An analysis of changing land use pattern and cropping pattern in a scenario of increasing food insecurity in Kerala state

Abstract

Kerala state is unique in its agro-climatic variations and cropping pattern as compared to other states of India. Changes in Land Use pattern and cropping pattern in Kerala have been creating a lot of concern from the environmental as well as food security point of view. The present study examines shifts in land use pattern and changing trend of cropping pattern in Kerala from 2001 to 2012 period. Secondary data on area, production and productivity of major food crops and non food crops were collected from various sources. Compound annual growth rate and Cuddy-Della Valle instability index was computed to examine the growth and instability of the crops over the period (2001-2012). Crop diversification index was also calculated for the state for each year. The study observed that land which is categorized as cultivable waste, fallow other than current fallow and Current fallow recorded a positive growth in area. It is also found that banana(1.53%) and rubber(1.07%) showed maximum positive growth in terms of area. Among food crops rice (4.01%) tapioca (3.83%) and plantain (1.01%) showed a negative growth in area. Rice recorded negative growth in both area and production, which should be considered as an alarming situation as far as food security of Kerala is considered. It can be concluded that in Kerala Total cropped area is decreasing and food crops are more hard hitted by this shift than non food crops. Crop diversification index also point towards the trend of increasing monocropping in the state which favour non food crops.