Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Cropping Pattern in Kerala

Agriculture plays an important role in the economic life of Kerala, India.Cash Crops like coconut, rubber, tea, coffee, pepper, cardamom, areca nut, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon etc. and food crops like paddy, vegetables tapioca etc. gives the agricultural sector of Kerala a distinct flavour. The state has witnessed a remarkable transformation in the agricultural sector, as the state agriculture concentrates more on highly remunerative crops like rubber, spices etc. The state observed a spatial and temporal shift of the cropping pattern , from food crops to non food crops for the past few decades.The spatial and temporal pattern of cropping shift has been analysed using various methodologies like diversification indices, cluster analysis etc. This book will help the students, researchers and policy makers to understand the pattern of the shift in cropping system occurred in Kerala state.