Agriculture News

Despite an erratic monsoon, dry spells, flooding and rising fertiliser costs, vegetable farmers across Kerala have continued cultivation with encouraging results. Farmers in Alappuzha, Palakkad, Idukki, Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur reported satisfactory production and stable vegetable prices during the 2026 Onam season. In Alappuzha district, flooding affected some vegetable markets in the Kuttanad region, but overall agricultural output increased. Farmers cultivated around 15 varieties of vegetables, with major production centres including Venmani, Thazhakkara, Nooranad, Cheriyanad, Kadakkarapally and Kanjikuzhy. The district’s VFPCK unit expected vegetable sales to rise from about ₹9 crore last year to ₹15 crore this year.

Kerala has introduced a new strategy to make its agriculture sector more resilient to climate change, extreme heat, irregular rainfall, floods and other weather-related risks. The state’s Climate-Resilient and Energy-Efficient Agriculture (CREEA) report outlines measures to protect farmers while promoting a low-carbon and sustainable farming system. The plan focuses on climate-resilient farming, emergency and risk planning, energy efficiency, net-zero agriculture and farmer capacity building. It also proposes setting up Kerala Climate-Resilient Agriculture Innovation Labs (K-CRAIL) at local levels to test sustainable crops, micro-irrigation and improved farming practices. Alappuzha, Palakkad and Wayanad were identified for the first set of these innovation labs. The initiative also includes plans for community seed banks, farmer bioresource networks and an AI-powered risk-mapping platform that can use weather, crop and market information to help farmers make better decisions.

The Kerala government has granted in-principle approval for infrastructure projects worth ₹1,441.24 crore under NABARD’s Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) Tranche 31. The projects cover several departments, including agriculture, electricity, water resources, forests, local self-government and coastal infrastructure. For Alappuzha district, the approved agriculture projects include infrastructure development in various paddy fields, alongside the establishment of Smart Krishi Bhavans in different parts of Kerala. Other major allocations include solar pumps for farmers, irrigation improvements, pond development, waste-management projects and rural infrastructure works aimed at strengthening agriculture and public services.

Mavelikkara MP Kodikunnil Suresh criticised the exclusion of Alappuzha district from the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), arguing that the district’s strong dependence on agriculture, particularly paddy cultivation in Kuttanad, makes it deserving of focused central support. Under PMDDKY, 100 districts across India were selected using indicators such as low agricultural productivity, low cropping intensity and limited agricultural credit disbursement. Official records show that Kerala’s selected districts include Kasaragod and Kannur, while Alappuzha was not included. Suresh called for the Centre to reconsider the selection and extend the scheme’s benefits to farmers in Alappuzha.

Kerala Agriculture Minister P. Prasad suggested that allowing people to consume the meat of wild boars killed in agricultural areas could help control the growing wild boar menace and reduce crop damage. He made the remarks during a programme organised by the Paalamel Village Panchayat in Alappuzha district, where farmers have been facing increasing losses from wild animals entering fields. Prasad said wild boars are not an endangered species, but existing wildlife laws restrict their killing and consumption. His remarks sparked debate, with the issue highlighting the wider challenge of human-wildlife conflict, crop destruction and farmer safety in Kerala. The state has also been seeking greater flexibility in managing wild boars that threaten agriculture and people.

Kerala’s agriculture sector suffered significant damage during an intense summer spell, with nearly 25,000 farmers affected by extreme heat and dry conditions. Crops such as banana, cardamom and paddy were among the worst hit, with high temperatures causing plants to dry up, reducing yields and increasing financial pressure on farmers. The prolonged heat also created irrigation difficulties in several farming regions, as water availability declined and soil moisture dropped. Farmers and agricultural organisations called for stronger relief measures, compensation and better climate-resilient farming support to reduce losses from future heatwaves.

Kuttanad, located mainly in Alappuzha district, is widely known as the “Rice Bowl of Kerala.” The region is famous for its extensive paddy fields, many of which lie below sea level, making Kuttanad one of the most unique farming regions in India. Agriculture is the heart of Kuttanad’s economy, with large areas dedicated to rice cultivation. Its network of backwaters, canals and bunds supports farming and gives the region its distinctive landscape. Traditional farming methods, lush green fields and village life make Kuttanad an important part of Kerala’s agricultural and cultural heritage.