Agricuture

Agriculture is the main occupation of the people. About 80% of the district population depend on it directly or indirectly. The main crops raised in the district are paddy, tapioca, rubber, sugarcane, pepper and banana.

Rubber occupies the main position among the commercial crops in the district. Rubber cultivation is concentrated mainly in the Eastern hilly zone; One seldom comes across a house in the eastrn parts of the district without rubber plantation.

The cropping pattern of important agricultural products in terms of the area cultivated (1992-93) are given below

There are 3 seed farms in the district. These seed farms are concentrated in the production of paddy seeds, vegetable seeds, rooted pepper cutting etc. The Krishi Vijnan Kendra at Thellyoor near Kumbanad, which is sponsored by ICAR, is imparting training to farmers. The Sugar Cane Research Station of Kerala Agricultural University functions at Kallumkal near Thriuvalla. There are 62 Krishi Bhavans in the district They implement developmental activities in the agricultural sector.

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

The main species of livestock in the district are cows, buffaloes, goats, sheeps, pigs, fowls and ducks. The livestock population as per the census conducted in the year 1987 is as follows

The district has been designated by the Government as a Disease Free Zone and a Systematic vaccination programme is being implemented on a time bound basis to declare this district as Disease Free Zone for cattle.
In disease free zones, measures to free the cattle from diseases of various types are undertaken with an emphasis on preventive aspects rather than on curative aspect. In all the panchayaths and municipalities, veterinary facilities are available through veterinary dispensaries, veterinary hospitals and poly clinics.

There are 37 veterinary dispensaries in the district. One Mobile farm Aid Unit is functioning at Ayravon, Konni. The eight veterinary hospitals functioning in the district are at Ayroor, Pulikeezhu, Pandalam, Kozhencherry, Konni, Pallickal, Vadasserikara and Mallappally. There are 4 veterinary poly clinics; one each at Adoor, Patanamthitta, Ranny and Thiruvalla.

There are 90 I.C.D.P. (Intensive Cattle Development Project) sub centres under 3 Regional Artificial Insemination Centres (R.A.I.C) each at Ranny, Mallappally and Pathanamthitta. They are under the control of the Project Officer of I.C.D.P. Office at Patthanamthitta. There is one artificial insemination centre at Pullad and 4 A.I.. sub centres at Malloor, Ezhumattoor, Vallamkulam and Vennikulam.

There are 5 veterinary sub centres functioning in the district at Vayala, Ranny, Angadi, Kottangal and Naranganam.

There is one disease Investigation Lab and one Avian Disease Diagnostic Lab functioning at Pathanamthitta and Thiruvalla respectively

The only duck farm in the State is situated in Niranam near Thiruvalla. All together there are 156 institutions in the district under the Animal Husbandry Department.

FISHERIES

One of the two breeding centers for quality fingerlings in the State is located at Panivelichira about 15 kms away from the district headquarters. This seed farm is a demonstration-cum-training centre controlled by the Fish Framers Development Agency. At this farm, fingerlings of catla, Rohu, Mrigal, Labeo, Cyprimes etc.can be seen and bought by the farmers.. The existence of this fish farm has helped develop the cultivation and propagation of fish farming tendency among a large section of the population thus boosting the income of households.

The farm at Polachira near Kaviyoor is a National Fish Seed Farm. As per the National Fish Seed Programme, a Chinese hatchery is being constructed at Polachira.

Though there are 456 tanks in this district, the ones under fish cultivation are only 349. Five Harijan co-operative societies engaged in selling fish exist here.

Fish farmers Development Agency is a body formed in the district for the development of aquaculture. It traces out suitable water bodies for fish breeding and encourages the farmers by imparting training on scientific fish culture, supplying quality fish and prawn fingerlings, offering technical advice and arranging loan facilities together with giving subsidies where needed.

A Vanitha Matsyathozhilali Vividyosha Sevana Bank(Vanitha Bank) is functioning at Thiruvalla to assist women fish vendors from exploitation by middle men.

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