Area : 38,863 sq. km
Population : 31,841,374
Capital : Thiruvananthapuram
Principal Languages : Malayalam
History and Geography
Hedged in between the Western Ghats with its highest peaks of Anamudi and Agasthyarkoodam on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west and blessed by North-East (October - November) and South-West (June - August) monsoon seasons this evergreen land of Kerala on the South-Western part of the Indian peninsula, with mountains, hills valleys and lakes, deserves to be praised with the epithet 'God's own Country' which the famous English Poet Dylan Thomas used to eulogise the Wales Countryside.
Kerala is a land that lies between the high hill ranges of the Sahyadris in the east and the Arabian Sea (Lakshadweep Sea) in the west. Kerala, gifted with mountains, valleys, trees, a wide variety of plants and grasslands has a share of just 1.2% of the total area of India. This region, with a varying topography, fertile soil and an ideal climate has been an abode of man from time immemorial. Kerala is located between latitudes, 8°.17'.30" N and 12°. 47'.40" N and longitudes, 74°.27'47" E and 77°.37'.12" E. It has an area of 38,863 sq.km.
Climate of Kerala is different from that of the other Indian States. According to meteorological data, Kerala receives rain around 286 days in a year. Kerala's average annual rainfall is about 300cm. Southwest monsoon (June to September) and Northeast monsoon (October to December) are the two rainy seasons of Kerala. After the North East monsoon (December) Kerala falls gradually into the winter season. January is the driest month. After the winter season comes summer. Isolated rains will be there during these seasons with thunder storms. During summer the mean diurnal temp in the plains is between 320c and 360c. Diurnal range of temp is at its maximum during this season.
Kerala is rich in rivers and backwaters. 44 rivers (41 west flowing and 3 east flowing) cut across Kerala with their innumerable tributaries and benches. The back waters form an attractive and economically valuable feature of Kerala. All rivers in Kerala are rainfed. Although they are perennial, they become lean in summer. In Kerala about 78041 cubic meters of water is lost annually through rivers in the form of run off. Out of this only about 10300 cubic meters form part of the sub-surface water,i.e., less than 14%. Red soil, Laterite soil, coastal alluvium soil, Riverine alluvium, forest soils and black soil are the types of soil in Kerala. Laterite soil covers an area of about 68% of the total area of the state.
Agriculture & Irrigation
The State has witnessed a remarkable transformation in the agricultural sector since its formation. The implementation of Land Reforms Act in 1963 became the knell of feudalism and it became the landmark in the Kerala's agricultural sector and a stepping-stone for further reforms in this field.Cash Crops like coconut, rubber, tea, coffee, pepper, cardamom, areca nut, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon etc. and food crops paddy tapioca etc. gives the agricultural sector of Kerala a distinct flavour. The agro climatic conditions in Kerala suite the cultivation of a variety of seasonal and perennial crops. Fifteen principle crops (Rice, pulses, coconut, rubber, tea, coffee, pepper, cardamom, areca nut, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, paddy tapioca and other plantations) are cultivated from the net areas sown of 21,11,471 hector in the State.
Paddy cultivation is the part and parcel of our culture and it is the State's major food crop. Despite these facts, the area and production of paddy continues to decline over the years. Though 50 percent self-sufficiency in rice cultivation was achieved during 1974-75, the area and production of paddy had declined at an alarming rate in the later years. Such that in the year, 2005-06 the area and production of rice was only 2,75,742 hectors and 6,29,987 metric tonnes resulting in relying other State's for meeting the rice requirement of the State.
There can be many reasons attributed to this drastic change in the agricultural sector of the state. Though Kerala's agricultural sector showed a positive signs of revival in the latter half of the 1980's the State plunged into agricultural stagnation in the later years. The growth performance of this sector in the mid 1990s has been quite disappointing because land put to non-agricultural use and current fallow have showed relatively higher annual growth rate. Primary cause for this is the mismatch between investments and returns. The shortage of farm labour and rapid increase in their wages induce farmers to convert their lands from the cultivation of highly labour intensive food crops to commercial crops for which per hector labour requirements are relatively low. Another recent phenomenon seen in Kerala was the unscrupulous element of converting prime paddy cropland into real estate business. So the majority of the paddy farmers are abolishing their fields. Again in Kerala, the price of land under food crops (paddy, tapioca) is much cheaper than that of land under commercial crops.
As an offshoot of this, schemes such as fallow land cultivation, lease land farming, group farming, system of rice intensification (SRI System) etc. are being implemented in the state to drew a hope in the dark cloud of paddy cultivation in Kerala. Coconut farming, the pace sector of rural economy also faced severe set backs during the recent years owing to fall in the market price and low productivity due to pest and disease attack. The Kerala's share in area of coconut farming in the country had declined from 57 percent in 1991-1992 to 46 percent in 2005-06. Though production enhanced from 6,326 million nuts (2005-06) to 6054 million nuts (2006-07), productivity decreased from 7046 to 6951. 3.5 million families are dependent on these crops in Kerala, which is a symbol of prosperity of our State.
Spices is one of the key area were Kerala dominates in the International market in view of its intrinsic quality. The major items of export of spices from Kerala are pepper, Ginger, nutmeg etc. State continues to enjoy a near monopoly in the area and production of pepper accounting for 98 percent each in the country. The productivity of pepper had achieved its peak of 376 Kg per hector during 1998-99. But in 2006-07 it was only 286 Kg per hector.
The share of Kerala in the area under cashew in the country has come down from 23 percent in 1987-88 to 9.4 percent in 2005-06 and the corresponding decline in share of production from 31 percent to 10.05 percent. The state had a substantial share in the four plantation crops viz. rubber, tea, coffee and cardamom. These four crops together occupy 6.04 lakh hector accounting for 31.4 percent of the net cropped area in the State and 43 percent of the area under these crops in the country. Kerala accounts for 92 percent of the total production of rubber, 76 percent of cardamom, 21 percent of coffee and 6 percent of tea in the country and the changing in cropping patter were in favour of these crops.The picture of the agriculture sector showed that the rate of increase in its income does not provide confidence in the agricultural front. From 6.72 percent in 2005-06, the growth from income has fallen to 6.17 percent.
Kerala has a wide network of river, rivulets and springs spread over the entire cropped area. Out of the net cropped area of the state only 18 percent is irrigated. The net area irrigated had declined from 3.99 lakh ha. during 2005-06 to 3.85 lakh ha. in the year 2006-07. The major source of irrigation is wells (30%), government canals (26%), tanks (11%) and private canals (1.125) respectively. Coconut is the major irrigated crop of the state which accounts for about 36 percent, followed by paddy (35%), banana (8.34%), arecanut (7%) and vegetables (5%) respectively.
Irrigation development in Kerala is mainly centered on the development of surface water resources mainly on the development of major and minor irrigation projects. About 60 to 70 percent of the investment in each plan of the state was earmarked for major and medium irrigation. During the tenth plan period (2002-2007) an outlay of Rs.. 930crore was set apart for the irrigation sector, which is against the outlay of Rs. 1028.00 crores during the ninth plan period. This reduction was mainly due to the transfer of minor irrigation schemes to the local bodies and decrease in the major projects.
Industries and Minerals
Kerala is traditionally backward in industrial development. So the Government has come forward with policy initiatives for greater industrial investment and has laid stress on facilitating more private industrial investment in the State. The industrial and commercial policy 2007 aims at energizing the traditional sector through technology upgradation, diversification and modernization and restructuring and reviving public sector through upgradation of technology, inter - PSU tie-up, capacity building, effective corporate governance etc.
Several initiatives were taken to restructure and revive PSUs under the Industries Department. Comprehensive restructuring packages were successfully implemented in Kerala Sate Electronics Development Corporation Ltd. KELTEC was tied up with DRDA for the production BRAHMOS missiles. TELK entered into strategic tie up with NTPC. Arrangement was made for producing railway wagons using the facilities in Autokast and SILK. KEL, SILK, Traco Cable Company, UEI and TELK were synergised with KSEB to meet its captive demands. As a result of the proactive approach of the Government twenty-two SLPES in the State registered a profit of 129.55 crore in 2006-2007. The public sector undertakings, which made profit during this period, are KELTRON, UEI, Kerala Electricals and Allied Engineering Company, Kerala State Textile Corporation, Handicrafts Development Corporation, SIDCO, Kerala Automobiles, Keltron, Electro Ceramics Ltd, Traco Cable Company Ltd. and Kerala Ceramics Ltd. Profitable PSUs together made a payment of Rs. 197.57 crore to the exchequer.
With the objective of boosting industrial growth, Kerala Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (KINFRA) has been promoting the concept of theme parks, which have been set up for the exclusive development of chosen and specified industrial sectors. Food processing park, Apparel Park, Film and Video Park, Herbal and ayurveda parks are some examples of the parks already implemented by KINFRA. Two food processing parks at Kakkanchery near Kozhikode and at Mazhuvannur near Ernakulam had already been set up. A spices park at Idukki for the processing of spices has been developed and it has started functioning.
Handicrafts industry is a major area of employment generation in the State. Coconut Shell carving, straw picture making, cane work, bamboo and reed weaving, ivory carving, bell metal casting, screw pine and mat weaving are the major handicrafts in the State. Handicrafts Development Corporation and Artisans Development Corporation are the major promotional agencies of the industry. The Handicrafts Development Corporation is procuring and marketing handicraft products through its 18 Kairali emporia spread all over India. The Artisans Development Corporation is giving assistance to artisans in the trade of pottery, copper, bronze, gold smithy, carpentry etc. Kerala State Handicrafts Apex Cooperative Society (SURABHI) formed to support handicrafts in the State has 103 primary cooperative societies to market their products through a network of 16 sales showrooms across the country.
Bamboo is mainly used in the State for the manufacture of pulp for making paper, bamboo ply and in traditional bamboo industry. The traditional bamboo industry provides livelihood to about three lakh workers. The Kerala State Bamboo Corporation has created a new product "Flattened Bamboo Board" which is going to hit the market along with bamboo ply.
Coir industry is a major traditional industry of Kerala, consisting of three major sub sectors viz fibre extraction, spinning and weaving. The industry is mainly organized in the cooperative sector with 804 registered primary cooperative societies of which only 410 are working as on 2007. COIRFED is the apex society. The major portion of coir yarn produced by coir societies is marketed by COIRFED.
Among the items of export coir fiber, coir pith, coir yarn, coir geo-textiles, handloom matting and rubberised coir have shown increase. Coir Geo-textiles has been identified as a major coir product with huge market potential in the multi disciplinary geo-textile engineering applications. U.S.A is the largest importer of coir products from India followed by Germany, U.K, France, Netherlands, Italy and other European countries.
Khadi & Village Industries Board carries out its activities through cooperative societies, registered institutions and departmental units by availing financial assistance from State Government, Khadi Commission and Nationalized Banks. The Board has been promoting Sericulture through SERIFED which has opened a cocoon market in Palakkad and a SILK EXCHANGE facility in Kasaragod.
Minerals
Kerala has large deposits of heavy mineral sand in the form of monozite, ilmenite, thorium, rutile, zirconium etc. There are two titanium based industries - the Travancore Titanium Products Ltd and Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd. The State has large deposits of China clay mainly concentrated in Thiruvanthapuram, Kollam and Kasaragod districts. The deposits of graphite, silica and limestone are considerable in the State. However mineral sand and China clay contribute 90 percent of the total value of mineral production in the State. In 2006-2007 the gem testing laboratory under the Department of Mining and Geology identified 2586 gem stones. Kerala has deposits of Chrysoberil. Granite rocks are abundant in the State and hence there is a flourishing minor quarrying activity under the regulations of the Department of Mining and Geology.
Fairs & Festivals
Fairs and festivals of a country from part of its cultural heritage. Kerala, cut off as it is from the rest of India by the Western Ghats, is noted for its rich culture, heritage and other distinctive characteristics. Keralites have the rare capability to imbibe and assimilate lofty ideals and principles wherever they find them. Religious tolerance, hospitality, cleanliness, simple life and broad outlook of the people have attracted many a foreigner to the State from time immemorial, besides her scenic beauty, pleasant climate and rich natural resources.
History has helped the Malayali to develop a cosmopolitan outlook. Kerala had contacts with the rest of the world for several centuries in the past. The important trading centres of Kerala had relations with Egypt, Asia Minor, China, Assyria, Babylonia, Greece, Rome, Malaya, Philippines, Java and Sumatra. The Kerala Kings and chieftains provided them with all possible assistance not only to carry on trade, but also to settle down here and propagate their religions. It is believed that the Apostle St. Thomas landed on Kerala in 51-54 A.D. St. Thomas established seven churches in the State in places like Palayar, Niranam and Thumpoly. Cheraman Juma Masjid at Kodungalloor, the first Juma Masjid in India, was set up under the patronage of the Raja Of Kodungalloor. Tradition has it that 10,000 Jews came to Kerala soon after destruction of their second temple in their homeland in 72 A.D.
There is an ancient Jain temple near the Palakad town. There are thus hundreds of instances of the Hindu rulers of the princely states of Kerala who made land and wealth available for the construction of churches and mosques. In some cases even temple buildings were given to establish institutions of other religions. Thousands of Namboodiris, the then caste-Hindus and even kings like Cheraman Perumal, changed their religions. Another notable feature is that there is no antagonism between one religion and another. Lord Ayyappa, an important deity of the Hindus, had close friendly relations with a Muslim, Vavar. It is further to be noted that many churches and mosques in Kerala are situated adjacent to temples suggesting that communal harmony and religious tolerance are an essential part of Kerala's culture and heritage. Even the responsibility for organizing certain ceremonies and rituals of some of these institutions is vested with the local people belonging to other communities. Fairs and festivals of the places of worship are programmed in tune with the cultural background and heritage of Keralites. In short, 'Keralisation' of the festivals of different communities is the unique feature of Kerala life.
Travel & Tourism
Transportation is an integral part of the commercial and social development of the Nation. The infrastructure for travel consists of roads, bridges and other transport modes like railways, airways and inland waterways. Kerala can be proud of the fact that it has a good road network compared to other states in India.
The railway divisions at Thiruvananthapuram, Palaghat, Madhurai and Slem jointly carry out transport operations in Kerala. The railway network extends over 1148 route Kms in Kerala of which 111.14 km are meter gauge. The present railway system is mainly costal and does not reach the major agricultural and plantation areas of the State.
The waterways in Kerala are successfully used for Commercial Inland Water Transport and Travel. There are 41 navigable rivers in Kerala. The total length of the Inland Waterways in the State is 1687 kms.
Kerala has three airports. They are located in Thiruvananthapuram (Capital City of Kerala), Kochi and Kozhikkode and handling both international and domestic flights. Out of these three international airports Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikkode airports are owned by Government of India and that at Kochi is owned byGovernment of India and that at Kochi is owned by Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL), a company set up by Government of Kerala with public private participation.
India's most idyllic State, Kerala is today one of the most sought after tourist destinations in the world. Today Kerala Tourism is a global super brand and is recognized as pioneer and trend setter in the country. Its unique culture and traditions, coupled with its varied demography has made Kerala one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Apart from being a tourist destination, Kerala is also India'smost advanced society, cleanest and most peaceful state. 'Responsible Tourism' is adopted as the cornerstone for the tourism development in the state.
Better known as "Gods Own Country", Kerala offers a host of exciting holiday options. Spread out across the year is specially designed packages that highlight the State's attractions, and prove beyond doubt that the season never ends in this beautiful land.