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Vol 11, Issue 4 ,April/ 2020 ISSN NO: 0377-9254

IMPACT OF IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR OF - A CASE STUDY OF

Jaison V. Joseph

Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, EKNM Government College, , Kasaragode(Dt), Kerala, 670511

Abstract significance in the context of commercialization of agriculture, development of economy of the settled Migration is as old as the history of area, increase of population etc. The pulls and mankind. The farmers of southern districts of pressures in the agricultural sector continue to Kerala, especially from district migrated exert their influence on the overall course of to Malabar region (Kannur and Calicut districts) in economic activity. search of fertile agricultural land for their Peasant Migration in Kerala – A Historical livelihood and survival as early as 1930s and came perspective to end in mid 1970s. The study made an attempt to The Jews, the , the Syrian measure the agricultural contribution of migrants to Christians, the Konkani Brahmins, the Tamil Kerala economy by taking the as a Brahmins and a host of other ethnic groups have sample area of migrant settled place which is come and settled in Kerala on various occasions in identified by the appropriate sampling method.The the past. Similarly people of Kerala are now paper reveals that 14.61 % of population of migrant moving to different parts of the world in search of dominated panchayaths cultivates 32.44 % of land jobs. The two important streams of migration that under Kannur district and contributes sizeable share the 20th century Kerala witnessed are 1) migration of SDP. of farmers from to the highlands of Index Terms: agriculture, christian,crop, Malabar and 2) migration of semiskilled and migration, parish unskilled labourers to the Gulf and Arabian countries. Now a day’s second stream of migration Introduction is experienced in Kerala as, a) The migration of Migration has been a major source of second generation peasants from Malabar region to human survival, adaptation, and growth across the Shimoga region and b) Increased number of centuries and millennia. In the early days, human migrated labourers from North to Kerala. migration was accompanied by anticipation, The migration of the peasants from excitement and fear, the fracturing of long-standing central Travancore to Malabar took place social relationships, heartaches, tensions, and even without any design or organization or leadership bloodshed between the migrants and the local and was invariably related to their issues of populations, and the willing or unwilling exchange livelihood and existence as well . The proverb of ideas, skills, attitudes, and genes. The ‘necessity is the mother of all inventions’ overwhelming majority of people who move do so really motivates the people to migrate to inside their own country and data reveals that Malabar . A large number of people treats internal migration is four times higher than Malabar migration as more powerful and international migration. (http://hdr.undp.org, adventurous than even the discovery of US by (accessed on 25/07/2010) And when it comes to Columbus and they believes that Malabar internal migration, case of Indian economy is of migration is the summation of their particular interest because of the strong industriousness, persuasiveness, mental and heterogeneity across states in their levels of per physical power, will power, perseverance, grit, capita income, and demographic characteristics tears and sacrifice. The syrian catholic christians (Cashin, P and R. Sahay) The importance of were the largest section among them, their migration in developing countries cannot be settlements led to the establishment of churches overemphasised and it has acquired special and schools, which became torches of learning in

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the jungles of Malabar. The migrants are which forms 7.64% of the total area of Kerala. hardworking, enterprising and dynamic who The population of Kannur district according to work hard from sun rise to sun set without 2011 census is 25230 03 which constitute 7.56 % food and sleep. After sustaining, the migrants of Kerala and the density is 852. The religion by competing to weather, animals, diseases, wise population of Kannur district says that famine and soil, they began to cultivate long 62.94% belongs to , 26.67% and term commercial crops like rubber, , 10.72% as christians. Around 95% of the , cashew nut etc. This also created an migrants of Kannur district belong to christian enlightened new generation farmers and converted community. the vacant rocky land of Malabar into a paradise of Migrant dominated parishes and panchayath farming activities. But even after nine decades From the Christian dominated blocks, since the beginning of Malabar migration, the 15 migrants dominated Panchayats were benefits attributed by the Malabar migration are identified and their population is 323364 which either neglected or side-lined by the administrators is 12.85% of Kannur district. The TGA of these and policy makers. It may be due to the lack of panchayath is 105.75 sq.km which constitutes proper studies with statistical evidences to prove 35.59 % of Kannur district. It means that 36% of there existed migration to a large extent and it is TGA is consumed by 12% of population only by the efforts done by travancore peasants belonging to these 15 panchayats. The density of contributed to the agricultural development of population of these panchayats (307) is less than Kerala and not by the early inhabitants. the identified blocks (498) and Kannur district Objectives (852). It clearly says that the acreage of land The main objective of the present study possessed by individual house hold in these are to analyse the contribution made by the panchayath is too high as compared to blocks, migrants to the agricultural and economic district and Kerala. development of Kerala. The christian population of the district is Source of data and sampling design 10.72% and for the present study we assume that Even though the migration to Malabar 95% of christians are living in these panchayats covers six districts, the present study is limited to who constitutes the lion’s share of migrants in Kannur district. From the Directory of Arch the Kannur district. The number of parishes Diocese of , we have identified the belongs to Kannur and district is 194 parishes whose (christian) population exceed whose total population is 277256 which are 7.23 % 3000. The identified parishes relates to various of the population of Kannur and panchayath. From these , we have selected 15 (3830378). The migrant roman catholic christian panchayath of five blocks in the erstwhile population constitutes 8.61% of the total population Kannur District for the study. The panchayath of Kannur district whereas the same in the case of wise data on agricultural production of various Kasaragod district is only 4.58 %. It clearly shows crops is collected from the Krishibhavans of the predominant role played by the migrants in the district of 2016-17. The total geographical Kannur district. area (TGA) of Kannur district is 297.112 sq.km

Table 1: Composition of population in Kannur and Kasaragod

Kannur Kasaragod Filial churches

Total population 2523003 1307375

Christian population 217275 59981 6139 283395

Percentage 8.61 4.58

Source: Computed

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Among the migrant population of Kannur district, 52.14 percent lives in the following parish which constitutes a population of 113303.

Table 2: Parish wise population of kannur district

Sl.no Parish Population

1 8235

2 6026

3 5430

4 Kudianmala 5000

5 Chempanthotty 4839

6 Alakode 4218

7 4150

8 Marygiri 3981

9 3800

10 Paisakkary 3753

11 Karikkottakkari 3703

12 Udayagiri 3620

13 3194

14 Angadikkadavu 3100

15 Vayattuparamba 2920

16 2882

17 Chandanakkampara 2864

18 Vilakkannur 2837

19 Perumpadavu 2666

20 2597

21 Pulikkurumba 2500

22 Thaliparamba 2500

23 2492

24 2456

25 2416

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26 Nellikkampoyil 2389

27 Kolakkad 2264

28 Peratta 2148

29 2135

30 Kunnoth 2103

31 Puravayal 2098

32 2020

33 Nellikkuty 2009

34 Nellippara 1980

35 1978

Total 113303

Migrant population 217275

Total population 2523003

To examine the agricultural and economic migrants are settled in these places and it is given development of Kannur district due to migration, table 3. The only parish which comes under we identified those panchayath which belongs to Kasaragod district is Thomapuram but it is very these 35 parishes in Kannur district. The selection important to notice the fact that Thomapuram is a is also substantiated with the fact that these place which is the boundary of Kannur district and parishes are the earliest parishes formed under the due to geographical division alone they lie under Diocese of Thalassery and it clearly says that Kasaragod district. Table 3: Old parishes of Kannur district

Parish Year of establishment District

Peravoor 1928 Kannur

Kudianmala 1942 Kannur

Edoor 1946 Kannur

Chempery 1948 Kannur

Nellikkampoil 1948 Kannur

Thomapuram 1948 Kasaragod

Kilianthara 1949 Kannur

Paisakkari 1949 Kannur

Angadikkadavu 1950 Kannur

Cherupuzha 1951 Kannur

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Rajagiri 1951 Kannur

Pulingome 1952 Kannur

Kacherkkadavu 1954 Kannur

Karikkottakkari 1954 Kannur

Velimanam 1954 Kannur

Alakode 1955 Kannur

Manikkadavu 1956 Kannur

Source: Archeparchy of Tellichery, Directory 2016

Identification of blocks with regard to parishes that the migrants dominated blocks are of Kannur district Thaliparamba, , ,Payyannur and Peravoor. It is clear from the following table Among the 11 blocks of Kannur district, a brief analysis of these blocks shows

Table 4: Migrant dominated blocks of Kannur district

Househol Cultiva Labour Block ds Population Males Females tors ers Ratio

Payyannur Rural 40497 179741 86128 93613 3524 6082 8.70

Urban 28660 127390 57993 69397 895 2546 3.12

Iritty Rural 33480 149915 73129 76786 5270 9813 15.74

Urban 7881 35676 16830 18846 168 1002 2.13

Irikkur Rural 37715 159443 77600 81843 6707 8038 17.78

Urban 15982 80178 37352 42826 405 1950 2.53

Peravoor Rural 32101 136313 66033 70280 5596 8186 17.43

Thaliparamba Rural 43413 187567 90852 96715 3210 6015 7.39

Urban 36368 166641 75812 90829 365 1538 1.00

Total 276097 1222864 581729 641135 26140 45170 9.79

Source: Compiled from the district Census Hand Book, 2013

The table shows that 9.79 % of the total same time the non-migrant dominated blocks this households are cultivators and it is high in the ratio is very low as 1.32 and it is shown in the blocks of Iritty, Irikkur and Peravoor. At the following table 5.

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Table 5: Non migrant dominated blocks Block Households Population Males Females Cultivators Labourers Ratio 58849 278804 127288 151516 438 1973 0.74 Kannur 34151 163911 75982 87929 116 153 0.34 15023 69038 31940 37098 790 1783 5.26 Urban 40633 187333 86629 100704 611 2811 1.50 Total 148656 699086 321839 377247 1955 6720 1.32 Source: District Census hand book, 2013 It is substantiated by another statistical dominated blocks, 15 migrants dominated figure as only 0.96 % is the agricultural labourers panchayats were identified and the christian in non-migrant dominated blocks and at the same population of the district is 10.72% and for the time in the migrant dominated blocks this ratio is present study we assume that 95% of christians 3.70 % which implies level of agricultural and living in these panchayath who constitutes activity in the migrant blocks.From the christians the lion’s share of migrants in the Kannur district

Table 6:Cropping pattern in migrated farmers residing blocks Taliparam Payyann Total of all Crops Kannur Kerala Irikkur ba ur Peravoor Iritty blocks

Paddy 4671 171398 516.04 778.75 666.63 107.69 263.52 2332.63

Jack 8503.98 1014.84 1292.68 951.45 494.75 593.39 4347.11

Mango 7828.94 778.26 938.77 728.52 396.88 484.14 3326.57

Banana 2022.13 89.6 148.97 78.54 557.06 218.42 1092.59

Plantain 3149.52 316.34 472.32 328.63 176.95 256.92 1551.16

Pine apple 109.4 4.46 18.76 7.64 21.96 8.14 60.96

Pappaya 2031.14 179.65 276.37 252.48 94.1 93.92 896.52

3125.6 Cashew 19411 41661 2975.08 3116.38 1994 2438.44 6 13649.56

Tapiaoca 1661 68664 199.54 261.5 60.53 313.27 200.43 1035.27

** 524.27 71.75 78.74 34 66.54 54.9 305.93

Coconut 88217 781496 7434.36 12053.61 8170.75 4988.58 6344.6 38991.9

Rubber 48070 551050 NA NA NA NA NA NA

Cocoa 409 14404 38.76 155.9 25.91 64.47 101.88 386.92

Pepper 4394 85207 488.85 714.42 572.88 477.88 412.93 2666.96

Ginger 53 5151 5.19 6.33 1.51 20.64 14.31 47.98

Arecanut 9543 97696 656.28 2996.84 1760.69 795.93 383.3 6593.04

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Tamarind 525 11549 48.53 54.3 48.42 25.39 15.9 192.54

Nutmeg 224 22065 16.96 93.6 24.46 46.44 16.73 198.19

Turmeric 144 2632 21.7 18.41 5.95 25.67 18.72 90.45

Cloves 10.39 0.54 4.69 0.47 3.22 0.28 9.2

Source: Panchayath Level Statistics

**Elephant foot yam, Colocasia, Yam, Sweet potatoes and Koorka

The table shows that 48.46 % of the non-migrated blocks and it means that the population of Kannur district lives in these five inhabitants of Kannur district are not aware of blocks and their contribution to the cultivation of the cultivation of these crops and they are not at the crops are more than their share in population. all interested in the cultivation in the hilly areas. It includes the plantation crops and denote Both of these factors imputed upon the the cultivation of cash oriented crops by the contribution made by the migrants to the migrants. But this pattern is not visible in the agricultural contribution of Kannur district.

Table 7:Percentage share of crops in migrant dominated blocks to kannur district

Crops Percentage share Paddy 49.94 Jack 51.12 Mango 42.49

Banana 54.03

Plantain 49.25

Pine apple 55.72 Pappaya 44.14

Cashew 70.32

Tapiaoca 62.33

Elephant foot yam, Colocasia, Yam, Sweet potatoe 58.35 and Koorka Coconut 44.20

Rubber 85.41

Cocoa 94.60 Pepper 60.70

Ginger 90.53

Arecanut 69.09 Tamarind 36.67

Nutmeg 88.48

Turmeric 62.81 88.55

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Source: Computed

Figure 1:Percentage share in crops by the migrant dominated blocks 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

Cropping pattern of the Migrant dominated Their cropping pattern is shown in the table 8 and panchayath panchayaths like Peravoor, and are also included from the Thalasseri There are 15 panchayath in Kannur district block for the analysis. It shows that 14.61 % of the where migrant farmers reside in a considerable population of Kannur district lies in these amount which is selected from sampling technique. panchayaths. Table 8: Cropping pattern of migrant dominated panchayaths of kannur district Panchayat Coconut Areca Rubber Cashe Bana Peppe Tapio Pad Coc Other Populatio h nut w na r ca dy oa s n

Alakode 2112 388 2907 217 124 345 172 - 315 34878 Chapparap 632 212 3185 506 - 254 - 5 0 31622 padavu Naduvil 3720 400 4400 30 200 150 70 4 90 147 31190 Udayagiri 1070 170 3500 30 120 152 50 0 80 104 18804 Eruvessy 957 213 1875 91 137 368 52 3 559 19216 292 103 3114 1152 214 214 14 6 365 22998

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Kanichiar 591 104 2466 345 211 395 41 43 225 15570 Kelakam 1227 99 1798 487 204 368 68 45 1356 16506 735 125 1247 243 165 102 12 11 5 47 19790 Kottiyoor 1311 377 2231 1245 84 145 30 14 451 16768 Peravoor 900 120 1800 180 130 200 6 17 8 238 23558 Ayyankun 872 83 4937 2010 74 410 94 - 250 22436 nu 546 194 1735 351 107 461 104 108 328 29328 Cherupuzh 1540 1100 4500 650 250 400 50 0 30 645 30733 a Ulikkal 1324 114 3703 1021 74 298 51 85 5 527 35429 TOTAL 17829 3802 43398 8558 2094 4262 814 341 218 5557 368826 Source: Krishibhavans of various panchayath, District Census Hand book

The contribution made by these 14.61 % of analysed with the percentage share of area population to the agricultural and economic under various crops in these panchayaths to development of Kannur District in 2017-2018 is Kannur district is given in the following table. Table 9: Percentage share of various crops by the migrants dominated panchayaths to Kannur District. Indicators 15 Kannur Percentage Panchayath to Kannur T.G.A 107.813 296.797 36.32 Population 368826 2523003 14.61 TCA 71.825 221366.64 32.44 Coconut 17829 88217 20.21 Areca nut 3802 9543 39.84 Rubber 43398 48070 90.28 Cashew 8558 19411 44.09 Banana&Plantain 2094 5171 40.49 Pepper 4262 4394 96.99 Tapioca 814 1661 49 Paddy 341 4671 7.30 Source: Computed from the Krishibhavan

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Figure 2:Percentage share of crops by migrant panchayaths to kannur district

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

The table and the figure exhibit the following population is around 1% of Kerala. Except conclusions. paddy, each migrant is cultivating to support more than one person in Kerala  14.61 % of population cultivates 32.44 and two or three person in Kannur % area of Kannur District. District.  These 32.44 % of area provides more Due to the migration, income than proportionate share in the of the people increases and it creates multiplier cultivation of crops of arecanut, rubber, effect in the social and economic infrastructure in cashew nut, banana, tapioca and pepper. the hilly areas of the district. It can be seen from It means that the migrants are the increase in educational institutions, hospitals, concentrating on the production cash electricity, telecommunications, development of crops. roads, buildings, residential houses, etc. The extent  Migrants are giving less importance to the of the impact upon the economic development production of other crops like pulses, opens new area of research. green chillies, pineapple, vegetables etc. Such cultivation is mainly done by the Concluing observations inhabitants of coastal areas.  An appraisable and noteworthy The migrant dominated blocks of contribution of migrants is in the Kannur district are Payyannur, Thaliparamba, cultivation of rubber and pepper. These 15 Irikkur, Iritty and Peravoor and 48.46% of the panchayaths together cultivates 90.28 % population of Kannur district lives in these five of area of the rubber cultivation of Kannur blocks and their contribution to the cultivation of district. the crops are more than their share in population.  As far as coconut is concerned, these It includes the plantation crops and spices denote panchayath shares are only 20.21%. This the cultivation of cash oriented crops by the is because, the coastal belts of the District migrants. From the Christian dominated blocks, is very much suitable for this crop. 15 migrants dominated panchayath were  Thus the contribution made by the identified with 14.61 % of population cultivates migrants to Kerala economy in the field of 32.44 % area of Kannur district. Except paddy, cashew is 20.54%, 3.89 % in areca nut, 5 each migrant is cultivating to support more than % in pepper and 7.87 % in rubber whose one person in Kerala and two or three person in

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