|
Agriculture forms the mainstay of the population of the
district. The soil in the three natural divisions generally fall under
three types. In the highland region it is laterite. In the midland, the
soil is a red ferruginous loam of laterutic origin with an admixture of
clay and sand. The coastal strip is sandy. Diversity of crops and
heterogeneity in cultivation are the key notes of agriculture here.
The eastern tract comprises of
forests and hilly areas. The forest comprise of a variety of timber with
teak and other plantations. The hilly areas are mostly cleared and put
to private cultivation; the important crops being rubber, cashew and
ginger. In the skeletal plateue areas, cashew trees are cultivated,
while in some patches, arecanut,pepper and cocoa are grown. In the
coastal tract, paddy, coconuty, arecanut, cashew, tobacco, vegetables
and and tapioca are cultivated.
The important crops raised and their
extent in the district are as below.
|
Sl. No |
Crops |
Area in Ha. |
-
|
Paddy
|
8,974
|
-
|
Coconut
|
31,2453
|
-
|
Arecanut
|
12,225
|
-
|
Pepper
|
3,402
|
-
|
Cashew
|
16,143
|
-
|
Tapioca
|
506
|
-
|
Tobacco
|
835
|
-
|
Rubber
|
7,643
|
-
|
Sweet Potato
|
475
|
-
|
Vegitables
|
948
|
-
|
Pulses
|
1,134
|
-
|
Banana
|
1,877
|
-
|
Ginger
|
730
|
-
|
Oil Seeds
|
4,070
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Land
use Pattern
As
per survey reports, Kasaragod district covers a geographical area of
1,96,130 hectres. The composition of the geographical features are as
detailed below.
|
Particulars
|
Area in
Hectres
|
|
Forest area
|
5,625
|
|
Land put to non agricultural use
|
15,131
|
|
Barren & uncultivable
|
11,692
|
|
Permanent pastures and grazing
land
|
222
|
|
Land under miscellaneous tree
crops
|
2,369
|
|
Cultivable wastes
|
17,194
|
|
Fallow other than
|
2,021
|
|
Current fallow
|
2,590
|
|
Net sown area
|
1,29,299
|
|
Area sown more than once
|
1,459
|
|
Total cropped area (gross)
|
1,40,757
|
|
Net irrigated area
|
30,419
|
|
Gross irrigated area
|
33,942
|
Central
Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI)
:
The central plantation crops research institute is an
establishment having national importance. With head quarters at Kudlu, 5
kms. north of Kasaragod, the CPCRI has regional stations at Kayamkulam,
Vittal and Kozhikode. Its research centres are at Peechi, Palode,
Hirehally, Appangala, Mohithnagar,and Kehikuchi. There are seed farms at
Kidu and Sathigod, one field station at Thrissurand a World
Coconut Germplasm Centre at Sipighat. The objectives of the CPCRI
are to serve as national forum for improving genetic potential of
plantation crops, to conduct basic and applied research on various aspects
of these crops , to co-ordinate research works being done by other
institutions and agencies in the country, to serve as an information
centre on all matters pertaining to these crops, to produce genetically
superior planting materials and to carry out all India co-ordinated
cropping improvement project on coconut, areca nut, spices and cashew nut.
CPCRI was established in 1970 by the Indian Council of Agricultural
Research. Research is carried out on various branches of Agricultural sciences
such as gardening, soil chemistry, plant production, micro biology, plant
diseases, cattle rearing, pisci culture etc.
T into D, Mangala Aracanut, new spices of
Cardomom, Turmeric and Cashew, mixed crop and multi crop system, etc are
some of the contributions of the CPCRI for the development of agriculture.
The most remarkable venture is tissue culture in coconut. Research on
various diseases of coconut, arecanut, cashew, pepper and field cropshas
given better yields. |
