Kerala Governments's Agriculture and Allied Sectors

The Agriculture and Allied Sector is also known as the primary sector. The primary sector involves the natural resources straight from the earth and raw materials, that produces unprocessed goods used by other industries. The primary sector in Kerala relies heavily on Agriculture, Cooperatives, Livestock, Water Resources, Food Security and Public Distribution System, Environment, Mining, Fisheries and Forestry. This sector contributes roughly 9.5% to 14% of the state's economic output. According to the Department of Economics and Statistics (DES), Government of Kerala, in the agro-allied sectors (agriculture, livestock, forestry, and fisheries), Gross State Value Added (GSVA) at 2011-12 prices increased to 6.59 percent in 2024-25 as against 6.34 per cent achieved in 2023-24. Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) at current price grew at 9.97 percent in 2024-25 as against 9.3 in 2023-24. Similarly, GSVA at current price grew at 10.08 percent in 2024-25 as against 9.19 in 2023-24. Kerala is placed among the top ten States in India with high per-capita GSDP. Primary sector registered a strong growth of 2.36 percent in 2024-25, as against 0.24 percent in 2023-24. 

Agriculture

The Department of Agriculture Development and Farmers' Welfare, Government of Kerala initiates agricultural schemes, services, and farmer registrations in Kerala. Agriculture has strong linkages between animal husbandry, dairy, irrigation, fisheries, industry, agro-processing, and trade make it a vital driver of inclusive and sustainable economic development. Kerala’s agriculture is distinct due to diverse agro climatic conditions that support the cultivation of plantation crops, cash crops, spices, horticulture crops and food crops. The extent of agricultural land in the state is shrinking. The shift from food crops to non-food crops and the increase in land use for non-agricultural purposes are challenges facing Kerala. According to DES, Cropping Intensity (CI) of the State in 2024-25, Coconut constituted the major share of the total cropped area with 30.44 percent followed by rubber with 21.78 per cent. Rice constituted 7.01 per cent of the total cropped area. Plantation crops such as tea, coffee, rubber and cardamom constituted 28.22 per cent of the total cropped area. The area of ginger, turmeric, cashew nut and sweet potato recorded an increase in production in 2024-25 compared to previous financial year.

Cooperatives

The Department of Co-operation, Government of Kerala, is responsible for the development, regulation, and supervision of the co-operative sector in the state. The co-operative movement in Kerala has shown steady progress and continues to support community development and social well-being. Co-operatives improve the economic conditions of different sections of the population, particularly weaker and marginalised groups in rural areas. Kerala has a massive network of cooperative societies. Co-operative societies are classified based on area of operation, nature of work, authorities, and functions. There were 16,429 co-operative societies in Kerala as on March 31, 2025. Of these, 12,278 societies were functional, while the remaining societies were non functional. The cooperatives are broadly divided into credit and non-credit types. The Credit cooperatives provide financial support and loans to members. The Co-operative Credit structure in Kerala comprises of Kerala Bank, Primary Agricultural Co-operative Society (PACS), Farmers Service Societies (FSS), Kerala State Co-operative Agricultural and Rural Development Bank (KSCARDB), and Primary Co-operative Agricultural and Rural Development Banks (PCARDBs). The Non-Credit Cooperatives focus on production, distribution, and specific welfare services. Consumer Co-operatives, Marketing Co-operatives, Agricultural and Dairy Co-operatives, Housing Co-operatives, Industrial and Processing Co-operatives, Fishery Co-operatives, Labour Contract Co-operatives etc are examples of Non-Credit Cooperatives. Consumer co-operatives form the largest group, with 4,609 societies, of which 3,736 were functioning. Consumer Co-operatives supplies essential and consumer goods to the public at reasonable prices.

Livestock

The Department of Animal Husbandry, Government of Kerala is responsible for formulating and implementing policies aimed at the development of the field of animal husbandry. The livestock sector is an important part of the global food system and the economy, and it supports the livelihoods of a large population. According to the 2024-25 report by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of Kerala, although the Gross Value Added (GVA) from the livestock sector has increased, the sector's share in the state's total GVA has declined. Milk, meat, and eggs are the primary products of the state's livestock sector. The majority of milk produced in Kerala comes from crossbred cows (92.58%), while indigenous cows contribute only 0.08%. Goat milk accounts for 5.19% of production, with the remainder produced by indigenous cattle, buffaloes, and indigenous buffaloes. The State produced a total of 25.61 LMT (Lakh Metric Tonnes) of milk in 2024-25 against a requirement of 33.86 LMT, indicating a deficit of around 31 percent, or approximately 8.25 LMT. 

Kerala ranks fourteenth in egg production in India. According to the estimates of Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics - 2025, the production of egg increased from 224.8 crore in 2022-23 to 251.4 crore in 2024-25. By considering demand, Kerala’s egg production remains low with average percapita availibality of egg is 70. However the state has made a significant growth and registered 4.52 percent which is above national growth rate of 4.44 per cent in 2024-25. Of the total egg production in the state, 73.9% comes from improved breeds of poultry and 21.1% from indigenous breeds. Indigenous and improved duck breeds contribute 2.7% and 2.2% respectively to the state's total egg production. Backyard poultry farming accounts for 99.7% of the eggs produced in the state, while commercial poultry farming contributes only 0.27%. Kerala’s contribution to the total meat production in the country was 4.98 per cent in 2024-25 (Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics 2025). Kerala ranks 8th position in meat production in the year 2024-25 (BAHS 2025). According to the report of Department of Animal Husbandry, Government of Kerala, the total meat production in 2024-25 was 522.76 MT. The total requirement of meat in the State in 2024-25 was 880.33 MT. As per the estimates of National Accounts Statistics (NAS) 2024, the contribution of kerala in livestock in total agriculture and allied sector’s Gross Value Added (GVA) by economic activity at constant (2011-12) prices increased from 29.93 percent in 2022-23 to 30.73 per cent in 2023-24. 

Water Resources

The Department of Water Resources, Government of Kerala is responsible for the management, conservation, distribution, and regulation of surface and groundwater resources across the state. It also oversesas the irrigation development, flood control, dam and reservoir management, inter-state water sharing and water infrastructure projects planning. Water is essential for the sustainable development, socio-economic development, energy & food production, healthy ecosystems, and also human survival itself. Approximately 90 percent of the rainfall in Kerala takes place during the monsoon season, which lasts from end of May or early June till the end of September and again from October to November and sometimes lasts till December, leading to a dry spell for the rest of the year. The Ministry of Jal Shakti of Government of India has published the report of India’s First water bodies census, which consists of a detailed database of ponds, tanks, lakes, and reservoirs throughout India. In this census, a total of 55,734 water bodies were identified in Kerala, of which majority, specifically 49,725 water bodies, located in rural regions, while the remaining 6,009 water bodies are situated in urban areas. 

Irrigation is essential for improving crop yields and securing food supplies. The Major and Minor irrigation systems are implemented in kerala for maximizing the production of agriculture, especially in the areas that are susceptible to drought or inconsistent rainfall, thereby supporting livelihoods and fostering economic development. As per the assessment of the Department of Economics and Statistics (DES), Government of Kerala, the extent of area irrigated in Kerala in 2024-2025 had slightly increased to 4.38 lakh Hectares as compared to the 2023-2024 figure of 4.19 lakh Hectares, a marginal increase of 0.19 lakh Hectares. 

Ground water is one of the main water resources in Kerala. Ground water has increasingly become a crucial natural resource meeting the freshwater needs of various sectors. In Kerala, the total annual groundwater recharge has been assessed as 5.67 billion cubic meters and the annual extractable groundwater resource is 5.13 billion cubic meters. The annual ground water extraction in Kerala is calculated as somewhere between 2.73 to 2.76 billion cubic meters. The Ground Water Department of Kerala Government serves as the nodal agency responsible for the development and management of groundwater in Kerala. Managing irrigation and flood control in Kerala is a complex adaptive challenge of government. It is achieved through flood management, flood forecasting and early warning system (FFEWS), Flood Control and Coastal Protection.

Food Security and Public Distribution System

The Public Distribution System in India is the joint responsibility of the Union Government and the State Governments. Kerala Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department of Kerala Government is responsible for implementing the Public Distribution System (PDS) in the State. The Union Government, through the Food Corporation of India, procures, stores, transports, and allocates food grains to the State Governments. The State Governments identify eligible families, issue ration cards, operate a chain of Fair Price Shops owned by private vendors, allocate food grains, manage, supervise, and operationalise the PDS system within their territory. The Government of Kerala distribute cards based on “mark based” system. Families without a stable income are identified as Antyodaya families and issued AAY cards (Yellow cards). There are 5.92 lakh AAY cards in the State as of March, 2025. Families identified as priority households, but not covered under the AAY scheme, are issued PHH cards (Pink cards). There are 36.31 lakh PHH cards in the State as of March, 2025. The Families identified as non-priority households, are issued NPS cards (Blue cards) and NPNS cards (White cards). There are 22.3 NPS cards and 30.08 NPNS cards in the State as of March, 2025. In addition to the four cards, the Department also issues Non-Priority Institution (NPI) cards (brown) for institutions such as destitute homes, and welfare institutions. 28,864 NPI cards have been distributed.

Environment

Kerala's environment is managed through the Department of Environment and Climate Change, Kerala Government. The department oversees the state's rich biodiversity, climate resilience policies, and natural resource conservation. Environment Department was formed on 2006 delinking from the Science, Technology and Environment Department. The Kerala State Pollution Control Board and the Kerala State Biodiversity Boards comes under the administrative control of this Department. Major schemes of Environment Department are Air & Water Quality Monitoring, Biodiversity Conservation, Climate Change, Eco Restoration of Wetlands, Environmental Education & Training, Environment Impact Assessment and Environmental Research & Development.

Fisheries

The Department of Fisheries and Ports, Government of Kerala is responsible for the fisheries development, port infrastructure, harbour engineering and the fishermen welfare in the state. Fisheries and aquaculture provide food, nutrition, income, and livelihoods to millions of people. Fish is an affordable and rich source of animal protein and plays an important role in reducing hunger and malnutrition. Kerala has a coastline stretching 580 kilometers. The fisheries sector plays an important role in the State economy. Fisheries accounted for 0.89 percent of total Gross State Value Added at constant prices in 2024-2025 and 0.78 percent of Gross State Domestic Product. In 2024-2025, although the share of crops, livestock, and forestry within the primary sector's GSVA declined, the fisheries sector's contribution remained at 11.62 percent of the primary sector's GSVA at constant prices. In 2024-2025, Kerala recorded a fish production of 9.28 lakh MT, with a contribution of 6.47 lakh MT from the marine sector and 2.81 lakh MT from the inland sector. Inland fish production contributes only 33 percent to Kerala's total fish output. According to district-wise fish production data for 2024-25, Ernakulam recorded the highest marine fish production, followed by Kollam and Kozhikode districts. Alappuzha district recorded the highest inland fish production, followed by Kottayam and Kollam. 

Kerala is the third-largest seafood-exporting state in terms of quantity and the second-largest in terms of export value. Exports of marine products from Kerala have been steadily increasing since 2015-2016. In 2024-2025, 1.80 lakh MT of seafood valued at ₹6,941.29 crore was exported from Kerala. According to the 2011 Census, the fishing community constitutes 3.13 percent of Kerala's population. They are concentrated across 222 marine fishing villages and 113 inland fishing villages. The state's fisherfolk population (marine and inland) for 2024–25 stands at 10.71 lakh, which is around three percent of Kerala's total population. Of this, 8.25 lakh belong to the marine sector and 2.46 lakh to the inland sector. In 2024, the number of active fish workers registered with the Kerala Fishermen’s Welfare Fund Board (KFWFB) was 2.26 lakh. Thiruvananthapuram district has the highest number of registered active fish workers, followed by Alappuzha. Wayanad is the district with the lowest number of fish workers. In 2024, there were 77,431 allied workers in Kerala—individuals engaged in fishery-related activities who are registered with the Kerala Fishermen’s Welfare Fund Board.

Forestry

The Kerala Forest Department, under the Government of Kerala, is responsible for managing the state's forests, environment, and wildlife. Amidst rising water scarcity and climate change, forests have become increasingly vital for mitigating ecological and economic vulnerabilities. According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), Kerala’s recorded forest area stands at 11,536.25 square kilometers, representing approximately 29.68 percent of the state's total geographical area of ​​38,863 sq. km. Forests in Kerala are classified into six categories based on altitude, rainfall patterns, and soil characteristics: Tropical Wet Evergreen & Semi-Evergreen (3,877.440 sq. km), Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests (3,615.980 sq. km), Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests (391.360 sq. km), Montane Sub-Tropical Temperate Sholas (386.420 sq. km), Plantations (1,457.460 sq. km), Grasslands (501.090 sq. km), and Others (1,306.501 sq. km). Idukki district has the largest forest cover in Kerala, while Alappuzha has the least. However, when considering forest cover in proportion to total land area, Wayanad district has the highest coverage. The Forest Department contributes significantly to the state's non-tax revenue. In 2024-25, the department generated ₹244.79 crore through the sale of timber and other forest products, with the majority of this revenue derived from timber sales.