FAQ

Which is the most cultivated crop in Kerala?

The most cultivated crops in Kerala are paddy, coconut, rubber and arecanut, with a significant portion of the state's population—nearly 4 million—relying on agriculture for their livelihood. Paddy, the staple food crop, is cultivated on approximately 205,040 hectares (as of 2020-21), with production reaching 633,739 tonnes. The three main rice-growing seasons are Virippu (April-May to September-October), Mundakan (September-October to December-January) and Puncha (December-January to March-April). Among these, the Mundakan season accounts for the largest area under cultivation and the highest yield.

Coconut occupies the largest area under cultivation, with 768,809 hectares as of 2020-21, making it Kerala's leading crop in terms of land use. However, factors such as disease, poor management and aging have negatively impacted coconut productivity. Rubber follows as the second most-cultivated crop in terms of area, while paddy ranks third.

According to a study by Mr C. George Thomas from Kerala Agricultural University, only four crops—coconut, rubber, rice, and banana (including plantain)—are grown on over one lakh hectares in Kerala. Other notable crops, ranked by area, include arecanut, jackfruit, coffee, black pepper, mango, cassava, cashew nut, cardamom, tea, nutmeg, papaya, drumstick and cocoa. Despite challenges, such as low profitability in paddy farming and declining productivity in coconut cultivation, these crops remain integral to Kerala's agricultural landscape.