Chapter - 4
DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA
The present study is related to the study of production
and marketing and management of rubber in Kanyakumari District.
The District particulars are presented in this chapter.
4.1 District Profile - General Information
The area comprising the present Kanyakumari district
was a part of the erstwhile Travancore state. In 1835, when the state
was divided into Northern and Southern divisions, this area formed
part of Southern division and was placed in the charge of Dewan
Peishkar, Kottayam. In July 1949, when the United States ot
Travancore and Cochin was inaugurated, the present Kanyakumari
area continued to be a part of Trivandrum district of Kerala State.
The District lies at the southern most tip of the Indian
peninsula, where the Indian Ocean, the Arabian sea and the Bay of
Bengal confluence.
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Kanyakumari District is the smallest and southern most
district of Tamil Nadu. Even though it is the smallest in terms of area
(1672 [Link]) the density of population is the highest in Tamil Nadu
next to Chennai. In literacy it stands first. By its very location, the
District occupies a unique place amongst the districts of Tamil Nadu.
It is the only place in the entire world where one can enjoy witnessing
both the rising and setting of the sun. It has a coastal line of 68 kms
stretched on the three sides. This small district is famous for its vast
green stretches of paddy fields, coconut groves and luxurious forests
and the rare earth of the western sea shore and stretched Valley
Mountain of the western Ghat.
The small temple dedicated to Kanyakumari, or the
youthful form of the primeval energy Shakti (Mother Goddess) is
located on the seashore, in the town known by the same name.
Kanyakumari was referrd to by the British as Cape Comorin.
Kanyakumari represents the site where the spiritual leader Swami
Vivekananda spent days in meditation upon a rock off the coast. A
memorial built in his honor is accessible via ferry. There is also a
recently built memorial to Tiruvalluvar, the author of the
philosophical work Tirukkural - a treatise on the Indian way of life.
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The Kanyakumari district was one of the worst affected
districts in the Tsunami that ravaged the coasts of various countries in
South and South East Asia, on 26th Dec 2004.
The district is surrounded by Thirunelveli district in the
North and North East, Kerala State in the Northwest and the
confluence of the Arabian Sea in the West, the Indian Ocean in the
South and the Gulf of Mannar in the east.
The district is bifurcated into two Revenue Divisions
Padmanabhapuram and Nagercoil having the headquarters at
Thuckalai and Nagercoil respectively. There are four Taluks
Vilavancode, Kalkulam, Agasteeswaram and Thovalai. This district
owns four Municipalities Nagercoil, Padmanabhapuram, Colachel
and Kuzhithurai and nine development blocks. Six blocks Melpuram,
Munchirai, Killiyoor, Thiruvattar,Thuckalai and Kurunthancode from
part of Padmanabhapuram Development Division and the remaining
three Agastheeswaram, Rajakkamnangalam and Thovalai come under
Nagercoil Development Division. There are 56 Town Panchayats in
this district as against only 631 Town Panchayats in the State.
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The District comprises seven Assembly segments and
one Parliament Constituency and the Kanyakumari Assembly
segment forms part of Thiruchendur parliamentary constituency.
4.1.1. Climate
The District has a favourable agro-climatic condition,
which is suitable for growing a number of crops. The proximity of
equator, its topography and other climate factors favour the growth of
various crops. The paddy varieties grown in the second crop season in
Thovalai and Agasteeswaram taluks are grown during the first crop
season in Kalkulam and Vilavancode taluks. This shows that there is
distinct variation in the climatic conditions prevailing within the
district. Unlike other districts in Tamil Nadu, it has a rainfall both
during the South West and the North East monsoons. The South West
monsoon period starts from the month of June and ends in September,
While the North East monsoon period starts from October and ends in
the middle of December. The average rainfall is as shown.
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The District is purely agriculture-oriented and its
economy solely depends on agricultural production. It is industrially
very backward indeed. Based on the topography, the District can be
divided into three mountainous terrain, plain lands and undulating
valley.
In the hilly tracks of Western Ghats plantation crops like
rubber, coffee, tea, spices, coconut, tapioca and horticultural crops
like mango, pineapple and jack fruits are raised, whereas in the plains,
paddy, banana, coconut and vegetables are grown Paddy is the most
important food crop of the district and it is extensively cultivated in
an area of 10868 hectares. Tapioca which is the food of the working
class is in the second rank with 7868 hectares. Among the
commercial crops, rubber, coconut cashew and pepper occupy the
major area. Dams, Government canal, canal fed tanks are the major
sources of irrigation. Kodayar, Pattanamkal and Neyyar are the main
systems of the district.
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4.1.2 Agriculture
Based on the agro-climatic and topographic conditions,
the district can be divided into three regions, namely:-
1. The uplands Comprising hills bases suitable for
Growing crops like Rubber, Cloves,
Nutmeg, Pepper, Pineapple etc.
2. The Middle Comprising plains and valleys fit
for growing crops like Paddy,
Tapioca, Banana, Coconut etc.
3. The low lands : Comprising the coastal belt ideal for
growing Coconut, Cashew etc.
The District has no major industry except Indian Rare
Earths Ltd., Manavalakurichi, Kanniya Spinning Mill, Aralvaimozhi
in the co-operative sector and Nagammal Mills, Nagercoil, Tapioca
Flour and Coir Industry, Ammandivilai in private sector. Forty six
fishing centres are located in the sea shore. Next to agriculture, people
are engaged in fishing. A meager 10% of the population is engaged in
handloom weaving. Coir manufacturing is also undertaken.
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District profile - 2007
Kanyakumari District
1. Geographical position
North Latitude between 8°-03’ to 8° - 35’
East Longitude between 77° - 05’ to 77° - 36’
2. Area and population (2001 census)
i. Area (Sq. Km.) 1672
ii. Population 1676034
a. Male Population 832269
b. Female Population 843765
c. Rural Population 1403490
d. Urban Population 272544
iii. Density 999
iv. Literate 1315242
a. Males (50.5%) 668667
b. Female (49.5%) 646574
4.1.3 Cropping pattern
The existing physical and technical factors are
favourable to grow a variety of crops in the study area. The
cultivable crops can be broadly classified into the following heads as
given in Table 4.1.3
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Table 4.1.3
Cropping Pattern
SI. No Crops Cultivated Area in Ha Percentage to the
Gross Cropped Area
1. Paddy 26052 27.72
2. Pulses 3034 3.23
3. Banana 4974 5.29
4. Fruits 2702 2.87
5. Tapioca 7405 7.88
6. Cashew 1938 2.06
7. Vegetables 0281 0.30
8. Coconut 22250 23.67
9. Rubber 18277 19.44
10. Flowers 00120 0.13
Total 87033
Others 6948
Gross Cropped Area 93981
SOURCE : ‘G’ 0 Returns, District Statistical Office, Nagercoil, 2004
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4.1.4 Main Crops
Paddy, tapioca, coconut and rubber are the main crops
adopted in this district. Paddy is cultivated in regions where there are
high temperature and prolonged sunshine.
Tapioca is an important food crop in Kanayakumari
district Southern most part of the erstwhile State of Travancore was
often in the grip of famine before the development of irrigation
works.
Rubber is the second important non-food crop cultivated
in Kanyakumari district. Rubber is mostly seen in the high lands and
flourishes in the hill slopes of Kalkulam, Vilavancode and Thovalai
taluks of Kanyakumari district.
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
[Link] Type of Soil Places in District
1. Typic Udipoammenta Kanyakumari, Agasteeswaram,
Thamaraikulam, Dharmapuram,
Azhagappapuram, Kottaram,
Mathusoothanapuram.
2. Typic Hapludalfs Kanyakumari, Thamaraikulam,
kulasekarapuram, Maungoor, Theroor,
Eraviputhoor, Suchindram, Parakkai,
Thengamputhur, Vadaseri, Kottaram,
Azhagappuram.
3. Typic Underthents Kanyakumari, Agastheeswaram,
Kottaram.
4. Fluventic Dystropepts Thamaraikulam, Kulasekarapuram,
Theroor, Eraviputhoor, Suchindram,
Parakkai, Thengamputhoor,
Dharmapuram, Nagercoil,
Neendakarai. B, Madusoothanapuram.
5. Typic Dyssttropepts Marungoor, Azhappapuram,
Kottaram, Vembanoor
6. Udic Rdodudalfs Dharmapuram, Vadasery,
Neendakaria.A, Neendakaria. B,
Madusuthanpuram.
7. Udic Hapludalfs Dharmapuram, Neendakarai.A,
Neendakaria.B
8. Aquic Hapludalfs Vadiveeswaram, Nagercoil,
Vembanoor.
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Kanyakumari district is an agrarian society with a high
density of population and 100 per cent literacy rate. Some of the
notable features of this district are the high mountain ranges,
perennial river basins and picturesque sea coast. It is seen that the
climate, soil, temperature, rainfall and moisture content prevailing
here are suitable for the cultivation of rubber.
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