INTRODUCTION
Kanyakumari District is famous for its vast green stretches of variety of plants. The district has many beautiful spots. It is divided into four major parts and among the four, two is called as ‘Nanjing Nadu’. For the agricultural purpose so many dams canals ponds and tanks are built. This district is solely depends for its economy upon agricultural income.1
Soil
The soil is mostly loamy and assumes sandy or clay character depending on the accumulation of waste on the surface. The prevailing soils in Kanyakumari District are predominantly red ones, poor in lime, potash and iron oxide and low in phosphorus.2 Alluvial soil is found in some parts.3
Rubber
The idea of growing rubber in Kanyakumari Districts conceived during the second five year plan.4
Helen Brasiliensis is known as the para rubber tree. It is a perennial tree of a height of 25 to 30 metres. The wood is straight and soft . The young plants shows speedy growth. The deciduous habit of the tree comes from December to February. The seeds are oil bearing. The economic life period is around 32 years. Out of the 32 years the first seven years are immature phase and the next 25 years are called productive phase.5 Rubber needs systematic climatic requirements . The plantation requires a temperature ranging from 20 to 30c.6
Natural rubber comes from the juice of rubber trees. Synthetic rubber is made from chemicals obtained from raw materials such as, petroleum, natural gas, coal, grains, potatoes.7 Rubber was one of the major commercial crop in Kanyakumari District. But at present its commercial value get decreased due to the import of synthetic rubber.
Cashew
Cashew nut is one of the most profitable of the fruit trees of the torrid zone. The tree is not indigenous to India or Ceylon. During the ascendancy of the Portuguese in the east it was introduced by them from the tropical sea-board of south America to the fertile maritime districts of western India. It is known in Travancore as kasuva ma or undi ma or better still as parangi ma showing that Portuguese introduce it into India.8 The nut is the most delicious food whether as a boiled dish as vegetables or as fried when mature. It is never cared for as a garden tree,but the nuts finds a ready market all over the country.9
But in present days it is not cultivated in Kanyakumari District because of labour problems and also the lands which contains these trees are changed into rubber estates.10
Banana
Banana cultivation is carried on in considerable areas throughout the district more particularly in the western taluks of Kalkulam and Vilavancode. Mostly banana cultivation is restricted to the slopes and garden lands on water fed condition, supplemented by lift irrigation. It is also cultivated along betel-vine enclosures, coconut groves on the margin of water courses and tank band. Because of the poor main land ratio and the traditional prestige accorded to rice cultivation, irrigated paddy lands were never utilized for banana plantation under normal circumstances . However rational behaviour of the peasants is the cause for the extension of the banana cultivation in the paddy fields in recent years.11 The total area under banana cultivation in Kanyakumari District is 5633 ha.12
Mango
Mango is very abundant all over the district. It is an evergreen tree blossoming from February to April according to situations. The first ripening from May to July. These are several varieties. However two varieties are very popular in Kanyakumari District namely pandy manga and nasty manga. The later being sourer than the former which is preferred for curries and preparing pickles. The term varikka manga is generally used for any good mango free from acidity. Grafting is very common. The mango tree is best propagated by grafting though it readily grow from seeds. The graft mango thrives in this climate, but the great drawback is that the rain set in when the fruit ripens. Incertain years when the monsoon rains fail or unusually delayed the mango fruit is greatly benefited.12 Various varieties such as hybrid nelam, kalapadi, banglora, Alphonse, hemaudeen and pankanapalli are cultivated here.
Due to good climatic condition mango fruits are cultivated throughout the year in Kanyakumari District. The profit earn from mango cultivation is 3 lakhs per annual.13
Jack
Jack fruit namely varikkai is very popular for it’s sweet taste. Jack is also valuable tree both for it’s timber and for it’s fruits. It is largely grown throughout and costs very little labour. The soil’s of the hill sides are most suitable for the growth of the Jack. The fruit which grows to an enormous size hangs by a peduncle from the stem and larger branches and often forms a part of the stem touching the earth.14
Two varieties are recognized, one known as the kozhan the fruits of which are generally used green as curry stuffs being not so delicious when ripe as the other sort varikkai or the honey Jack which is eaten as ripe fruit. It is a delicious fruit highly valued and always fetches a good price in the market. The tender fruits constitute a good curry stuff known as Idichakka or Kottanchakka. Bread fruit is used only as curry stuff.15
Coconut
Coconut is the important cash crop in Kanyakumari District grown in the low lands and in small patches in the mid lands. Under favourable climatic and soil conditions a coconut sapling starts yielding from the sixth year.16 The chief varieties of the coconut are Chentengu, Gaylipatram, Nakkuvari, Kappal Tonga and yappanam.17 The Kappal, Chetengu and Gaulipathram are not used for curry purpose as they do not contains as much oily matter as the others . The juice or milk extracted from the fresh kernel is also used in curries and confectionery for medicated oils for infants and for other medicinal purposes. When the kernels are cut into pieces and dried in the sun they are called coprah,which forms an extensive article of commerce. The pith or dust of the hurks is used as manure and the dried hurks are used as full.The coconut hurk has becomebecome a very valuable commodity in recent years.
Conclusion
At present day the agriculture activities in Kanyakumari District are getting degraded day by day due to labour problem, natural calamities, pest and also the farmers are not getting proper income because of agriculture.
– Jeslin Sweety
Research Scholar, M.S. University, Tirunelveli.
References
1. Department Annual Report for 1927- Agriculture, Thirvanathapuram, Government of Travancore, 1928, p.3.
2. Kadakshamani,Y.S., Working Plan for the Tirunelveli South Forest Division, 1976 to 1977, 1985 to 1986, p.2.
3. Assistant Agricultural Chemist (soil survey), Department of Agriculture, Tirunelveli dated 15 May 1987.
4. File no. 67, Education Department, report of Dr.S.G.Barker on the scale of Palmyra industry in South Travancore., P.D.E.R., 1917, p.5.
5. www.rubberboard .org.in
6. Kumar. N, Introduction to Spices, Plantation Crops, Medical and Aromatic Plants, Nagercoil, 1993, p.11.04.
7. The World Book Encyclopedia, Vol. XVI, Thriruvanathapuram, p.429.
8. Nagam Aiya, V., The Travancore State Manuel, Vol -III, Trivandrum, 1999, p.26.
9. Report by the director of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Dharmapuri, dated 4 September 1981, p.6.
10. Personal interview with Vijayan, Manager, V L C cashew nut exporting company, aged 50, Residing at Kulithurai, dated 16 October 2015.
11. Department of Horticulture and Plantation, Government of Tamilnadu, Chennai, 2005, pp. I, II.
12. Personal interview with Rajaram, farmer, aged 37, Residing at Bhoothapandi, dated 21 January 2016.
13. Personal interview with Kumar, Assistant Agriculture Officer, Fruits farm, aged 55, Residing at Kanyakumari, dated 23 May 2015.
14. Personal interview with Inba Kumar, Farmer, aged 36, Residing at Padanthalumoodu, dated 07 March 2015.
15. Personal interview with Vijayakumar, Proprietor, Vijayakumar Nursery Garden, aged 60, Residing at Kuzhithurai, dated 20 April 2015.
16. Census of India, Travancore, Vol. I, 1931, p.2.
17. Nagam Aiya., op.cit. p.47.