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MINERALS

Malappuram district is not rich in mineral wealth. Laterite stone is found abundantly in the midland areas. It is exploited economically for construction work and hundreds of quarries cutting laterites stone known as 'Vettukallu' are in operation, giving employment to thousands. It was Dr. Francis Buchanan, a Scottish scholar who named the porous rock laterite based on the Latin term lateritis, meaning brick stone. He conducted his studies in and around Angadipuram in 1800 A.D.

 

Deposits of lime shells are found in the coastal belt, mainly in Ponnani and Kadalundinagaram. The coastal sands of Ponnani and Velliyancode contain heavy minerals like llmanite and Monosite. China clay, the principal raw material for porcelain industry, is found abundantly in many parts of the district. Iron ore, as Magnetite Quartzite is found abundantly in many parts of the district. Iron ore, as Magnetite and Quartzite is found in Nilambur, Vaniyambalam, Kalikavu and Chembarassery.

 

It is estimated that 1.86 million tonnes of oxidized ore and 2.52 million tonnes of unoxidised ore are available here. Karuvarakundu in the district, derived its name from iron ore cutting and blacksmiths, which flourished in the district from ancient times. Nilambur region of the district, forms part of the hidden Wynad goldfields. Placer gold : The 2 main zones for auriferous gravels are in Nilambur valley, namely Pandipuzha - Chiyarpuzha zone and Punnapuzha-Maruthapuzha zone. A possible reserve of about 8.5 million cubic meters of auriferous gravel is estimated. Economical exploitation of this deposit is being examined by the Government of India.

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AGRICULTURE

Agriculture is the mainstay of the population, involving 75% of the people, directly or indirectly. The main crops raised are paddy, coconut, tapioca, arecanut, cashewnut, banana, rubber, pulses, ginger and pepper. Here 2.08 lakhs hectares of land are available for agriculture. The vast majority of the peasants are small land holders. 2.36 lakhs hectares are holdings below one hectare. Only 16,107 hectares of holding are above 2 hectares in area. Paddy lost predominance among crops during the last decade. Now coconut tops, with a total area of one lakh hectares.

 

The annual coconut production tops, with a total area of one lakh hectares with an annual production of 1.26 lakhs metric tonnes. Cashew is raised in a total area of 19,299 hectares. About 12,000 metric tonnes of raw cashew nuts are produced annually. Rubber, a fast expanding cash crop in the district has got a coverage of 17,900 hectares. Malappuram has outrun Kottayam, the rubber district of Kerala, in the total area under rubber cultivation, though the annual production is below 1,800 MT.

 

An important cash crop is arecanut. It covers an area 11,398 hectares, with an average annual production of 2,300 MT.  Tapioca is cultivated in 12,944 hectares with annual production of 2.41 lakhs MT. Banana (11,398 H), Hill produces (1,720 H), etc. show the crop diversity. For research and extension services in agriculture, technology and to produce and provide planting materials to the farmers, a net work of institutions functions in the district.

 

The seed garden complex at Muderi, 27 kms. from Nilambur is said to be the biggest farm in entire Asia. The District Agricultural farm in Chungathara, state farms at Thavanur, Anakkayam and Chokkad Coconut Nursery and anti parasite breeding station at Parappanangadi are also functioning. A cashew research and development centre at Anakkayam and an Agriculture Technology college at Thavanur are functioning under the Kerala Agricultural University. At Malappuram, there is a soil testing laboratory. One principal agriculture officer is stationed here.

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ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

According to the 1987 live stock census there were 23,000 cattle 50,000 buffaloes, 1,75,000 chicken, 1,65,000 ducks, 4,000 rabbits and 500 pigs in the district. It has four veterinary polyclinics, 7 veterinary hospitals, 37 dispensaries, 8 cub centres, 56 cattle development centres, 2 mobile farm aid clinics one clinical laboratory and one poultry farm. One mobile diagnostic laboratory, one regional artificial insemination centre, one rinder pest check post etc. function for the service of farmers and welfare of animals. A project to preserve the Malabari Goats having high disease resistance is also undertaken.

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DAIRY DEVELOPMENT

Eleven block level extension officers and dairy farm instructors are working in the district. There are 135 co-operative milk societies. They collect and distribute about 48 lakhs litres of milk annually. There is a quality control unit at the district level. Dairy development department provides assistance to the societies for acquisition of buildings, furniture and equipments. Farmers are given assistance to purchase milch animals and to construct standard cattle sheds. Fodder grass cultivation is promoted with Government subsidy. There is one milk chilling plant run by MILMA at Nilambur.

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FISHERIES

The district has 70 kms. of sea coast. It stretches form Kadalundi Nagaram in the north to Palappetty in the south. The coastal belt is in Vallikkunnu, Prappnangadi, Tanur, Vettom, Purathur, Veliancode, Perumpadappu Panchayats and Ponnani Municipality. Main fishing Centres are Ponnani, Koottayi, Parappanagadi and Tanur. High sea fish catching operations with mechanized boats are centered in Ponnani and Parappanagadi. Ponnani is a major fishing harbour with about 350 mechanized boats.

 

There are fisheries guide lights at Ponnani and Tanur to help night fishing. Fishermen welfare programmes are undertaken by fisheries department and 'Matsyafed'. The Deputy Director of Fisheries at Ponnani and the District Officer of 'Matsyafed' is at Tirur. There are schemes to provide fishing equipment, houses, latrines and other amenities to fishermen. There are educational assistance, insurance schemes, financial assistance during of season, etc. for the benefit of fishermen. A fish Farmer Development Agency (FFDA) to promote inland fishing is also functioning.

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CO-OPERATIVES

The district has good network of co-operative societies. All types of co-operative activities ranging from ration shops to hospitals are undertaken. One district co-operative bank, 6 urban banks, 4 agricultural development banks, 115 primary co-operative Banks, 12 housing development banks, 30 employees societies, 50 SC/ST co-operatives, 2 women's co-operatives, 290 college/school societies, 18 Coir societies, 13 fishermen societies, 9 handloom societies and 37 milk distribution societies function here. The dist. co-operative bank has 32 branches in various areas.

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INDUSTRIES

As on 31-03-95 there are 5,918 small industrial units with permanent registration. Out of them, 2,040 units are agro-based. These units have a total investment of about Rs.92 crores and they provide employment directly to 33,500 people. Average investment per unit is Rs. 1.55 lakhs. There are about 500 women's industrial units and 230 scheduled caste ventures. About Rs. 1 crore is spent annually for various industrial promotion schemes like investment subsidy, interest subsidy, self employment assistance, etc. in the district. There are 16 large and medium industries in the district which provide direct employment to 4,500 people.

 

These units have a total capital investment of Rs. 42 crores. Among the large undertakings, 3 are spinning mills. There are 2 wood based, 6 chemical and 45 engineering units. A co-operative spinning mill (25,00 spindles) and a unit of KELTRON near Kuttippuram are worth mentioning among the several proposed large scale industrial units. Preliminary steps of establishing an Industrial Growth Centre in 250 acres near Panakkad, has been completed.

 

An Electronics Techno Park is coming up near Calicut University. A rubber based common facility centre and industrial estate established at Payyanad at a cost of Rs. 1 Crore is fast growing. The estate is in an area of 15.03 acres, in which 31 plots have been given to entrepreneurs for rubber based units. Under the new industrial policy of the state government, a green channel counter functions at the District Industries Centre to mitigate problems faced by new entrepreneurs. Besides the District Industries Centre at Malappuram, 4 taluk industries offices and 14 block extension offices are functioning.

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IRRIGATION

Although 3 major rivers of Kerala flow through the district, Malappuram district has no major irrigation project and hence frequent drought is experienced. Two major irrigation schemes are in the preliminary state. they are Chamravattom Regulator-cum-Bridge project in Bharathapuzha at Ponnani and the Chaliyar River Valley project across Chaliyar at Chungathara. Chaliyar project, which would be the biggest irrigation project in Kerala, is nearing implementation stage. A dam of 950 M length and 68 m height is to be constructed at Ambittampotty, 25 km away from Nilambur and 288 million cubic metres of water stored here to irrigate 732335 hectares of land in Malappuram and Kozhikode districts.

 

Additional water of 259 million cubic metres from 2 proposed hydel projects at 'Chalipuzha' are also envisaged for the 'Chaliyar' system. Chamravattom regulator is intended to resist salination of Bharathapuzha and Tirurpuzha to protect the paddy lands of Ponnani and Tirur from salt water, and to  irrigate 22,000 hectares of land in Malappuram & Thrissur districts. Under the Minor Irrigation Department, an 8 crore project, namely Kavanakkallu Regulator-cum-Bridge Scheme at Vazhakaad across 'Chaliyar' is nearing completion.

 

This scheme will provide water to 2,000 hectares in Malappuram and Kozhikode district resist salination of Kozhikode water supply scheme and give additional quantity of 32 lakh cubic metres of water for the Kozhikode Water supply, reducing the distance to Kozhikode from Areekode by 10 kms. Twenty-four Check dams in forest lands under Wasteland Development Scheme to harness water, taken up and completed. At present 34 lift irrigation schemes and 9 class 1 and 571 class II schemes under Minor Irrigation Department, provide water for a total of 25,055 Ha. in the district. More schemes are in the various stages of implementation.

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