An Appraisal of Traditional Rice Cultivation in Kerala, India

Rice cultivation is the mainstay of agriculture in Kerala for centuries. But as time progressed, rice cultivation using traditional varieties was confined to some pockets in the state. Traditional rice farmers are mainly unorganised and are followers of lineage. This study was taken up to attempt to outline the evolution of traditional rice farming, understand farmers’ perceptions about its sustainability, and look into the legal protective measures available for these varieties. It was found that the centuries-long presence of this system is now in peril. However, the farmers had a more positive perception of its sustainability than a negative one. The cultivating farmers were largely unaware of the government’s measures to support traditional agriculture.