Kerala Agriculture
Kerala is famous for spices from olden days . Kerala is a tropical region situated between Arabian sea and western ghats .Before stonage kerala was a dense forest . Starting from Lohayuga agricultural activities started in Kerala .To some years back Kerala's economy was basically dependant on agricultural products like cocunut ,spices,tea and rubber. it shows importance of agriculture and kerala echonomy.
Main spices of Kerala are Pepper,Cardamom ,Cinnamon,Ginger ,nutmeg and Turmeric .
Agricultural activities in kerala started on the banks of river and later spread to hills and mountains. Kerala is blessed with abundant supply of water from its rivers,lakes and ponds. There are about 44 rivers and 17 lakes in kerala , among them three flow from western ghats to Arabeansea .Kerala soil is highly fertile and there is thick growth of vegetation across the length and breadth of Kerala. Major riverse of kerala are Periyar ,Bharatha puzha(nila) ,Pamba,Kallada,Challiyar and Achankovil .Major lakes of Kerala are Vembanadu ,Ashtamudi ,Kayamkulam and Kodungallur.
Main cereal of Kerala is rice.Main fruits produced in kerala are mango and jack fruit .Kerala is rich in herbal plants which is why Ayurvedic system of medicine has taken deep roots in Kerala .
In the present day kerala agricultural production is mainly focused on cashcrops like coconut,spices and rubber.
Other type of agriculture related activities in Kerala include aqua culture ,Honey bee culture ,Seri culture, Mushroom cuture , poultry and catle farming .
Name kerala derives from the word kera (Coconut) .Each and every part of coconut tree find use in one way or the other .Main products of coconut tree are coconut oil and coir .Coir products made out of coconut husk are now in great demand in other parts of India and foreign countries .
There are state level and national level governmental organisations like Rubber , Spices ,Coir board ,Agricultural universities .