Majority of
the population of the district are dependent directly or indirectly on
agriculture for their livelihood. According to the Census of 1991,
53,877 persons are engaged in cultivation and 12,193 in agricultural
labour.
The main
crops grown in the district are paddy, coconut, pepper cashew, tapioca,
areca nut and plantation crops like rubber.
Paddy
occupies the largest area among annual crops. The first crop of paddy is
mostly a wetland crop and it covers twice the area under the second crop
and the four times the area under the summer crop. Under high yielding
variety programme, substantial increase in paddy production has been
achieved; even though the percentage of area sown under paddy is
decreasing year after year, due to conversion of paddy fields to other
purposes.
The
average yield of paddy is recorded at 2146kg. per hectare. But,
according to field observations, the yield ranges from 2200 kg. to 3200
kg. per hectare, depending upon the variety of seeds sown and the
quantum of input such as fertilizer, manure and plant protection
chemicals are used.
Next to
paddy, coconut is the most important crop in the district. It’s
cultivation spread over 88,143 hectares. Coconut is extensively grown
throughout the district. The average yield, as per field observation, is
45 per tree.
An
important cash crop grown I the district is cashew nut. The district
plays a unique role in its cultivation and production. The vast
stretches of suitable wastelands with low fertility status extends scope
for expansion of cashew cultivation and its allied industries.
Among
spices, pepper occupies an important place covering an area of 17,235
hectares. Pepper is mostly grown as an intercrop with coconut, arecanut
and various fruit trees. In the hilly areas of the district, the
inter-cultivation is done with rubber and cashew. It is also grown in
the homestead of marginal farmers.
Rubber
is the most important industrial cash crops among the plantation crops.
Nearly 46,083 hectares of land is under rubber cultivation.
About 55
per cent of the rubber cultivation of a Kannur district is in
Thaliparamba taluk, followed by Thalassery and Kannur taluks. The yield
of rubber per hectare varies from 2000 kg. to 4000kgs.
