Seeds of Distress: An Inquiry into Kerala’s Agricultural Decline

Authors: Joji Jacob

Country: India

Full-text Research PDF File:   View   |   Download

Abstract: Kerala’s agricultural sector, which lies at the heart of its economy, is suffering a severe crisis, characterised by declining productivity, market instability, and increasing farmer distress. Using secondary data from government and institutional sources, this study investigates the structural, environmental, and policy-related causes behind Kerala’s agrarian distress. The paper examines trends in land utilisation patterns, shifts in cropping patterns, and falling farm income to realise what crisis is leading to. This study also takes into account how the agricultural stagnation impacts rural livelihoods in a socioeconomic context. The study’s findings show multiple factors, including market volatility, susceptibility, and policy gaps, caused this crisis. Based on the study, it proposes sustainable farming, facilitating credit access to farmers and boosting climate-resilient farming, etc., to enhance the livelihood of farmers.

Keywords: Kerala agriculture, agrarian crisis, market volatility, farmer distress, climate change.

Paper Id: 232798

Published On: 2018-03-07

Published In: Volume 6, Issue 2, March-April 2018

Share this