Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
free market policies in agriculture have reinforced these worries, particu-
larly as the agrarian sector has faced losses. Kerala's 2013-2014 fiscal bud-
get runs a deficit, for instance.54
Furthermore, economic inequality is increasing in the state. As agri-
cultural occupations have become increasingly risky due to the Green
Revolution, and as Kerala's per capita income remains low, much of
Kerala's labor force has been migrating to countries in the Middle East,
Europe, and North America for jobs. Meanwhile, lower-
skilled laborers
from other parts of India have been flocking to Kerala's urban areas for
jobs in sectors such as construction. Kerala's slums, filled with impover-
ished people, are rapidly growing in size. Workers in industries such as
the hotel and tourism sectors earn just under 2,000 rupees per month
—
almost the equivalent of a dollar a day.
Several scholars have argued that the Kerala model actually perpet-
uates pockets of social exclusivity, despite claims by the Communist
parties that they embrace secularism and equality. Many women, lower-
caste communities, and groups from minority religious backgrounds still
remain marginalized in Kerala's politics.55 Several of these political and
social divisions were apparent in the early days of the state, such as when
President's Rule was imposed within Kerala by Prime Minister Nehru,
yet they still remain today.
Just as alarming have been the statistics revealing Kerala's agrarian
crisis, which I talked about in the previous chapter. In spite of the state's
reputation as a model, and its history and politics, the 1990s and early
2000s were years of farmer suicides, pesticide poisonings, and a decline
in agricultural output in many crops. This agrarian crisis was partly the
result of policy decisions by Kerala's political leaders, especially right
after state formation. Critics argue that the Land Reforms Act of 1963
and related leftist policies have led to ongoing economic and agricultural
stagnation. For instance, they contend that land reform, by breaking up
large estates and handing land over to small farmers, made agriculture
less productive per acre. This situation encouraged farmers to cultivate
crops such as spices that are not labor intensive, so they could avoid pay-
ing high labor costs when not receiving good returns on their land.56 Oth-
ers have disagreed, arguing that restrictions on the size of land holdings
