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Agriculture in Kerala has passed through many phases. The major change occurred in the 1970s, when production of rice reduced due to increased availability of rice supply all over India and decreased availability of labour supply.[199] Consequently, investment in rice production decreased and a major portion of the land shifted to the cultivation of perennial tree crops and seasonal crops.[200][201] Profitability of crops is reducing due to shortage of farm labour, the high price of land and the uneconomic size of operational holdings.[202] Kerala produces 97% of the national output of black pepper[203] and accounts for 85% of the area under natural rubber in the country.[204][205] Coconut, tea, coffee, cashew, and spices—including cardamom, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg—comprise a critical agricultural sector.[206][207][208][209][210][211] The key agricultural staple is rice, with varieties grown in extensive paddy fields.[212] Home gardens comprise a significant portion of the agricultural sector.[213] Related animal husbandry is also important, and is touted by proponents as a means of alleviating rural poverty and unemployment among women, the marginalised, and the landless.[214][215] The state government promotes these activity via educational campaigns and the development of new cattle breeds such as the Sunandini.[216][217][218] Though the contribution of agricultural sector to the state economy was on the decline in 2012-13, under the strength of the allied livestock sector, it has picked up from 7.03% (2011–12) to 7.2%. In the current fiscal (2013–14), the contribution has been estimated at a high of 7.75%. The total growth of farm sector has recorded a 4.39% increase in 2012-13, over a paltry 1.3% growth in the previous fiscal. The primary sector comprising agriculture has only a share of 9.34% in the sectoral distribution of Gross State Domestic Product at Constant Price, whereas the secondary and tertiary sectors has contributed 23.94% and 66.72% respectively. Ill-effects due to the usage of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides has gradually contributed to preferences for organic products and home farming, and as a result Kerala plans to shift to fully organic cultivation by 2016.[219][220] A scenic landscape, with water filled paddy fields. Fisheries A fisherman in rural Kerala With 590 km of coastal belt,[221] 400,000 hectares of inland water resources[222] and about 220,000 active fishermen,[223] Kerala is one of the leading producers of fish in India.[224] According to 2003–04 reports, about 1.1 million people earn their livelihood from fishing and allied activities such as drying, processing, packaging, exporting and transporting fisheries. The annual yield of the sector was estimated as 608,000 tons in 2003–04.[225] This contributes to about 3% of the total economy of the state. In 2006, about 22% of the total Indian marine fishery yield was from the state.[226] During the southwest monsoon, a suspended mud bank would be developed along the shore, which in turn leads to calm ocean water and hence peak output from the fishery industry. This phenomenon is locally called chakara.[227][228] The fish landings consist of a large variety: pelagic species; 59%, demersal species; 23%, crustaceans and molluscs.[226] Transport Roads Main articles: Roads in Kerala and Kerala State Road Transport Corporation KSRTC is the major agency providing long-haul public bus service in South Kerala. Kerala has 145,704 kilometres (90,536 mi) of roads; it accounts for 4.2% of India's total. This translates to about 4.62 kilometres (2.87 mi) of road per thousand population, compared to an average of 2.59 kilometres (1.61 mi) in the country. Roads in Kerala include 1,524 km of national highway; it is 2.6% of the nation's total, 4341.6 km of state highway and 18900 km of district roads.[229] Most of Kerala's west coast is accessible through two national highways: NH 47 and NH 17, and the eastern side is accessible through various state highways.[230] There is also a hill highway proposed, to make easy access to eastern hills.[231] National Highway 17 with the longest stretch of 421 km connects Edapally to Panvel; it starts from Kochi and passes through Kozhikode, Kannur, Kanhangad, Kasaragod and Uppala before entering Karnataka.[230] District Palakkad is generally referred to as the Gateway of Kerala which connects the Northern (Malabar) and Southern (Travancore) parts of Kerala to rest of India via road and rail. It has the state's largest check post Walayar through which all the major public and commercial transportation happens, to reach all other districts of Kerala.[citation needed] The Department of Public Works is responsible for maintaining and expanding the state highways system and major district roads.[232] The Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP), which includes the GIS-based Road Information and Management Project (RIMS), is responsible for maintaining and expanding the state highways in Kerala; it also oversees a few major district roads.[233][234] Traffic in Kerala has been growing at a rate of 10–11% every year, resulting in high traffic and pressure on the roads. Road density is nearly four times the national average, reflecting the state's high population density. Kerala's annual total of road accidents is among the nation's highest. The accidents are mainly the result of the narrow roads and irresponsible driving.[235] National Highways in Kerala are among the narrowest in the country and will remain so for the foreseeable future, as the state government has received an exemption that allows narrow national highways. In Kerala, highways are 45 meters wide. In other states National Highways are grade separated highways 60 meters wide with a minimum of four lanes, as well as 6 or 8 lane access-controlled expressways.[236][237] NHAI has threatened the kerala state government that it will give high priority to other states in highway development as political commitment to the better highways has been lacking from the government,[238] although State had the highest road accident rate in the country, with most fatal accidents taking place along the State's NHs.[239] Railways The main Portico of the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station The Indian Railways' Southern Railway line runs through the state connecting most of the major towns and cities except those in the highland districts of Idukki and Wayanad.[240] The railway network in the state is controlled by two out of six divisions of Southern Railway; Thiruvananthapuram Railway division and Palakkad Railway Division.[241] Thiruvananthapuram Central (TVC) is the busiest railway station in the state. Kerala's major railway stations are Thiruvananthapuram Central (TVC), Ernakulam Junction (South) (ERS),Kozhikode (CLT), Shornur Junction (SRR), Palakkad Junction (PGT),Kollam Junction (QLN),Kannur (CAN), Thrissur Railway Station (TCR),Kochuveli Railway station(KCVL) Ernakulam Town (North)(ERN) Alappuzha (ALLP), Kottayam (KTYM)and Kayamkulam Junction (KYJ). Major railway transport between Beypore–Tirur began on 12 March 1861, from Shoranur–Cochin Harbour section in 1902, from Shenkottai–Punalur on 26 November 1904, from Nilambur-Shoranur in 1927, from Punalur–Thiruvananthapuramon 4 November 1931, from Ernakulam–Kottayam in 1956, from Kottayam–Kollam in 1958, from Thiruvananthapuram–Kanyakumari in 1979 and from Thrissur-Guruvayur Section in 1994.[242] Airports State Water Transport Department is the main agency providing inland water transport facilities Kerala has three international airports; Trivandrum International Airport Cochin International Airport and Calicut International Airport. Two international airports were proposed, at Kannur and Pathanamthitta as of 2008.[243] Officials say that the Kannur International Airport will be completed in December 2015 and will make Kerala the only state in the country to have four international airports.[244][245]Trivandrum International Airport, the oldest airport in South India, is ranked among the best airports in India managed by the Airport Authority of India while Cochin International Airport is the busiest in the state and was the first Indian airport to be incorporated as a public limited company; it was funded by nearly 10,000 non-resident Indians from 30 countries.[246] Inland water transport Junkar Service Fort Kochi Kerala has numerous backwaters, which are used for commercial inland navigation. Transport services are mainly provided by country craft and passenger vessels.[201] There are 67 navigable rivers in the state while the total length of inland waterways is 1,687 kilometres (1,048 mi).[247] The main constraints to the expansion of inland navigation are lack of depth in waterways caused by silting, lack of maintenance of navigation systems and bank protection, accelerated growth of the water hyacinth, lack of modern inland craft terminals, and lack of a cargo handling system.[201] A 205 kilometres (127 mi) long canal, National Waterway 3, runs between Kottapuram and Kollam.[248] Demographics Main article: Demographics of Kerala See also: List of most populous urban agglomerations in Kerala and Ethnic groups in Kerala [hide]List of Major cities in Kerala Rank (in India) City District Population Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram Kochi, India Kochi Kozhikode Kozhikode Kollam Kollam Thrissur city Thrissur 1 (59) Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram 796,084 2 (72) Kochi Ernakulam 632,997 3 (101) Kozhikode Kozhikode 550,921 4 (124) Kollam Kollam 367,477 5 (134) Thrissur Thrissur 315,596 6 Kannur Kannur 241,072 7 Palakkad Palakkad 131,019 8 Kanhangad Kasaragod 125,884 9 Kottayam Kottayam 112,878 10 Malappuram Malappuram 101,330 Source: 2011 Census of India [249] List of cities in Kerala based on the population (not based on urban agglomeration population). Circle frame.svg Languages of Kerala in 2001[250] Malayalam (96.74%) Tamil (1.87%) Others (1.39%) [show]Population trend Kerala is home to 2.76% of India's population; at 859 persons per km2, its land is nearly three times as densely settled as the rest of India, which is at a population density of 370 persons per km2.[254] Thiruvananthapuram is the largest and most populous city in Kerala. In the state, the rate of population growth is India's lowest, and the decadal growth of 4.9% in 2011 is less than one third of the all-India average of 17.64%.[254] Kerala's population more than doubled between 1951 and 1991 by adding 15.6 million people to reach 29.1 million residents in 1991; the population stood at 33.3 million by 2011.[254] Kerala's coastal regions are the most densely settled with population density of coastal districts being 2022 persons per km2, 2.5 times the overall population density of the state, 859 persons per km2, leaving the eastern hills and mountains comparatively sparsely populated.[255] Around 31.8 million Keralites are predominantly Malayali.[256] State's 321,000 indigenous tribal Adivasis, 1.10% of the population, are concentrated in the east.[257]:10–12 Malayalam, one of the classical languages in India, is Kerala's official language,[258] however Tamil is also widely understood.[259][260][261] Kannada, Tulu, Hindi, Bengali, Mahl and various Adivasi (tribal) languages are also spoken.[260][262][263][264] As of early 2013, there are close to 2.5 million (7.5% of state population) migrant workers from other states of India in Kerala.[265] Religion Main article: Religion in Kerala Religion in Kerala[266] Religion Percent Hinduism 56.2% Islam 24.7% Christianity 19.0% Others 0.1% In comparison with the rest of India, Kerala experiences relatively little sectarianism.[267] According to 2001 Census of India figures, 56.2% of Kerala's residents are Hindus, 24.7% are Muslims, 19% are Christians, and the remaining 0.1% follows other religions.[266] The major Hindu castes are Dalit, Ezhava, Thiyya, Arayan, Nadars, Nair and Nambudiri. The rest of the Hindu castes, including those in the list of Other Backward Class (OBC), are minority communities. Islam arrived in Kerala through Arab traders in the 7th century AD.[268][269] Muslims of Kerala, generally referred to as Moplahs, mostly follow the Shafi'i Madh'hab under Sunni Islam.[270] The major Muslim organisations are Sunni, Mujahid and Jama'at-e-Islami.[271] Ancient Christian tradition says that Christianity reached the shores of Kerala in AD 52 with the arrival of Thomas the Apostle, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ.[48][272][273][274] Saint Thomas Christians include Syro-Malabar Catholic,[275] Syro-Malankara Catholic,[276] Malankara Orthodox Syrian,[277] Jacobite Syrian,[278] Marthoma Syrian[279] and Syrian Anglicans in the CSI.[280] Latin Rite Christians were converted by the Portuguese in the 16th and 19th centuries,[127][281] mainly from communities where fishing was the traditional occupation.[282] Judaism reached Kerala in the 10th century BC during the time of King Solomon.[283] They are called Cochin Jews or Malabar Jews and are the oldest group of Jews in India.[44][284] There was a significant Jewish community existed in Kerala until the 20th century, when most of them migrated to Israel.[285] The Paradesi Synagogue at Kochi is the oldest synagogue in the Commonwealth.[286] Jainism has a considerable following in the Wayanad district.[287][288] Buddhism was dominant at the time of Ashoka the Great but vanished by the 8th century CE.[289] Certain Hindu communities such as the Kshatriyas, Nairs, Tiyyas and the Muslims around North Malabar used to follow a traditional matrilineal system known as marumakkathayam,[290][291] although this practice ended in the years after Indian independence.[292] Other Muslims, Christians, and some Hindu castes such as the Namboothiris and the Ezhavas followed makkathayam, a patrilineal system.[293][294][295] Owing to the former matrilineal system, women in Kerala enjoy a high social status.[296] However, gender inequality among low caste men and women is reportedly higher compared to that in other castes.[297] :1 Districts Population Percent Hindus Percent Christians Percent Muslims Thiruvananthapuram 3,307,284 65.19% 21.44% 13.37% Kollam 2,629,703 61.23% 19.36% 19.41% Pathanamthitta 1,195,537 46.35% 49.07% 4.58% Alapuzha 2,121,943 66.16% 23.96% 9.88% Kottayam 1,979,274 43.37% 51.65% 5.98% Idukki 1,107,453 45.24% 47.56% 7.20% Ernakulam 3,279,860 43.59% 41.84% 14.57% Thrissur 3,110,327 55.31% 28.24% 16.45% Palakkad 2,810,892 66.92% 6.18% 26.90% Malappuram 4,110,956 28.44% 4.72% 66.84% Kozhikkode 3,089,543 55.04% 7.43% 37.53% Wayanad 816,558 49.44% 23.57% 26.72% Kannur 2,525,637 59.51% 12.84% 27.65% Kasargod 1,302,600 55.61% 10.06% 34.33%[298] Gender There are a number of possible explanations for the position of women in Kerala. The primary reason is a tradition of matrilineal inheritance in Kerala where the mother is the head of the household. As a result women in Kerala have had a much higher standing and influence in the society. Another reason is the rise of communist governing bodies in Kerala. These governments helped to distribute land and implement education reforms.[296] This was common among certain influential castes and is a factor in the value placed on daughters. Christian missionaries also influenced Malayali women in that they started schools for girls from poor families. Opportunities for women like education and gainful employment often translate into a lower birth rate, which in turn, makes education and employment more likely to be accessible and more beneficial for women. This creates an upward spiral for both the women and children of the community that is passed on to future generations of both boys and girls. Low birth rate and high literacy rate are often the twin hallmarks of the healthy advancement of a society. While having the opportunities that education affords them such as participating in politics, keeping up to date on news, reading religious texts, etc., these tools have not translated into full, equal rights for the women of Kerala. There is a general attitude that women must be restricted for their own benefit. Women who break the rules are often looked down on. Kerala is a state in flux where, despite the social progress made so far, gender still influences social mobility.[299][300][301] Human Development Index As of 2014 Kerala has a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.790 [3] which comes under the "high" category and it is the highest in the country.[3] Comparatively higher spending of the government in primary level education, health care and elimination of poverty from the 19th century onward had helped the state to keep a very high HDI;[302][303] report was prepared by the central government's Institute of Applied Manpower Research.[304][305] However, the Human Development Report, 2005 prepared by Centre for Development Studies envisages a virtuous phase of inclusive development for the state since the advancement in human development had already started aiding the economic development of the state.[302] According to a 2005–2006 national survey, Kerala has the highest literacy rate among Indian states; 93.91%.[306] Life expectancy of 74 years was among the highest in India as of 2011.[307] Kerala's rural poverty rate fell from 59% (1973–1974) to 12% (1999–2010); the overall (urban and rural) rate fell 47% between the 1970s and 2000s against the 29% fall in overall poverty rate in India.[308] By 1999–2000, the rural and urban poverty rates dropped to 10.0% and 9.6% respectively.[188] These changes stem largely from efforts begun in the late 19th century by the kingdoms of Cochin and Travancore to boost social welfare.[309][310] This focus was maintained by Kerala's post-independence government.[126][165]:48 The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation designated Kerala the world's first "baby-friendly state" because of its effective promotion of breast-feeding over formulas.[311] Third National Family Health Survey ranks Kerala first in the list of "Institutional Delivery" with 100% births in medical facility.[312] Ayurveda (both elite and popular forms),[313]:13 siddha, and many endangered and endemic modes of traditional medicine, including kalari, marmachikitsa and vishavaidyam, are practised. Some occupational communities such as Kaniyar were known as native medicine men in relation with practice of such streams of medical systems, apart from their traditional vocation.[314] These propagate via gurukula discipleship,[313]:5–6 and comprise a fusion of both medicinal and supernatural treatments.[313]:15 Kerala has undergone the "demographic transition" characteristic of such developed nations as Canada, Japan, and Norway.[166]:1 as 11.2% of people are over the age of 60,[165] and due to the low birthrate of 18 per 1,000.[315] In 1991, Kerala's total fertility rate (TFR) was the lowest in India. Hindus had a TFR of 1.66, Christians; 1.78, and Muslims; 2.97.[316] The sub-replacement fertility level and infant mortality rate are lower compared to those of other states; estimated from 12[126][315]:49 to 14[317]:5 deaths per 1,000 live births. According to Human Development Report 1996, Kerala's Gender Development Index was reported to be 597; higher than any other state of India. Many factors, such as high rates of female literacy, education, work participation and life expectancy, along with favourable female-to-male ratio, had contributed to it.[318] Kerala's female-to-male ratio of 1.058 is higher than that of the rest of India.[166]:2 The state also is regarded as the "least corrupt Indian state" according to the surveys conducted by Transparency International (2005)[319] and India Today (1997)[320] Kerala is the cleanest and healthiest state in India.[321] However, Kerala's morbidity rate is higher than that of any other Indian state—118 (rural) and 88 (urban) per 1,000 people. The corresponding figures for all India were 55 and 54 per 1,000 respectively as of 2004.[317]:5 Kerala's 13.3% prevalence of low birth weight is higher than that of First World nations.[315] Outbreaks of water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis, and typhoid among the more than 50% of people who rely on 3 million water wells is an issue worsened by the lack of sewers.[322]:5–7 In respect of women empowerment, some negative factors such as higher suicide rate, lower share of earned income, complaints of sexual harassment and limited freedom are reported.[318] |
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