Occupations
Agriculture is the main occupation of the people in the District. Dairy is the main supplementary source of income of the farmers in the district. Recently, floriculture, mushroom cultivation, medicinal plants, vanilla cultivation etc., are being taken up by some progressive farmers / women in the district.
| Total Workers | 3,89,136 |
| Cultivators | 75,392 |
| Agricultural labourers | 86,030 |
| Cottage & Household Ind. | 4,437 |
| Other workers | 2,20,783 |
| Marginal workers | 39,470 |
| Non-workers | 6,84,390 |
Agriculture
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This District has the agro-climatic conditions suitable for the cultivation of plantation crops like tea, coffee, rubber, coconut, cardamom, pepper, etc. The District acquired 2nd place in the state in agriculture produces. Small and marginal farmers are predominant in the district. However, in High land areas there are large holdings of plantations of tea, cardamom etc. owned by corporate bodies and private agencies. |
This District, a creation of God's natural beauty, has Tea Gardens in the north while major hilly areas have Cardamom plantation. Hilly terrain, lack of proper irrigation facilities and accessibility, forest cover and topography in general make a major portion of the available land unsuitable for cultivation. Even then agriculture and animal husbandry are the main occupation of the people. The district is famous for production of spices like pepper and cardamom. Rubber, Coffee and Coconut are the other important crops in the district. More than 80 per cent of the cropped area is under perennial crops. The district is declared as a `Spices District` and a 'Technology Mission' has been set up for the development of spices. Land Holding Pattern of the total area of 5,10,522 Ha., 2,17,005 Ha are under cultivation. Non food crops occupies about 90,000 Ha. The per capita availability of the land in Idukki district is 0.24 Ha. |
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Cropping Pattern
Agriculture is the most important segment of the economy and is still the largest source of employment in the district. Cardamom, Tea, Rubber and Coffee account for more than 50 % of the total cropped area and Pepper occupy about 25%. Paddy cultivation is comparatively less, confined to around 5000 Ha. The major crops grown and the area and production under these crops are furnished here under |
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| Crop | Area (Ha) | % of Total Croped Area | Production (Tonnes) | |
| Cardamom | 55174 | 27.23 | 2935 |  |
| Pepper | 34759 | 17.15 | 14096 |  |
| Rubber | 34595 | 17.07 | 24479 |  |
| Tea | 23557 | 11.62 | 46697 |  |
| Coconut | 14864 | 7.33 | 63 (millian numbers) |  |
| Coffee | 10834 | 5.34 | 3990 |  |
| Tapioca | 6490 | 3.20 | 185688 |  |
| Paddy | 5078 | 2.50 | 10953 | |
| Jackfruit | 3188 | 1.57 | 15978(000's) | |
| Sugarcane | 2768 | 1.30 | 17964 | |
| Banana & other plants | 2082 | 1.01 | 20878 | |
| Arecanut | 1558 | 0.77 | 479 (millian numbers) | |
| Ginger | 1551 | 0.77 | 5734 | |
| Lemon Grass | 1476 | 0.73 | 99 | |
| Cocoa | 1418 | 0.70 | 619 | |
| Mango | 1426 | 0.70 | 2354 | |
| Cashew | 848 | 0.42 | 555 | |
| Pappaya | 379 | 0.19 | 758 | |
| Pineapple | 188 | 0.09 | 1932 | |
| Turmeric | 192 | 0.09 | 454 | |
| Tamarind | 168 | 0.08 | 319 | |
| Seasmum | 146 | 0.07 | 42 |
Animal Husbandry
Animal husbandry activities are the major subsidiary occupations of the farming community. Extensive pasture, grazing lands and the favorable climate make the district suitable for rearing. Livestock wealth has great significance in the agricultural economy of the district. As per the latest survey, there is a total cattle population of 215432 animals in the district, of which 192311 are cows, 20863 are buffaloes and 2258 are sheeps. There is additional population of 504076 of other animals. Animal health cover is provided by the Animal Husbandry Department through its veterinary institutions located at panchayat levels. Artificial insemination facilities are available throughout the district. |
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| Name of the Institution | Numbers | Telephone STD-0486 |
| District Animal Husbandry Office, Thodupuzha | 1 | 222894 |
| District Veterinary Centre, Thodupuzha | 1 | 229063 |
| Veterinary Poly Clinic(Kattappana & Nedumkandam) | 2 | |
| Veterinary Hospitals | 9 | |
| Veterinary Dispensary | 45 | |
| Mobile Farm Aid Unit | 2 | |
| Mobile Veterinary Dispensary | 1 | |
| Intensive Cattle Development Program Office, Kattappana | 1 | |
| Regional Artificial Insemination Centre | 4 | |
| Rinder Pest Check Post | 1 | |
| Rinder Pest Vigilance Unit, Nudumkandam | 1 | |
| District Poultry Farm, Kolani | 1 | |
| Pig Farm, Kolani | 1 |