Change in cropping pattern and sustainability of the agrarian economy of Kasaragod district, Kerala

Abstract

The statistical profile of Kasaragod district experienced changes in cropping pattern. This created imbalance in the cropping system and had a serious economic and environmental impact on the farm sector and the sustainability of the agrarian economy. Changing cropping pattern and the consequent application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides heavily resulted in the depletion of inherent macronutrients, plant nutrients and micronutrients of the soil. There is a concern on the deterioration of quantity and quality of surface and groundwater. Sustainability has three important components: continued profitability, soil stability overtime and absence of adverse impact on the environment. In this context, the sustainability of the crop sector and the agrarian economy of Kasaragod district in Kerala is analysed on three grounds: decline in soil fertility status, decrease in the groundwater level and decline in total factor productivity growth. The analysis reveals decrease in soil fertility status in different crop growing areas with very high in rubber cropped areas, very low average groundwater level in rubber cropped areas compared to other cropped areas and deceleration in the total factor productivity growth in the crop sector of the district.