economics of on-farm development - Institute for Social and ...

paddy. which was 33 per cent in 1960-61, declined to 18 per cent in 1990-91 and
further. to 13 per cent in 1997-98.
Table 5.7:ChaDl es in relati\'e share <strong>of</strong>maior crops in Kerala.1960-1998
Percentage share in total cropped area
Crops 1960-61 1970-71 1980·81 1990-91 1997-98
I. PaddY 33.27 :'9.83 28.01 18.53 13.ii4
2. Coconut 21.39 24.52 22.76 28.62 29.79
3. Tapioca 10.35 10.01 8.56 4.88 4.09
... Banana 1.90 1.66 1.72 2.03 2,72
, S. Rubber I 5.80 6.77 8.87 13,51 15.67
6. Arecanut i 1.04 2.93 2.14 2.06 2.47
7. Pepper ! 4.26 4.01 3.78 5.60 6.08
8. Cashe" i 2.32 3,50 4.94 3.91 3.19
9. C<strong>of</strong>fee 0.72 1.08 2,01 2,78 2.80
10. Tea 1.61 1.28 1.26 1.15 1.17
I I. Pu Ises 1.88 1.36 1.18 0.81 0.51
12. Ginger 0.51 0.41 0.44 0.47 0.42
13. Cardamom l.23 1.62 1.90 2.05 1.45
Sub- total 86.27 88.97 87.58 86.38 83.37
.
SOl/ref' (,0\1. <strong>of</strong> Kerala. Economic ReView. relevant years (estimated); # Rubber Board. 1999 .
The share <strong>of</strong> coconut has increased from 21 per cent to almost 30 per cent.
fl)ll(med by rubba. which has increased from mere 6 per cent to 16 per cent over
tillle.1 hus. rubber has become the second important crop in the state's agriculture
after coconut. relegating paddy to the third position. The perceptible decline in the
share in the area <strong>of</strong> food crops. \1/ .• paddy. tapioca. pulses and ginger validates the
argument that these crops have largely been replaced by commercial crops, viz.,
C(lC(lnllt. arecanut. banana and rllhhn (to a lil11lteu extent).
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