Natural & Economic Resources of Kerala

         The pressure on land in Kerala is the highest in India and the state's economy continues to be dominantly agrarian. The annual per capita income in state at current prices has risen to Rs. 19,461 in the year 1999-2000 from RS 5,065 in 1992-93. Coir: Backwaters and the inland waterways nourishes the coir industry, which is the oldest traditional cottage industry in the state. Coir is made out of coconut husk which is bestowed on the state in abundant measure. Husks have to be rhetted for days in copious quantity of water which the backwaters provide. These waterways also offer cheap and economic transportation of this produce.

Backwaters & Rivers

Fishing: Backwater fishing is a flourishing industry in several parts of the state. Freshwater prawns, lobsters, crabs, clams and oysters which find a ready market overseas are cropped from these backwaters. The taste of the much celebrated 'pearl-spot' fish are relished to be believed.

Other resources: Lime shell deposits which feeds the exclusive white cement industry is another resource of the backwaters, worth mentioning.

Power Generation: The presence of a large number of rivers has made Kerala rich in water resources which are being harnessed for power generation and irrigation.

         The Malampuzha, Gayatri, Mangalam, Vazhani, Peechi, Valayar, Cheerkuzhi, Pothundi, Chalakudy, Neyyar, Periyar Valley, Pamba, Chithirapuzha, Kanjirapuzha and Pazhassi are the major irrigation projects where as in the field of power generation, Pallivasal, Shengulam, Neriyamangalam, Perinagalkuthu, Panniyar, Sholayar, Sabarigiri, Kuttiadi and Idukki are the major projects.

         The atomic era has put the state into prominence by virtue of its large deposits of Thorium-bearing mineral, Monozite.

         Valuable minerals occur in many parts of the state. The beach sands in Kollam district are rich in heavy minerals like Monozite, Ilmenite, Rutile, Zircon and Silimanite. Deposits of graphite also occur in many parts of the state.

         Kerala has the finest China clay in the country - about 80 million tonnes. The deposits of silica and quartz sand are estimated at around 75 million tonnes. Fire clay accounts for about 12 million tonnes.

         About 79 million tonnes of iron ore, 25 million tonnes of lime stone, 11 million tonnes of bauxite, 35 million tonnes of ilmenite, three million tonnes of rutile, one million tonnes of monozite and 0.7 million tonnes of borophite are the estimated deposits.