PhD

The keynote of Kerala's agriculture is the diversity in crop production,
which is the consequence of a wide range of natural conditions. The food habits and
the consumption pattern have made rice the staple food of the people of Kerala. A
major land use change that has occurred in Kerala is the conversion and reclamation of
paddy cultivated areas, both in the low lands and uplands to agricultural and non-
agricultural purposes jeopardizing the food security of the state, when it is designated
as a "Statutory Ration State" with over sixty percent need of food grains met by
imports.
Several pnmary observations in different locations of the state where
extensive wetland conversion has taken place indicated significant consequences. It is
estimated that more than forty percent of the population in the Kuttanad region is
engaged in rice cultivation. In this background the study was designed to fmd out the
nature and extent of conversion of paddy fields in Kuttanad. It was also aimed to
analyse the push-pull factors influencing the conversion and socio-economic
consequences of conversion of paddy fields. The agro ecosystem impact as perceived
by the respondents was also analysed. The study was also aimed to develop a suitable
strategy to rationalise the land use pattern to check the conversion process.
The study was conducted in three panchayats viz. Thakazhi and Thalavady
from Alappuzha District and Vazhappally from Kottayam District. The different types
of respondents included convertor and non-convertor farmers, agricultural labourers,
agricultural scientists, extension workers, people's representatives and social activists.
Data were collected through personal interview using well structured interview
schedule, group discussion, focus group interviews, key informant interviews, oral
history innovations, personal field level observations and local inquiry methods.
Different parametric and non-parametric statisti~al\ tools were used for analyzing the
data.


Results of the studies are summarized as follows. The study revealed that
38.33 per cent farmers among convertors had converted the paddy field for coconut
cultivation. It was followed by construction of buildings. Conversion for real estate,
banana cultivation and soil digging were also observed. Among the convertors 76.67
per cent farmers possessed below 30 per cent conversion.
Regarding the different factors affecting the conversion process, majority
of the economic and situational factors acted as promoters of conversion while certain
technical and socio-psychological factors were found to retard the conversion process.
Low profit compared to other cash crops, nuclear family system and
scarcity of labour during peak season were found to have high influence on
accelerating the conversion process, while local resource utilization possessed the
highest retarding effect.
With respect to the socio-economic consequences, change in land value,
land use pattern and change in income due to switching over to other crops, I
occupational diversification and outmigration of labour force were the important
consequences. A strategy to rationalise the land use 'pattern is also proposed.
Regarding the impact of conversion on agro-ecosystem, increased
.
possibility of flood and increased scarcity of drinking water were perceived as most
I
important by scientists and extension personnel.
Irrecoverable change of land properties and checking of free flow of water
were also considered as important impacts of conversion process.