Kerala “God’s Own Country”

1. Kerala “God’s Own Country” By Joel VargheseDanielle Sundstrom

2. Kerala • Area – 38,863 sq.km • Population – 31,841,374 • Female : Male Ratio – 1058:1000 • Population density – 819 • Literacy rate - 90.86% • Principle language – Malayalam (428)

3. Agriculture Facts

4. Trade – Export • India - $ 38,115 million • Total exports - 81,393 M.T. valued $ 261.13 million. • Second largest - marine products. • 17.42 % quantity, 15.20% value. • Major buyers (seafood) - European Union, USA, China, Japan, South East Asia, and the Middle East. • Food products - Spices, Pepper, Cardamom, Chilli, Ginger, Turmeric, Coriander, Curry Powder, Spice oils, Vanilla, Cashew kernels, Coffee, Tea, Coir products etc.

5. Trade – Import • India - $43,882 million • Major- Raw materials and fertilizers (639,533 M.T) • Food products – Food grains, Raw cashew nuts etc. • Major sellers (all products) – Germany, USA, China, Japan, France, Netherlands, UK, Italy, Canada etc.

6. Farming Techniques • Precision Farming: common technique in India • Used for decades • Farmers tailor the soil and crop management to fit different conditions found in each field • To maximize crop yield, agricultural inputs must be matched, such as seeds, fertilizer, irrigation, insecticide, and pesticides • This technique can reduce the cost of production and diminish the chance of environmental degradation usually caused by excess inputs These Indian farmers are attending a “precision farming” training program

7. Land Ownership Laws and Patterns • "Kerala is a State with rich agro-biodiversity and the government sees it as its top priority to protect it" –Kerala Agriculture Minister • The Kerala Agriculture Minister declared in June 2007 that no GM (genetically modified) crops will be allowed in the state • Farmers and environmental organizations were pleased with the decision • Agricultural organizations across Kerala say that farming here can only become sustainable by supporting local organic farming • This will reduce cost of production while giving good nutritional and economic value to the final produce. • Most land transactions in Kerala are registered with the government at a fraction of the real transaction price. • Problem: unaccounted cash. • The government decided to impose tax on a "fair value". or the worth of your property as assessed by the government. Organic farmers Organic cabbage plantation

8. Land Acts of Kerala Kerala Land Reforms Act of 1963 • Ceiling of land area fixed for individuals and joint families • Individuals were prevented from owning, holding or possessing land in excess of the ceiling area • The leasing of land to any other individual or company was prohibited. • Results: • redistribution of land to all agricultural laborers and dwellers • the reduction of the average size of land holdings • there are no large blocks of land in private ownership that can be used for plantation forestry -limits private sector’s future access of forestry in government land Palakkad, where Kerala’s longest river runs through • Kerala Agrarian Relations Act of 1960 • Conferred ownership rights to tenants of land • Limited the extent of surplus land held by large landowners • Led to much land being taken away from matrilineal households

9. Land Concentration Areca nut As seen on this map, Kerala grows mostly rice, oil seeds, spices, Areca nuts, and Cashew nuts Cashew nut Spices Tobacco Betel Leaf Sugarcane Tea Groundnut

10. What Products are Produced • Rice is the main crop grown in India, and is second only to China in world rice production • Over 600 variations of rice are grown in Kerala alone • Kerala is also a major producer of spices that form the cash crop of the state • Kerala produces 96% of the country’s national output of pepper • The most used spices are cardamom, cinnamon, clove, turmeric, nutmeg and vanilla • Other cash crops that constitute the agricultural sector include tea, coffee, cashew, coconut, areca nut, ginger and coconut. • Kerala provides 70% of the country’s output of coconut • 91% of the country’s rubber production also comes from Kerala, and bananas are also grown in plenty Agricultural workers tending rice by hand, as in most developing countries Organic produce

11. Problems Facing Farmers • High interest loans from private financers and government • High amounts of debt lead to poverty • Crop failure • Fall in prices of farm commodities • Consequences: • Farmers committing suicide • Over 1500 in the last 5 years • Biggest social problem facing Kerala

12. The Coca Cola Struggle (2003) • Plachimada village, Palakkad District – one of largest bottling plants of Coca Cola. • Local Self Government – No renewal of industrial license for Hindusthan Coca Cola Beverages Ltd. (1999) • “Protecting Public Interest” • Problem : Shortage and contamination of well water • Over-exploitation of ground water. ~1 million Liters/day = Minimum requirement for ~ 20,000 people/day • Water sample tests revealed hardness, chlorides and a concentration of TDS. • May have led to many diseases. Illegal dumping of sludge at Coca-Cola bottling plant

13. Coca Cola Struggle (Continued) • State government inspection report supported the company. • Department's report : depletion of water in the open wells due to poor rainfall led to less groundwater recharge. • Action: Protests and strikes led to shutdown of the company bottling plant in March 2004 and has never reopened since. • New government took power and accepted the demands of the people to: • permanently shut down the plant • compensate the affected community, and • prosecute company for criminal offenses for destruction of lives, livelihood, health and environment of the people. • Result: Protests against Coca cola all over India. • Kerala banned production and sale of Pepsi and Coca cola (August 2006)

14. Welcome to Kerala