Constraints Faced by Paddy Farmers in Kerala: An Empirical Analysis in Palakkad

Abstract

The demand for rice is high in Kerala, therefore, the quality and quantity of paddycultivation have a prominent role in Kerala. Among the various districts in Kerala, Palakkadhas the highest paddy production in Kerala. However, it was observed that paddycultivation in Palakkad district has been gradually declining over the past 20 years, bothin terms of area and production. Earlier studies have shown that paddy cultivation facedvarious constraints. However, previous studies have rarely addressed the hurdles facedby paddy farmers in Palakkad. In this context, the present study was conducted duringDecember 2023 to investigate and identify the constraints faced by farmers in Palakkaddistrict in paddy cultivation. The present study used quantitative and qualitative methodsto collect the data to achieve this objective. The study identified five major interlinkedbut distinct areas of constraints. The most important areas in which restrictions existedwere; leadership and management, finance, marketing, agroecological, and inputs. Basedon these findings, this study argues that paddy farmers and the Government should bereceptive and responsive to the ever changing systems of paddy farming.INTRODUCTIONFor many years, paddy has been a significant food crop inKerala. Unfortunately, the amount of land dedicated to paddycultivation has drastically decreased since the 1980s. In 1974-75,paddy cultivation occupied 8.82 lakh hectares in the state, but by2019-20, it had alarmingly reduced to 1.66 lakh hectares. Accordingto the Kerala Economic Review of 2023, paddy cultivationconstituted only 7.6 per cent of the total cultivated area in the statefrom 2021-2022 to 2022-2023.The cultivation of paddy variesacross the districts of the state. Palakkad, Alappuzha, Thrissur,and Kottayam districts account for approximately 81.2 per cent ofthe total rice production in the state. Palakkad district has thehighest share in rice production (41%), followed by Alappuzha(16%), Thrissur (14%), and Kottayam (9%), respectively. Palakkaddistrict ranked first in terms of area and production of rice in thestate, followed by Alappuzha District. However, when it comesto productivity, Malappuram district ranked first, followed by theThrissur district (Kerala Economic Review, 2023).Over time, the area of land utilized for paddy cultivation inKerala has dwindled. This can be attributed to several factors, suchas the conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes.The decline in paddy farming can be traced back to various reasons,including insufficient profits, inadequate government support,