Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
setlers considered Wayanad a wild jungle, but also a place with poten-
tial for extensive cultivation and profit, due to its expansive forests and
plethora of natural resources. Before British rule, several Adivasi (tribal)
communities populated the area today known as Wayanad, and local
kingdoms batled over its forest resources and spices. During the colo-
nial era, however, many colonialists came to view Wayanad's peoples as
“profligate natives,” lazy and ignorant of how best to capitalize on the
natural resources of the region.27 To turn the unproductive “wastelands”
of the region into plantations and farms, the British forced local people
out of their homes and into new setlements.28 Colonial oicers and poli-
cies also promoted heavy use of the forests for economic and recreational
purposes, from logging to hunting.29 Wayanad's vast forests and newly
created plantations contributed greatly to British economic power, trade,
and infrastructure.30 The district, therefore, came to be regarded as an
area rich with agrarian bounty.
Wayanad's history after India became independent is in many ways a
microcosm of Kerala's history. After the formation of the state of Kerala
in 1956, the new government promoted cash crop agriculture through-
out Wayanad, to continue developing the area economically, to boost
foreign exchange, and to minimize food insecurity in the state. During
the era of land reform, the government broke up and parceled out several
plantations in Wayanad to former tenants and laborers, encouraged the
migration of new setlers to the area, and promoted cash crop agricul-
ture.31 Then, in 1984, K AU set up Krishi Vigyan Kendra
(KVK), an agricul-
tural research station, in Ambalavayal, Wayanad. This organization has
received funding from various sources, including the Indian Council of
Agricultural Research (ICAR). ICAR, a national institution, played a piv-
otal role in disseminating Green Revolution knowledge and technologies
throughout India.32
Wayanad has therefore served, and is serving, as a place of agricultural
experimentation, which Kerala's Agriculture Department and Assembly
have encouraged in the past few decades. Today, KVK is a place where
farmers can purchase hybrid seeds for commercial crops, pesticides, and
other farming technologies. KVK also provides subsidies for growing var-
ious crops, and it has several experimental plots on its campus. These
