Transformation of vegetable cultivation in Kerala

Kerala is bestowed with diverse climatic conditions and facilitates the cultivation of a variety of vegetable crops differing in temperature requirement and cultivation practices.The total area under vegetable cultivation is increasing in the state at a slow pace and Malappuram (11.69%), Palakkad (11.47%) and Idukki (10.27%) districts have 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions in the area under the cultivation of vegetables during 2021-22. But our production is stagnating and not sufficient to meet the States requirement. Kerala depends on neighbouring states to fill this huge gap. The post-COVID period made considerable changes in the lifestyle of society which reflected in the agriculture sector too. The reliance on social media had a significant impact on this sector. The surge in market price and pesticide residues of major vegetables imported from nearby states led to a transforming change in vegetable cultivation in the State. The health awareness of people has led to a shift towards organic vegetable farming and homestead vegetable cultivation. According to the Department of Agriculture Development and Farmers Welfare, the area under organic cultivation had increased from 7,355.12 ha in 2017-18 to 73,543 ha in 2021-22.

Vegetables are considered essential for well-balanced diets since they supply vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre, phytochemicals etc. Fruits and vegetables from the kitchen gardens are good sources of micronutrients. Nutrition gardens are a viable solution and an affordable way of ensuring healthy food and balanced nutrition in households. A scientifically laid out nutrition garden helps to meet the entire requirements of fruits and vegetables for a family all year round. Social media played a major role in the introduction and popularization of new crops or less popular crops to Kerala and gaining wider publicity. Crops like butternut, squash, summer squash, sweet corn in plains and kale, celery, and red cabbage in high ranges were a few crops recently getting attention. Sometimes, the information developed and shared through social media platforms may mislead the growers. The online seed purchase and distribution system has made availability of all the different varieties across the locations. This helps the popularization of many private-sector hybrids in vegetable crops. Commercial vegetable growers are quite aware of new vegetable hybrids as they are high-yielding, uniform in maturity, resistant to different stresses and have better quality produce.

Hybrids increase the yield by 15-20% depending upon the crop and it can be further raised to 45% by adopting hi-tech crop management practices. The changing climatic conditions, frequent crop failures, low yield, reduction in quality and increasing pest and disease problems render the vegetable production unprofitable. It is imperative to bring vegetable production to self-sufficiency by growing high-yielding climate-resilient varieties under hi-tech production systems. Many research institutes in India have developed disease-resistant varieties in commercial vegetable crops. Only a few high-yielding varieties/ hybrids developed are recommended for cultivation in Kerala. Farmers are cultivating hybrids not specifically recommended to Kerala and seldom face crop failure. These varieties should be tested for their adaptability to a specific agroecosystem before venturing large-scale cultivation. Thus priority should be given to breeding high-yielding and stress-resistant hybrids for cultivation in varying agro-climatic regions of Kerala.

This will be of great importance for an economic and environmentally safe approach. Kerala Agricultural University has developed hybrids in a few vegetable crops such as Heera and Subhra of cucumber, KPCH-1 of salad cucumber which is suitable for polyhouse cultivation and seedless watermelon hybrids, Shonima and Swarna. Hybrids in a few other commercial vegetables are also in the pipeline. The response of inputs depends on the quality of the seeds. Good quality seeds can increase the yield up to 30 percent. The availability of quality seed is the major challenge faced by farmers. Quality seed availability can be ensured through a strong integration with the farms under State DoA. Hybrid seed production can be done with farmer participation. Trained youth can be involved in the seed production programme. Emphasis may be given to the development of nurseries for the production of quality vegetable seedlings. Grafted vegetable seedlings technology can be promoted to reduce disease susceptibility, and increase plant vigor and yield.

Promotion of innovative farming practices like precision farming, hydroponics, aquaponics, vertical farming etc, helps to attract more youth towards farming. This requires significant investment in specialized structures, training and proper maintenance. Various customized vertical farming models can be utilized for vegetable production in future, particularly in cities where space is limited. Open-field vegetable cultivation is cumbersome during the rainy season. As a result, the market price of vegetables goes up during wetter months. As a solution to this, rain-shelter cultivation should be encouraged during rainy seasons. Now, open precision farming in summer season vegetable cultivation has become popular in Kerala. Youths are being attracted to adopt these hi-tech production systems. This is a positive trend for vegetable production in Kerala. Precision farming primarily focuses on the precise application of nutrients, water, seeds and other agricultural inputs to grow more crops in a wide range of soil environments. Emerging technologies like the use of drones for precision nutrient management and pest and disease monitoring and management in vegetable production will make cultivation more scientific. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have largely revolutionized agriculture. Through the assistance of ICT, farmers are able to stay updated with all recent information. Formulation of radical vegetable development package plans focusing on major vegetable production units in Kerala will be beneficial. LSG-level interventions on vegetable development activities with a focus on marketing and value addition will help to strengthen the marketing channels and will be a boon for vegetable farming in Kerala.