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

5.2.1 Dynamics <strong>of</strong> paddy field conversion and implications on land development
and water use for agriculture
The foregoing analysis <strong>of</strong> cropping pattern changes necessarily calls for a brief
discussion on the dynamics <strong>of</strong> crop conversion process going on uninterrupted in the
state. The analysis becomes imperative in the specific context <strong>of</strong> Kerala's
agriculture In VlO:W <strong>of</strong> the cropping pattern changes as discussed above.
Conventionally. tho: crops such as tapioca. pulses and ginger are grown in paddy
fields eitho:r as into:rim crops (between the paddy growing seasons) or as full time
crops. depending on the availability <strong>of</strong> water and labour. Thus, paddy being the main
crop. the simultaneous decline in the area under these crops amounts to the
permanent conversion <strong>of</strong> paddy area for other uses.
\lm. the question ariso:s what are the different agricultural as well as nonagricultural
uses that replaco:d paddy in the state. The growing density <strong>of</strong> population
and process <strong>of</strong> urbanisation in the state have been largely responsible for the
conversion <strong>of</strong> padd~ ficlds\3 for building residential and other commercial
establishments and the reiJted infmstructure. including roads.
IJ The statistics un land usc pattcrn in the state indicate that the land put to non-agricultural
u\", has been incrcasing over tillle. I he non-agricultural land use as a proportion <strong>of</strong> total
geographical area has increased frolll 5.21 per cent in 1957-58 to 6.67 per cent in 1975-76;
tLl 7.18 per cent In 1')X)-H6 and tLl X 1'1 per cent in 1997-98 (GOK, 1977; 1988; 1998). The
npansion in non-agricultural usc <strong>of</strong> bnd may be at the expense <strong>of</strong> paddy fields to a limited
c\lcnt, as cLirrenlly IllLlch <strong>of</strong> the padd~ growing area haw been kept fallow by the farmers
duc 10 prohkllls ranging frolll nllll-pl(llilahilily 10 non-availability <strong>of</strong> water and lahour and
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