Hay

Vanilla 6 3 5 4 7 4 29

Pepper 6 6 3 8 5 5 33 Old

Turmeric 6 7 6 7 4 4 34

Banana 8 6 5 7 4 4 34

Ginger 7 7 4 8 5 4 35

Coffee 8 7 6 7 5 3 36

Tapioca 8 8 7 6 4 4 37

Arecanut 8 7 5 8 5 5 38 Best

Coconut 7 5 6 8 7 6 39

Yam 8 7 7 7 4 6 39

Rubber 9 10 8 8 3 3 41

A brief note on rubber

A strict monocrop Heavy investment and long bearing

period Not a high altitude crop Neighbourhood effect- sunlight

The Future Generation

Will they come to farming ? 25% - definitely 10% - never 44%- if no other job Confidence level related to

landholding Society do not look down on farming Post graduation

measures

Land filling of paddy fields– banned by GoK

Rubber board discourages rubber on highlands

Most effective – remunerative prices

Thank you..