Last week witnessed two striking – and inextricably linked – events that have a central bearing on the economy and culture of Kerala.

One was the early onset of the south-west monsoon, the trade winds that are a harbinger of bounty for the State's farmers in the form of torrential, fruitful and crop-enriching rains. The other was the observance of World Environment Day, a product of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and which was hosted by India this year, for the first time, under the theme of “Forests: Nature At Your Service”.

The twin themes of rains and forests reinforce each other in ways that Keralites – especially those wizened by the good old days of agrarian toil and proletarian promise – can only hope to recall today in remakes of classic Malayalam films and spoofs of stand-up comics.

The plain fact, though, is that behind the advertising copywriter's flash of spiritual brilliance in coining the now universal slogan for Kerala – “God's Own Country” – lies a stark truth. Kerala has been blessed by nature in the form of rains and trees.

‘Above normal'

The importance of the monsoons is sacrosanct even for normally unromantic bankers and financial wizards. Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities Private Ltd said in a statement: “The Indian monsoon season (June-September) has started on a positive note. For the week ending 1st June, all-India rains were 12 per cent above normal.”

“Sowing of a number of crops starts in June and good July rains determine the soil moisture and ensure proper development of the crops planted in June,” it added.

Last year, the actual rainfall received in Kerala during the south-west monsoon season (1 June 2010 to 30 September 2010) was 1932 mm as against the normal rainfall of 2142.9 mm, which was regarded as normal by meteorologists.

Excess rainfall occurred in four districts of the State during a short span of two months of October and November during the north-east monsoon period. The Kuttanad region – once the rice bowl of Kerala – received 63 per cent excess rainfall during this period and severe floods damaged the paddy crop of the area.

According to the Kerala State Planning Board, the State, on an average, received 71 per cent excess rainfall during this period last year. About 2335 ha of paddy in nursery and 12475.1 ha in mainfield were damaged, while 122.3 ha of vegetables and 101.5 ha of tapioca perished in the floods.

Torrential rains also bless Kerala's forests, which cover an area of 17324 sq. km., with 1,443 sq.km of very dense forest, 9,410 sq.km of moderate dense forest and 6,471 sq.km of open forest. This constitutes 44.58 per cent of the total geographical area of the State. In the recent past, there has been an increase of very dense forest cover due to the change in the area of the trees outside forests.

Forest revenue

Kerala's forests contribute substantially to the State's non-tax revenue. According to the State Planning Board, the revenue from the forestry sector by way of sale of timber and other forest products was Rs 272.8 crore in 2009-10, up from Rs 223.71 crore in 2008-09.

Most of the forest revenue comes from timber – Rs 231.21 crore during 2009-10, which was 84.8 per cent of the total forest revenue. Kerala's forests also supply non-wood produce valued at Rs 5 crore annually. The State's forestry sector is also a source of employment for the rural economy, especially for tribals and other marginal forest dwellers.

Thus, even as urban commuters curse the rains as they arrive for work drenched to the skin, agrarian Kerala is all smiles as the south-west monsoon continues its triumphant wet march northwards. Agriculture, fisheries, forestry, groundwater, hydroelectric power generation – these are but a few of the sectors that depend so much on the rains. The monsoons are to Kerala what oases are to a desert.

The writer can be contacted at >kgkumar@gmail.com

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