Socio-cultural Processes and Livelihood Patterns at Tirurangadi - CDS

and maida through the ration shops, after the import of ‘American flour’ under the PL-
480 scheme, and later the flooding of wheat in south Indian markets after the surplus
wheat production in the North under ‘Green revolution’ strategies, resulted in changes in
the dietary tastes, such as the spread of chapatti and porotta, which should again be
procured in the market, even if they are ration shops. The growth of the porotta culture
meant less dependence on rice. The shift from cooked rice to Biryani for feasts and
celebrations also meant the increase of necessary food items procured from the market.
Changes in the dietary habits in this form increased in the dependence on the market,
which meant that the cultivators were forced to increase the production in the parambas
and fields which could be sold to purchase these consumables. As the dependence on the
market increased, the need to increase production in some form also increased.
Agricultural production in this form seems to have run into problems from the beginning.
The production seems to have been linked to prices, and farmers were motivated by the
rise in the paddy prices. However, one old farmer complained that the compulsory
procurement of paddy in the sixties resulted in losses for the farmers as the market price
of paddy was far higher than the price given by the Government under the levy system.
Agricultural prices rose from 1969 to1975. After that there was a slight fall, and again
began to rise during the end of the seventies. Since then, the prices of agricultural
products have been fluctuating, which have considerably affected the choices of the
farmers. The farmers also pointed out that the shift from traditional farming methods to
the modern increased the costs of production particularly when chemical fertilizers were
applied. Chemical fertilizers implied that traditional manures, such as cow dung and leafy
plants were no longer used, and hence, such trees need not be grown. Such areas also
may be used for cultivation. The rise in prices and the experience of bumper crops in the
seventies resulted in the intensification of cultivation, which also indicated more
investments. Tractors were apparently not very popular in the beginning, but later they