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Home / Data & Insights / Data Explorer

Category: Agriculture

Evaluation study on Soil Conservation in Kerala 2014-15

Published Date: 24, Aug 2017

Jurisdiction : Kerala

Scheme : Evaluation of Soil Conservation

View Count : 822

Evaluation study on Soil Conservation in Kerala 2014-15

Evaluation study on Soil Conservation in Kerala 2014-15

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Transcript

Government of Kerala 	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 	
Evaluation Study on Soil Conservation in Kerala 2014-15 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  DEPARTMENT OF  ECONOMICS  & S TATISTICS  	
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM  
2017

PREFACE 
 
 
  One  of  the  most  valuable  gifts  of  nature  to  mankind  is  soil.    For  the 
maintenance  of  soil,  adequate  protection  and  conservation  is  necessary.  Due  to  the 
peculiarity  of  rainfall  and  topography  of  the  state,  soil  conservation  assumes 
importance  in  our  planning  process.  Heavy  soil  erosion  results  in  the  loss  of  fertility 
and  moisture  content  of  the  earth’s  surface  and  diminishing  rate  of  agricultural 
production.  Hence  Government  is  implementing  various  soil  conservation  measures 
through  the  soil  conservation  department,  local  bodies,  etc.,  for  maintaining  the 
fertility  and  moisture  content  of  the  surface  soil.  The  Evaluation  study  of  soil 
conservation  schemes  has  been  done  by  the  Directorate  of  Economics  and  Statistics 
for all districts except Wayanad.  This  report  relates  to  the  survey  results  of 
39Schemes  completed  by  the  Soil  Conservation  Department  and  various  other 
agencies.  The field survey was conducted during the agricultural year 2014-15 by the 
Statistical  Investigators  under  the  supervision  of  the  Research  Officer  and  Deputy 
Director  in  the  District  Offices.    The  schemes  implemented  and  completed  before  five 
years  are  taken  up  for  study so  that  full  benefit  of  the  scheme  could  be  evaluated  and 
assessed.    This  evaluation  study  results  may  be  much  of  use  to  Administrators, 
Statisticians,  Research  Scholars,  Agricultural  Geologists  and  others  interested  in  the 
subject. The efforts taken by the staffs of this section is appreciated. 
  I  acknowledge  my  thanks  to  the  staff  of  Soil  Conservation  Department  and 
other  local  bodies  for  their  valuable  suggestion  and  whole  hearted  co-operation  for 
the successful conduct of the survey in the state. 
                           Sd/- 
 V. RAMACHANDRAN  DIRECTOR GENERAL 
Thiruvananthapuram         
24/08/2017

OFFICERS OF EVALUATION DIVISION	
 
 
Director (SDP)  Smt. E. BABY 	
Additional Director  Smt.SHEELA.P.SANKAR 
Deputy Director  Smt. SOBHANA  PILLAI.L 
Research Assistant  Sri.ANILKUMAR.R 
Statistical Assistants  Grade I Smt. S. MINIMOL 
Statistical Assistants  Grade I Smt. K.K. GRACY 
Statistical Assistants  Grade I Smt.SAMEERA.V.R

CONTENTS  
 
  Chapter – I  Pages 
1.1  Introduction  1 
1.2  Objectives and Methodology  1 
1.3  District Wise List Of Selected Schemes  2 
1.4  Problems Of Soil Erosion  6 
1.5  Methods of Soil Conservation Programmes  7 
1.6    Land Use Particulars 
 
Chapter – II  7 
2.1  Impact of Soil Conservation Programmes on Land use and crop pattern 
8 
2.2  Cost Benefit Analysis of the Soil Conservation Programmes 
38 
  Chapter – III   
3.1  General Observations 
46 
3.2  Occupational Profile
 
48 
3.3  Summary of Findings 
50

1 
  Chapter – I 
 
1.1   Introduction   
 
Land is  one of the  basic  resources  of a  nation.  Productive land is the source  of 
human  sustenance  and  security.    The  future  of  the  country  and  its  teeming  millions 
depend to a large extent, the conservation of its fertile soil through the proper land use 
and scientific agricultural practices.  
  Soil  conservation  means  applying  of  all  necessary  practices  to  maintain  the 
capability  of  land  for which  it  is suited  and  to  improve the  productivity  of agricultural 
land.    Considering  the  importance  of  soil  conservation  our  plan  provisions  enhanced 
for  optimizing  the  use  of  land  resources.    An  evaluation  study  in  this  front  can  be 
helpful for developing much more suitable conservation measures. 
1.2   Objectives and Methodology  
 
The main objectives of the evaluation study are:  
1. To assess the benefit of the programme particularly in relation to the cultivation 
of seasonal and perennial crops. 
2.  To throw light on various aspects like cost benefit analysis, production potential 
etc 
3.  To  estimate  the  extent  of  additional  area  brought  under  cultivation  consequent 
on the implementation of the programme. 
4.  To  study  the  effects  of  the  work  carried  out  by  the  Soil  Conservation 
Department in this direction 
 
For  this,  schemes  executed  five  years  prior  to  the  survey  i.e.  during  2009-10 
in the State by the Soil ConservationDepartmentLocal Self Government Department 
and other Government agencies were selected.  The study covered all the districts of 
the  State  except Wayanad.  The list  of  beneficiaries  under each scheme is  collected 
from  the  Soil  Conservation  Department,  Local  Self  Government  Department  and 
other  Government  agencies.      The  beneficiaries  are  selected  by  stratified  random 
sampling method on the basis of the area of the holding.  The holdings are stratified 
into four stratums.

2 
  Holdings with less than 1 acre 
-	
 	Stratum I 
Holdings with 1 acre or more but less than 3 acres  -	
 	Stratum II 
Holdings with 3 acre or more but less than 5 acres  -	
 	Stratum III 
Holdings with 5 acres and above  -	
 	Stratum IV 
 
 
Selection of Beneficiaries  
 
  Selection  of  beneficiaries  is  done  from  the  list  of  beneficiaries  collected  from 
Soil  Conservation  Department,  local  bodies  and  other  Government  agencies.25  
beneficiaries  are  selected  from  each  scheme  by  simple  random  sampling  covering  all 
the  above  4  stratum  with  at  least  6  from  each  stratum.    If  in  any  stratum,  the  total 
number  of  beneficiaries  in  the  frame  is  less  than  the  number  to  be  selected,  the 
shortfall is compensated from another stratum with the nearest area of the holding.  For 
the  purpose  of  comparison  5  control  plots  are  also  selected  from  the  scheme  area, 
where  the  soil  conservation  works  are  not  carried  out  under  any  scheme.   Name  of  all 
selected schemes from all districts except Wayanaddistrict are given in 1.3. 
1.3 - District Wise Name  of  Selected  schemes 
Sl 
No.  DISTRICT NAME 
SCHEME  
NUMBER	
 	Name of Selected Schemes 	
1  THIRUVANANTHAPUAM  1  KeezhammagamPadasekharam 	
2  MalayilkadaPangottuvilaScheme 
3  Parachel Scheme 
4  VettormunikunuColony 
5  Naduvathala Bund Check Dam 	
2  KOLLAM 
1  Kurakkode  Watershed 
3  PATHANAMTHITTA  1  AruvikuzhiWatershed 	2  VettorWatershed 	
4  ALAPPUZHA 1  NanekkadBundNirmanaPadhathi 	2  AllumParambuThoduNirthadaVikhasanam 
3  AnjuttamPadamNirchalVikhasanam 
4  NaluppadamBundSamrakshanam 	
5  KOTTAYAM 
1  VallakkadavuWatershed

3 
  6  IDUKKI 
1  MeleChinarWatershedScheme (RIDF) 	
2  PayithottiWatershedScheme (RIDF) 
3  ChattikuzhiWatershedScheme (RIDF) 	
7  ERNAKULAM 1  KadavoormuriWatershed 	
2  KuzhumberiThoduWatershed 
3  PanankaraThoduWatershed 
4  ManiyanthramNirampuzhaWatershed 
5  KozhipilliValiyachiraSamrakshnaPadhathi 	
8  THRISSUR 
1  Chemeenchal 
9  PALAKKAD  1  MachanthoduWatershed (RIDF) 	
2  PulliyamThodu Watershed (RIDF) 
3  MaruthancheriWatershed (WGDP) 
4  KalliyadWatershed (WGDP) 
5  OomanadiNirthadaPadhathi (WGDP) 	
10  MALAPPURAM  
1  KodithuthimalaWatershed 
11  KOZHIKODE 1  MoonamannilWatershed 
12  KANNUR  1  KalankiWatershed 	
2  EzharakunduThoduWatershed 
3  MuringodiWatershed 
4  KorambakunduThodu 
5  Eyyabharani 	
13  KASARGOD 1  KundaramWatershed (RIDF) 	
2  NeelipuzhachalWatershed (RIDF) 
3  Maranad Watershed (RIDF) 
4  Plathadam Watershed (RIDF) 
5  Kariyottuchal Watershed (RIDF) 	
 
Total  39  
 
 The  District  wise  selection  details  of  beneficiary  plots  and  control  plots  are  given  in 
the table 1and 1(a).

Statement Showing Stratum Wise Distrib	
 	 	 	 	
Sl 
No	
 	Districts  No of 
Schemes  selected 	
Stratum 
No	
1  2  3  4	 	
1  Thiruvananthapuram	 	5 	121	
2  Kollam  1 	100	
3 	Pathanamthitta	 	2 	116	
4  Alappuzha 4  63	 	
5  Kottayam 1  31	 	
6  Idukki 3  30	 	
7  Ernakulam 5  41	 	
8  Thrissur 1 	106	
9  Palakkad 5  58	 	
10	 	Malappuram	 	1 	27	 	
11  Kozhikkode  1 	117	
12  Kannur 5  36	 	
13  Kasargode 5  48	 	
Total 39 	894	 	
28.4973.44
50.53	
197.64	
0
50
100 150 200 250 300 350	
Area In Acres	
District Wise area of Selected Beneficiaries	
4 	
Table - 1 	
Statement Showing Stratum Wise Distrib	ution of Selected Beneficiaries	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Stratum 	-1  Stratum-11  Stratum-111	 	Stratum 1V	
No	 
Area 
in 
Acres  No Area 
in 
Acres  No	 	
Area 
in 
Acres  No	
 	
Area 
in 
Acres	
 	5  6  7  8  9  10 	11	
121	 	20.82  4  7.67  0  0  0 	0	
100	 	37.62  25  35.82  0  0  0 	0	
116	 	39.17	 	9 	11.36	 	0 	0 	0 	0	
 	32.45  37  65.17  23  87.34  2 	12.68	
 	18.36  69  124.74  22  89.38  3 	15.39	
 	22.12  95  160.90  0  0  0 	0	
 	25.13  81  130.41  3  10.00  0 	0	
106	 	33.35  18  27.17  1  3.26  0 	0	
 	34.87  63  105.51  3  10.05  1 	5.00	
 	12.89	 	54	 	103.49	 	1 	3.61	 	0 	0	
117	 	35.67  7  8.15  1  4.42  0 	0	
 	20.76  89  125.58  0  0  0 	0	
 	24.64  57  86.18  12  45.48  7 	173.50	
894	 	357.85  608	 	992.15  66  253.54  13 	206.57	
197.64	
247.87
183.02 165.54
63.78 155.43
119.99
48.24146.34	
329.8	District Wise area of Selected Beneficiaries	
ution of Selected Beneficiaries	 	
 	(Area in Acres)	 	
Stratum 1V	  Total 	
Area 
in 
Acres	 
No 
Area in 
Acres 	
11  12  13 
0  125  28.49 
0  125  73.44 
0 	125	 	50.53	 	
12.68	  125  197.64 	
15.39	  125  247.87 	
0  125  183.02 
0  125  165.54 
0  125  63.78 	
5.00	  125  155.43 	
0 	82	 	119.99	 	
0  125  48.24 
0  125  146.34 	
173.50	  124  329.8 	
206.57	  1581	 	1810.11 
 	
329.8

Statement Showing Stratum Wise Distribution of Control Plots	
Sl 
No  Districts  No of 
Schemes  selected  	
No	
1  2  3  4	 	
1  Thiruvananthapuram  5 	25	
2  Kollam  1 	20	
3  Pathanamthitta  2 	22	
4  Alappuzha 4 	15	
5  Kottayam 1  6	 	
6  Idukki 3  8	 	
7  Ernakulam 5 	10	
8  Thrissur 1 	21	
9  Palakkad 5 	15	
10  Malappuram  1  5	 	
11  Kozhikkode 1 	22	
12  Kannur 5  5	 	
13  Kasaragod 5 	10	
Total 39 	184	
 
The  total  number  of  beneficiaries 	
beneficiaries  are  having  holding  less  than  one  acre, 
acre  or  more  but  less  than  3  acres,	
4.5315.8	
13.56	
0
10 20 30 40 50
60	
Area in Acres	
District Wise Area of Control Plots	
5 	
TABLE 1(a) 	
Statement Showing Stratum Wise Distribution of Control Plots	
(Area in  Acres)	 
Stratum -1  Stratum-11  Stratum-111 	
Stratum 1V	
No	  Area in 
Acre  No Area 
in 
Acre  No 
Area 
in 
Acre  No 	Area in 	
 	5  6  7  8  9  10 	
25  4.53  0  0  0  0  0 
20  10.28  5  5.52  0  0  0 
22  10.19  3  3.37  0  0  0 
15  7.41  9  15.93  1  3.38  0 
 	4.09  18  31.31  0  0  1 	
 	5.35  17  27.20  0  0  0 	
10  4.50  15  18.00  0  0  0 
21  5.77  3  4.15  1  3.10  0 
15  8.11  10  14.40  0  0  0 
 	3.32  14  22.28  1  3.25  0 	
22  5.27  3  3.17  0  0  0 
 	2.72  20  28.31  0  0  0 	
10  4.36  12  17.13  1  4.00  2 	
184	  75.9  129  190.77  4  13.73  3 	
The  total  number  of  beneficiaries 	selected  are1581.    About 	56.55	
beneficiaries  are  having  holding  less  than  one  acre, 	38.46% 	are  having  holdings  one 	
acre  or  more  but  less  than  3  acres,	4.17	%  are  having  holding  3  acre  or  more  but  less 	
13.56	
26.7247.85
32.55 22.513.02 22.51
28.85
8.44	
31.03	
District Wise Area of Control Plots	
Statement Showing Stratum Wise Distribution of Control Plots	 	
Stratum 1V	  Total 	
Area in 
Acre  No Area 
in 
Acre 
11  12  13 
0  25  4.53 
0  25  15.8 
0  25  13.56 
0  25  26.72 
12.45  25  47.85 
0  25  32.55 
0  25  22.5 
0  25  13.02 
0  25  22.51 
0  20  28.85 
0  25  8.44 
0  25  31.03 
22.00  25  47.49 
34.45  320  314.85 	
 	
56.55	%  of  the 	
are  having  holdings  one 	
%  are  having  holding  3  acre  or  more  but  less 	
31.03	
47.49

6 
  than  5  acres  and  only  0.82%  of  the  beneficiaries  are  having  holdings  of  more  than  5 
acres.    In  order  to  compare  the  benefits  of  the  implementation  of  Soil  Conservation 
Programmes,  control  plots  were  also  selected.    Its  distribution  is  57.5%,  40.31%, 
1.25% and 0.94% respectively under Stratum I, II, III and IV. 
Following  schedules  were  used  for  collecting  the  details  from  beneficiary  plots 
and control plots. 
Schedule I  -  List of selected beneficiaries 
Schedule II  -  Detailed study of the selected beneficiaries 
Schedule III  -  List of control plots 
Schedule IV  -  Detailed enumeration of the control plots 
 
1.4.Problems of Soil Erosion 
 
Soil  erosion  means  the  disappearance  of  the  topsoil  by  the  action  of  wind  and 
water.  Ultimately soil erosion leads the desertification of land.  Degradation of natural 
resources  has  lead  to  many  indirect  damages,  such  as  increasing  extent  of  wasteland, 
soil  erosion,  land  sliding,  etc.  all  these  cumulatively  or  independently  affected 
agricultural area or reduce agricultural productivity.  Unlike other parts of the country, 
Kerala  has  some  unique  land  form  related  aspects  such  as  over  90%  of  the 
geographical  area  is  either  in  midland  or  high  land  category.    The  average  rate  of  soil 
erosion  in  the  country,  to  the  tune  of  16.3  t/ha/yr  –  has  been  alarming  and  has  to  be 
checked.  In hilly areas, the rate is much higher, i.e. about 30 to 50 t/ha/yr/, considering 
that  about  5cm  to  10  cm  of  the  top  soil  (ranging  from  0.05m  to  0.1  m  depth)  is  being 
lost  every  year  due  to  lead  management  practices.    It  has  been  estimated  9-5  lakh 
hectares of cultivated land in the State is having soil erosion problems. 
 
Responsibility for prevention of erosion   
 
  Land  which  is  one  of  the  precious  gifts  of  the  nature  embodies  soil,  water  and 
associated  flora  and  fauna  involving  the  total  ecosystem.    The  topography  of  the  land

7 
  plays  the  most  important  role  in  soil  erosion.    Kerala  is  a  narrow  strip  of  land  (width 
varies from   15 Km to 120 Km) situated  on the Western Slopes of the Western Ghats 
(the Sahyadri).  The very steep slopes facilitate quick run off of the rainfall resulting in 
low  time  of  concentration  poor  ground  water  recharge.  This  high  velocity  of  the 
surface  flow  causes  soil  displacement  and  movement.    The  surface  soil  gets  washed 
away  along  with  the  running  water.        The  major  portion  of  the  state  is  laterite  and  as 
such is more prone to erosion.  The different forms of soil erosion cause huge damage 
to Kerala’s economy every year and reported casualties every year due to landslides in 
monsoon season. 
1.5     Methods of Soil Conservation Programme 
 
Soil  Conservation  practices  are  mainly  grouped  into  two  categories  viz. 
Agronomical  and  Engineering  measures.  Agronomic  measures  are  comparatively 
less  costly  such  as  contour  ploughing  /  optimal  fertilizing,  organic  farming,  etc.  
Engineering  measures  include  contour  bunding,  land  levelling,  construction  of 
check  dams  and  water  harvesting  structure,  etc.  At  present  various  watershed 
programmes  are  being  implemented  in  the  state  for  effective  preservation  and 
management of the natural resources. 
1.6   Land Use Particulars of the State   
There  has  been  a  significant  change  in  the  land  use  of  the  state  over  the  years.    On 
many  occasions  the  change  is  adversely  affecting  the  environment  by  way  of 
intensified  soil  erosion,  water  logging,  conversion  of  paddy  lands,  etc.  are  some  of 
the  examples.    Cultivation  of  very  steep  lands  without  adopting  scientific 
conservation practices lead to heavy soil erosion.  Use of chemicals on a large scale 
for  agricultural  productions  leaves  dangerous  quantities  of  the  residues  in  the  soil 
and the water sources.

8 
  Chapter – II 
2.1  Impact of Soil Conservation Programme on Land Use and Crop Pattern   
 
    Before  1994,  soil  conservation  programme  was  executed  by  Department 
of  Agriculture/Soil  and  Water  conservation.  Due  to  soil  and  water  conservation 
works  there  was  an  increased  employment  among  rural  people  which  improved 
income  of  people  and  reduced  migration  of  labour.    Soil  and  water  conservation 
structures  in  arable  and  non  arable  lands  reduces  soil  erosion,  soil  loss,  run-off 
water,  etc.  and  increased  rainwater  infiltration,  surface  storage,  cropping  intensity, 
productivity  of  crops,  etc.    As  long  as  works  were  carried  out  based  on  funding  by 
Government  and  subsides  provided  for  supporting  income  generating  enterprises, 
there was positive impact. 
After  1994,  there  was  a  proposal  from  the  Government  that  people  should 
contribute  5-10%  or  more  towards  soil  and  water  conservation  works.    Farmers 
contributed  in  some  of  the  watersheds  based  on  the  direct  benefits  derived  from 
such activities; 
Soil  can  be  well  maintained  through  bunding  (mechanical  and  mechanical-cum-
vegetative  barriers),  deep  ploughing,  levelling,  smoothening,  etc.    Bunding  was 
accepted  by  farmers  to  strengthen  existing  bunds  without  any  obstruction  in  their 
plot   Moisture conservation on measures increased yield magically. 
Farmers  in  different  parts  reported  the  fact  that  the  sustainability  of  agriculture  is 
only possible by soil and water conservation measures.  They also reported that soil 
erosion can be minimized and irrigation potentials can be improved through soil and 
water conservation measures.  In addition, vegetation covering the soil is a must for 
minimizing soil loss even further. 
Table  2  gives  number  of  beneficiaries  selected  in  each  district  and  cost  of  the 
selected  schemes.  Also  gives  total  area  covered  under  the  schemes  in  each  district. 
In the year 2014-15, 39 schemes were selected from 13 districts.

9 
  Table – 2 
District wise Details of Area, Cost and Number of Beneficiaries of all schemes selected	
 	
SL No  District  Area (Acres)  Cost (₹)  Number of 
beneficiaries 	
Total  Selected 	
1  2  3 4 5  6 
1  Thiruvananthapuram  1444.95  5261561  925  125 
2  Kollam  1111.5  6809000  406  125 
3  Pathanamthitta  2026  14876000  398  125 
4  Alappuzha 561.53  1044075  340  125 
5  Kottayam  766  3093820  153  125 
6  Idukki 3928.04  14808000  2038  125 
7  Ernakulum  2529.58  911000  125  125 
8  Thrissur  2800  10785000  125  125 
9  Palakkad 167.57  17325121  833  125 
10  Malappuram  1482.63  7290988  82  82 
11  Kozhikkode  397.67  164554  303  125 
12  Kannur 4594.20  20654520  1217  125 
13  Kasaragod  4883.59  24973214  1298  124 	
Total 
26693.26  127996853  8243  1581 	 
 	
1444.95 1111.5 2026
561.53 7663928.04
2529.58 2800
167.57 1482.63
397.674594.2
4883.59
0
1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000	
Area in Acres	
District Wise Area of selected Scheme

10 
   
 
Land Use particulars of Beneficiary plots 
  Table  Ns.  3  and  3(a)  reveals  the  land  use  particulars  of  beneficiary  plots  and 
control  plots  respectively.    It  gives  us  certain  positive  trends  while  comparing  with 
the  area  before  and  after  soil  conservation  programme.    Area  increased  from 
1685.91  acres  to  1719.07  acres  after  the  implementation  of  soil  conservation 
programme.  An  additional  area  of 33.16 acre  of land  has  brought  under  cultivation 
which was not cultivated earlier.  Hence it can be stated that 1.97% of area over the 
area cultivated  before  soil conservation  programme is due  to the implementation of 
soil  conservation  measures.  In  other  words  area  under  cultivation  has  increased 
from 93.14% to 94.97% by decreasing the current fallow from 3.04% to 1.25% . 
          On  examining  the  district  wise  data,  a  marginal  increase  is  noted  in  the  area 
additionally  brought  under  cultivation  in  Idukki,  Malappuram,  Alappuzha, 
Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram and  Kannur. 	
5261561 680900014876000
1044075309382014808000
91100010785000
17325121
7290988 16455420654520
24973214
0
5000000
10000000 15000000 20000000 25000000 30000000	
Cost in ₹.	
District Wise Details of Cost in ₹

11 
  Table 3 - Land Use Particulars of Beneficiary Plots 	
 	(Area in Acres)	 	
Sl 
No  District  Area Cultivated 
 Current Fallow  Other Use Area not Cultivated  Total 	Before SC 
Work After  SC Work Before SC 
Work After 
SCWork Before SC 
Work  After  SC 
Work Before 
SCWork  After  SC 
Work 
Before 
SCWork	 	After  
SCWork 	
Area  %  Area  %  Area  %  Area  %  Area  %  Area  %  Area  %  Area  %  Area  Area 	
1 
2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  21 
1  Thiruvananthapuram  23.7  83.19  25.31  88.84  0.59  2.07  0  0  3.17  11.13  3.16  11.09  1.03  3.62  0.02  0.07  28.49  28.49 
2  Kollam 68.04  92.65  68.04  92.65  0  0  0  0  4.95  6.74  4.95  6.74  0.45  0.61  0.45  0.61  73.44  73.44 
3  Pathanamthitta 50.03  99.01  50.03  99.01  0  0  0  0  0.5  0.99  0.5  0.99  0  0  0  0  50.53  50.53 
4  Alappuzha 192.86  97.58  194.9  98.61  3.56  1.8  1.18  0.6  1.22  0.62  1.56  0.79  0  0  0  0  197.64  197.64 
5  Kottayam 239.79  96.74  239.79  96.74  0  0  0  0  8.08  3.26  8.08  3.26  0  0  0  0  247.87  247.87 
6  Idukki  163.35  89.25  182.52  99.73  19.02  10.4  0.4  0.22  0.3  0.16  0  0  0.35  0.19  0.1  0.05  183.02  183.02 
7  Ernakulam 157.39  95.08  157.39  95.08  2.93  1.77  2.93  1.77  4.72  2.85  4.72  2.85  0.5  0.3  0.5  0.3  165.54  165.54 
8  Thrissur  56.08  87.93  56.08  87.93  0  0  0  0  7.7  12.07  7.7  12.07  0  0  0  0  63.78  63.78 
9  Palakkad 148.51  95.55  148.77  95.72  2.31  1.49  2  1.29  4.51  2.9  4.51  2.9  0.1  0.06  0.15  0.1  155.43  155.43 
10  Malappuram  93.42  77.86  99.94  83.29  18.42  15.4  11.85  9.88  3.99  3.33  4.04  3.37  4.16  3.47  4.16  3.47  119.99  119.99 
11  Kozhikkode 38.13  79.04  40.12  83.17  2.4  4.98  0  0  7.71  15.98  8.12  16.83  0  0  0  0  48.24  48.24 
12  Kannur 138.52  94.66  140.09  95.73  1.7  1.16  0.2  0.14  4  2.73  3.93  2.69  2.12  1.45  2.12  1.45  146.34  146.34 
13  Kasaragod 316.09  95.84  316.09  95.84  4.15  1.26  4.15  1.26  7.9  2.4  7.9  2.4  1.66  0.5  1.66  0.5  329.8  329.8 
   Total 
1685.91  93.14  1719.07  95  55.08  3.04  22.71  1.25  58.75  3.25  59.17  3.27  10.37  0.57  9.16  0.51  1810.1  1810.1

83.1992.65
99.01
0
20 40 60 80
100 120	
Percentage of area Before SC Work	
Percentage of Area Cultivated over total area Before SC Work	
88.84
92.6599.01
70 75 80 85 90 95
100 105	
Percentage of area  After SC Work	
Percentage of area cultivated over total area after SC Work	
12 	
97.58
96.74 89.25
95.08 87.93
95.55 77.86	
79.04	
Percentage of Area Cultivated over total area Before SC Work	
98.61
96.74 99.73
95.08 87.9395.72
83.29	
83.17	
Percentage of area cultivated over total area after SC Work	
 
 	
79.04	
94.66 95.84	
Percentage of Area Cultivated over total area Before SC Work	
83.17	
95.7395.84	
Percentage of area cultivated over total area after SC Work

2.070
0	1.8	
0 2 4 6 8
10 12 14 16 18	
Percentage of  area Before SC Work	
Percentage Current Fallow over total area  Before SC Work
0
0
0
0 2 4 6 8
10 12	Percentage of area  After SC Work	
Percentage  Current Fallow over total area After SC Work	
13 	
1.8	
0 10.39
1.770
1.49 15.35	
4.98	
Percentage Current Fallow over total area  Before SC Work	
0.6
00.22 1.77
0 1.299.88
0	
Percentage  Current Fallow over total area After SC Work	
 
 	
4.98	
1.16 1.26	
Percentage Current Fallow over total area  Before SC Work	
0.141.26	
Percentage  Current Fallow over total area After SC Work

14 
  Table 3(A) - Land Use Particulars (Control Plots) 
Sl. 
No. 
   District Name 
   Area  
Cultivated  Current  
Fallow  Other  Use  Area Not 
Cultivated  Total 	
 	
Area % 
over 
total 
area  Area  %  Area  %  Area  %  Area 	
1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11 
1  Thiruvananthapuram 
3.2  70.64  0.12  2.65  0.70  15.45  0.51  11.26  4.53 
2  Kollam 14.6  92.41  0.05  0.32  1.15  7.28  0.00  0.00  15.80 
3  Pathanamthitta 11.61  85.62  0.05  0.37  1.90  14.01  0.00  0.00  13.56 
4  Alappuzha 
24.79  92.78  0.54  2.02  1.01  3.78  0.38  1.42  26.72 
5  Kottayam 46.04  96.22  0.05  0.10  1.76  3.68  0.00  0.00  47.85 
6  Idukki  30.6  94.01  1.85  5.68  0.10  0.31  0.00  0.00  32.55 
7  Ernakulam 19.72  87.64  0.90  4.00  1.88  8.36  0.00  0.00  22.50 
8  Thrissur 12.02  92.32  0.00  0.00  1.00  7.68  0.00  0.00  13.02 
9  Palakkad 
21.32  94.71  0.37  1.64  0.82  3.64  0.00  0.00  22.51 
10  Malappuram  26.62  92.27  0.00  0.00  0.23  0.80  2.00  6.93  28.85 
11  Kozhikkode  6.63  78.55  0.20  2.37  1.53  18.13  0.08  0.95  8.44 
12  Kannur 30.33  97.74  0.00  0.00  0.65  2.09  0.05  0.16  31.03 
13  Kasaragod 
45.28  95.35  0.80  1.68  1.08  2.27  0.33  0.69  47.49 	
Total 292.76  92.98  4.93  1.57  13.81  4.39  3.35  1.06  314.85

70.6492.41
85.62	
92.78	
0
20 40 60 80
100 120	
Percentage	
Percentage of Area Cultivated  over total area in 	
2.65
0.32 0.37
0.00 1.00 2.00
3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00	
Percentage	
Percentage of Current Fallow over total area  	
15 	
92.78	
96.22 94.0187.64 92.32
94.71
92.27	
78.55	
Percentage of Area Cultivated  over total area in 	Control Plots 	
2.02
0.105.68
4.00
0.00 1.64
0.00	
Percentage of Current Fallow over total area  	in Control Plots 	
 	
78.55	
97.74 95.35	
Control Plots 	
2.37
0.00 1.68	
in Control Plots

16 
  Crop Pattern  
 
In  order  to  reduce  the  soil  loss  an  appropriate  cropping  pattern  is  essential.    The 
selection  of  suitable  vegetation  that  form  good  canopy  can  reduce  erosion  since  soil 
loss is governed by the extent of exposed land surface.  The binding force of the roots 
also offers good resistance to erosion. Grass roots have excellent soil binding property.  
Legumes are also good soil binders.  The grasses, legumes and tree crops are classified 
as  erosion  preventing  or  soil  conserving  crops  while  cereals,  tapioca,  ginger,  etc.  are 
erosion permitting/erosion favouring crops. 
   
Depending  upon  the  capability  class  to  which  a  land  belongs  and  the  socio-
economic  needs  of  the  people,  the  appropriate  crops  can  be  selected  to  achieve 
maximum conservation of soil and water. 
Contour Farming 
Contour  farming  refers  to  village  practices  of  applying  all  treatments  along 
contour;  i.e.  across  the  direction  of  the  slope.    The  crops  are  cultivated  along  contour 
ridges  and  furrows.    In  regions  of  low  rainfall  contour  farming  helps  in  the 
conservation  of  rainwater  and  in  human  areas  it  reduces  soil  loss  and  increases 
recharge  of  aquifers.    This  practice  can  minimize  the  effects  of  flash  floods  and 
droughts. 
   
Mixed farming, intercropping, mixed cropping; multi-storeyedcropping, etc. are 
also beneficial in controlling soil erosion. 
   
The  growing  of  perennial  horticultural  crops,  including  plantation  crops  will 
give  a  permanent  protective  cover  for  the  soil.  In  high  rainfall  areas  of  the  humid 
tropics  this  higher  level  tree  cover  for  the  soil  helps  in  reducing  the  erosive  action  of 
highly intensive rainfall.

17 
   
Consequent  in  the  introduction  of  the  soil  conservation  programmes 
significant changes in the cropping pattern occurred which favours perennial crops.  In 
Table  4  the  area  under  perennial  crops  has  increased  from  1403.7  acres  to  1457.38 
acres.    It  showed  an  increase  of  3.82%.    At  the  same  time  the  percentage  change 
occurred  in  the  cultivation  of  seasonal  crops  recorded  as  13.67  %.    From  this  we  can 
arrive  at  the  conclusion  that  the  farmers  have  shown  a  tendency  to  cultivate  perennial 
crops  in  sloppy  regions  where  the  soil  conservation  measures  are  carried  out.    The 
cultivation  of  seasonal  crops  in  such  regions  is  likely  to  increase  soil  erosion.    In 
seasonal  crops,  the  cultivation  of  Banana,  Plantain,  Vegetables,  Colocasia  and 
Tapiocaexhibited  comparative  increase.    The  respective  percentage  changes  recorded 
as 339.01%, 16.32%, 12.2%, 7.4%,and 2.65% respectively.  
  Table No. 5 reveals that after the introduction of soil conservation programmes, 
Rubber  and  Coconut  have  occupied  the  large  area  under  perennial  crops  contains 
883.85  acre  and  304.75  acre  respectively.  The  percentage  increase  ofCardamom 
comesan  increase  of  24.24%.  The  Area  under Arecanut and  Cashewhave  decreased  to 
2.94% and 34.59% after the Soil Conservation Programme. 
  By  analyzing  the  district  wise  data,  it  is  noted  that  the  cropping  area  under 
different crops are interchanged according to the suitability of land.

18 
   
Table 4 – Crop Pattern (Area Wise) 
      Perennial crops Seasonal Crops Total Gross  area cropped 
Sl.No	 	District Name Before 
SCwork	 	%  After 
SCwork	 	%  Before 
SCwork	 	%  After 
SC 
work  %  Before 
SCwork	 	%  After 
SCwork	 	% 	
1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14 
1  Thiruvananthapuram  15.70  56.37  16.10  52.87  12.15  43.63  14.35  47.13  27.85  100  30.45  100 
2  Kollam  72.50  98.48  72.36  98.44  1.12  1.52  1.15  1.56  73.62  100  73.51  100 
3  Pathanamthitta  53.81  99.56  53.76  99.50  0.24  0.44  0.27  0.50  54.05  100  54.03  100 
4  Alappuzha  6.91  3.56  6.99  3.56  187.18  96.44  189.52  96.44  194.09  100  196.51  100 
5  Kottayam 221.28  99.84  223.15  99.84  0.35  0.16  0.35  0.16  221.63  100  223.50  100 
6  Idukki 200.91  99.00  208.00  99.62  2.02  1.00  0.80  0.38  202.93  100  208.80  100 
7  Ernakulam 163.73  89.40  168.14  89.53  19.41  10.60  19.66  10.47  183.14  100  187.80  100 
8  Thrissur  52.70  99.87  52.77  99.68  0.07  0.13  0.17  0.32  52.77  100  52.94  100 
9  Palakkad 131.92  92.07  132.01  94.15  11.37  8.06  8.07  5.85  141.05  100  137.84  100 
10  Malappuram  77.48  98.94  92.21  99.00  0.99  1.09  1.08  1.00  78.47  100  93.29  100 
11  Kozhikkode 34.20  97.99  34.93  52.28  0.70  2.01  31.88  47.72  34.90  100  66.81  100 
12  Kannur 125.55  99.45  128.10  99.46  0.70  0.55  0.70  0.54  126.25  100  128.80  100 
13  Kasaragod  247.01  98.96  268.86  98.70  2.60  1.04  3.55  1.30  249.61  100  272.41  100 	
Total 1403.70  85.46  1457.38  84.28  238.9  14.56  271.55  15.72  1640.12  100  1726.54  100

56.3798.48
99.56
0
20
40
60
80
100 120	
Area-Percentage	
Percentage Area of  Perinnial Crops  over total gross  cropped area   Before 
52.87 98.44	
99.5	
0
20 40 60 80
100 120	
Area-Percentage	
Percentage of Crop  Pattern By Area of  Perinnial Crops over total gross cropped area  	
19 	
3.56 99.84
99
89.4 99.87
92.0798.94	
97.99	
Percentage Area of  Perinnial Crops  over total gross  cropped area   Before 	
SC Work	
99.5	
3.5699.84
99.62
89.53 99.68
94.15 99	
Percentage of Crop  Pattern By Area of  Perinnial Crops over total gross cropped area  	
After  SC Work	
 
 	
97.99	
99.45 98.96	
Percentage Area of  Perinnial Crops  over total gross  cropped area   Before 	
52.28 99.46
98.7	
Percentage of Crop  Pattern By Area of  Perinnial Crops over total gross cropped area

43.631.52	
0.44	
0
20 40 60 80
100 120	
Area-Percentage	
Percentage of Crop  Pattern By Area of  Seasonal Crops over  total gross 	
47.13
1.56
0
20 40 60 80
100 120	
Area-Percentage	
Percentage of Crop  Pattern By Area of  Seasonal Crops  over total area 	
gross cropped area After SC  Work	
20 	
0.44
96.44
0.16110.6
0.138.06
1.092.01	
Percentage of Crop  Pattern By Area of  Seasonal Crops over  total gross 	
cropped area  Before  SC Work	
0.596.44
0.160.38 10.47
0.325.85
1	
47.72	
Percentage of Crop  Pattern By Area of  Seasonal Crops  over total area 	
gross cropped area After SC  Work	
 
 	
0.55 1.04	
Percentage of Crop  Pattern By Area of  Seasonal Crops over  total gross 	
47.72	
0.54
1.3	
Percentage of Crop  Pattern By Area of  Seasonal Crops  over total area

21 
   
 
Table 5 – Area Under Selected Perennial Crops 
Sl No  District  Arecanut 
Coconut  Papaya 	
Before 
SC 	
After 
SC 
%Increase	
 	
Before 
SC 	
After 
SC  %Increase	
 	
Before 
SC 	
After 
SC  %Increase	
 	Work  Work  Work  Work  Work  Work 	
1 2 3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11 
1  Thiruvananthapuram  0.12  0.12  0.00  8.62  9.07  5.22 	 	 	 	
2  Kollam 
0.09  0.09  0.00  5.64  5.71  1.24 	 	 	 	
3  Pathanamthitta 0.04  0.04  0.00  1.81  1.81  0.00 	 	 	 	
4  Alappuzha 0.01  0.01  0.00  6.86  6.94  1.17  0.02  0.02  0.00 
5  Kottayam 
3.19  3.48  9.09  16.22  16.59  2.28 	 	 	 	
6  Idukki 0.06  0.28  366.67  30.33  27.63  -8.90 	 	 	 	
7  Ernakulum 1.91  1.91  0.00  25.44  31.69  24.57  0.1  0.1  0.00 
8  Thrissur 	 	 	 	50.58  50.6  0.04 	 	 	 	
9  Palakkad 1.57  1.54  -1.91  25.67  25.67  0.00 	 	 	 	
10  Malappuram  0.82  0.82  0.00  27.81  27.24  -2.05  0  0 	 	
11  Kozhikkode 
1.53  1.47  -3.92  30.36  31.12  2.50 	 	 	 	
12  Kannur 3.16  2.13  -32.59  19.07  19.04  -0.16 	 	 	 	
13  Kasaragod 12.37  12.25  -0.97  50.62  51.64  2.02 	 	 	 	
Total 24.87  24.14  -2.94  299.03  304.75	 	1.91  0.12  0.12  0.00

22 
  Table 5 –Contd.... 
 
Sl No  District  Cashew 
Pepper(Garbled)  Rubber 	
Before 
SC 	
After 
SC 
%Increase	 	
Before 
SC 	
After 
SC  %Increase	 	
Before 
SC 	
After 
SC %Increase	 	
Work  Work  Work  Work  Work  Work 	
1 2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11 
1  Thiruvananthapuram	 	 	 	 	0.62  0.62  0.00  6.27  6.22  -0.80 	
2  Kollam  0.02  0.02  0.00  0.54  0.54  0.00  64.51  64.3  -0.33 
3  Pathanamthitta 	 	 	 	1.2  1.19  -0.83  50.35  50.32  -0.06 	
4  Alappuzha 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
5  Kottayam 0.37  0.37  0.00  12.67  13.57  7.10  187.01  187.31  0.16 
6  Idukki 	 	 	 	87.65  86.31  -1.53  10.69  10.82  1.22 	
7  Ernakulam 
0.18  0.18  0.00  5.44  5.36  -1.47  128.36  126.64  -1.34 
8  Thrissur 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
9  Palakkad 	 	 	 	0.09  0.09  0.00  103.69  103.42  -0.26 	
10  Malappuram  4.88  2.73  -41.67  0.42  0.48  -7.69  40.69  57.11  40.35 
11  Kozhikkode 0.02  0.03  50.00  0.81  0.85  4.94  0.01  0.01  0.00 
12  Kannur 24.21  15.51  -35.94  2.19  2.26  3.20  75.62  87.45  15.64 
13  Kasaragod 
2.38  2.13  -10.50  3.69  6.9  86.99  176.79  190.25  7.61 	
Total 
32.06  20.97  -34.59  115.32  118.17  2.47  843.99  883.85  4.72

23 
  Table 5 Contd.........	
 	
 
Sl 
No . 
  District 
Cardamom 
Coco Nutmeg Cloves 	
Befor
e SC 
Work  After 
SC 
Work  %Increas
e  Before 
SC 
Work  After 
SC 
Work  %Increas
e  Before 
SC 
Work  After 
SC 
Work  %Increas
e  Befor
e SC 
Work  After 
SC 
Work	
 	
%Increas e 	
1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  9  10  11 
1  Thiruvananthapuram	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
2  Kollam 	 	 	 	0.01  0.01  0.00 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
3  Pathanamthitta 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
4  Alapuzha 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
5  Kottayam 
     0.19  0.19  0.00  1.4  1.4  0.00 
     
6  Idukki 49.51  61.51  24.24  11.45  10.02  -12.49  3.84  4.42  15.10  0  0.21 	 	
7  Ernakulum 	 	 	 	0.05  0.05  0.00  0.45  0.45  0.00 	 	 	 	
8  Thrissur 	 	 	 	 	 	 	2.12  2.17  2.36 	 	 	 	
9  Palakkad 	 	 	 	0  0 	 	0.07  0.07  0.00 	 	 	 	
10  Malappuram 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
11  kozhikode 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
12  Kannur 	 	 	 	0  0.37 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
13  Kasargode 
     0  0.74 
            	
Total  49.51  61.51  24.24  11.7  11.38  -2.74  7.88  8.51  7.99  0  0.21

24 
  Table 5 – Contd.......... 
  
Sl 
No .   District  Coffee 
Jack Mango  Total 	
Befor
e SC 
Work  After 
SC 
Work  %Increas
e  Before 
SC 
Work  After 
SC 
Work  %Increas
e  Before 
SC 
Work  After 
SC 
Work  %Increas
e  Before 
SC 
Work  After 
SC 
Work  %Increas
e 	
1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14 
1  Thiruvananthapuram 	 	 	 	0.07  0.07  0.00 	 	 	 	15.7  16.1  2.55 	
2 
Kollam 
0.01  0.01  0.00  1.47  1.47  0.00  0.21  0.21  0.00  72.5  72.36  -0.19 
3 Pathanamthitta 	 	 	 	1.2  1.19  -0.83 	 	 	 	53.81  53.76  -0.09 	
4 Alappuzha 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0.02  0.02  0.00  6.91  6.99  1.16 	
5 Kottayam 
0.23  0.24  4.35 	 	 	 	 	 	 	221.28  223.15  0.85 	
6 Idukki 
6.51  6.06  -6.91  0.87  0.74  -14.94 	 	 	 	200.91  208  3.53 	
7 Ernakulum 
0.22  0.22  0.00  1.49  1.45  -2.68  0.09  0.09  0.00  163.73  168.14  2.69 
8 Thrissur 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	52.7  52.77  2.36 	
9 Palakkad 	 	 	 	0.04  0.05  25.00  0.79  1.17  48.10  131.92  132.01  0.07 	
10  Malappuram 
0.01  0.01  0.00  1.86  2.41  29.57  0.99  1.41  42.42  77.48  92.21  19.01 
11 Kozhikkode 	 	 	 	1.47  1.45  -1.36 	 	 	 	34.2  34.93  2.13 	
12 
Kannur 
0  0.04 	 	1.3  1.3  0.00 	 	 	 	125.55  128.1  2.03 	
13 Kasargode 
0.12  0.54  350.00  1.04  4.41  324.04 	 	 	 	247.01  268.86  8.85 	
Total 7.1  7.12  0.28  10.02  13.75  37.2  2.1  2.9  38.10  1403.7  1457.38  3.82

25 
  Table 6 - Area Under Selected Seasonal Crops 
Sl.No  District  Paddy 
Tapioca Peas(pulses) 	
Before 
SC 
Work 	
After 
SC 
Work  % of 
Increase	 	
Before 
SC 
Work 	
After 
SC 
Work  % of 
Increase	 	
Before 
SC 
Work  After SC 
Work  % of 
Increase	 	
1  Thiruvananthapuram 	 	 	 	3.88  4.23  9.02 	 	 	 	
2  Kollam 	 	 	 	0.24  0.25  4.17 	 	 	 	
3  Pathanamthitta 	 	 	 	0.14  0.14  0.00 	 	 	 	
4  Alappuzha  186.62  188.88  1.21  0.05  0.06  20.00 	 	 	 	
5  Kottayam 	 	 	 	0.35  0.35  0.00 	 	 	 	
6  Idukki 	 	 	 	0.4  0  -100.00 	 	 	 	
7  Ernakulam  4.5  4.5  0.00  5.43  5.53  1.84  0.1  0.1  0.00 
8  Thrissur 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
9  Palakkad 8.07  8.07  0.00 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
10  Malappuram  0.23  0.23  0.00 	 	 	 	0.01  0.01 	 	
11  Kozhikkode 	 	 	 	0.28  0.51  82.14 	 	 	 	
12  Kannur 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
13  Kasargode 	 	 	 	0.54  0.54  0.00 	 	 	 	
Total 199.42  201.68  1.13  11.31  11.61  2.65  0.11  0.11  0

26 
   
 	
Table 6 –Contd......	 	
SL.No  District  Ginger 
Plantain Banana 	Before 
SC 
Work  After 
SC 
Work  % of 
Increase  Before 
SC 
Work  After 
SC 
Work  % of 
Increase  Before 
SC 
Work  After 
SC 
Work  % of 
Increase 	
1  Thiruvananthapuram	 	0.1  0.16  60.00  3.81  4.59  20.47  4.13  5.09  23.24 	
2  Kollam  0.03  0.03  0.00  0.53  0.55  3.77  0.22  0.22  0.00 
3  Pathanamthitta 	 	 	 	0.09  0.12  33.33  0.01  0.01  0.00 	
4  Alappuzha 	 	 	 	0.49  0.56  14.29 	 	 	 	
5  Kottayam 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
6  Idukki  0.6  0  -100.00  0.13 	 	 	0.89  0.8  -10.11 	
7  Ernakulam 	 	 	 	5.19  5.34  2.89  3.44  3.39  -1.45 	
8  Thrissur 	 	 	 	0.07  0.17  142.86 	 	 	 	
9  Palakkad 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
10  Malappuram 	 	 	 	0.08  0.13  62.50  0.5  0.51  2.00 	
11  Kozhikkode 	 	 	 	0.34  0.49  44.12  0.08  30.88  38500.00 	
12  Kannur 	 	 	 	0.64  0.64  0.00  0.06  0.06  0.00 	
13  Kasargode 	 	 	 	1.93  2.88  49.22 	 	 	 	
Total 0.73  0.19  -73.97  13.3  15.47  16.32  9.33  40.96  339.01

27 
   
Table 6 – Contd.......... 
SL 
No  District 
Vegetables  Pineapple Elephant Yam 	
Before 
SC 
Work After 
SC 
Work 
% of 
Increase  Before 
SC 
Work After 
SC 
Work 
% of 
Increase  Before 
SC 
Work After 
SC 
Work 
% of 
Increase 	
1 
2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11 
1  Thiruvananthapuram	 	 	 	 	0.12  0.16  33.33 	 	 	 	
2  Kollam 	 	 	 	0.03  0.03  0.00  0.04  0.04  0.00 	
3  Pathanamthitta 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
4  Alappuzha 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
5  Kottayam 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
6  Idukki 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
7  Ernakulam  0.65  0.7  7.69 	 	 	 	0.1  0.1  0.00 	
8  Thrissur 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
9  Palakkad 	 	 	 	3.3  0  -100.00 	 	 	 	
10  Malappuram  0.17  0.22  50.00 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
11  Kozhikkode 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
12  kannur 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
13  Kasargode 	 	 	 	0.13  0.13  0.00 	 	 	 	
TOTAL 
0.82  0.92  12.20  3.58  0.32  -91.1  0.14  0.14  0

28 
   
Table 6 – Contd......... 	
SL NO	 	
 
 	
District	 	Colocasia Others Total 	
Before 
SC 
Work 	
After 
SC 
Work % of 
Increase 	
Before 
SC 
Work 	
After 
SC 
Work % of 
Increase	
 	
Before SC 
Work 	
After 
SC 
Work % of 
Increase 	
1 
2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11 
1  Thiruvananthapuram	 	0.11  0.12  9.09 	 	 	 	12.15  14.35  18.11 	
2  Kollam  0.03  0.03  0.00 	 	 	 	1.12  1.15  2.68 	
3  Pathanamthitta 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0.24  0.27  12.50 	
4  Alappuzha 	 	 	 	0.02  0.02  0  187.18  189.52  1.25 	
5  Kottayam 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0.35  0.35  0.00 	
6  Idukki 	 	 	 	 	 	 	2.02  0.8  -60.40 	
7  Ernakulam 	 	 	 	 	 	 	19.41  19.66  1.29 	
8  Thrissur 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0.07  0.17  142.86 	
9  Palakkad 	 	 	 	 	 	 	11.37  8.07  -29.02 	
10  Malappuram 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0.99  1.08  9.09 	
11  Kozhikkode 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0.7  31.88  4454.29 	
12  kannur 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0.7  0.7  0.00 	
13  Kasargode 	 	 	 	 	 	 	2.6  3.55  36.54 	
TOTAL 
0.14  0.15  7.14  0.02  0.02  0  238.9  271.55  13.67

29 
  Impact of Soil Conservation Treatment on the Yield of Crops 
  For  studying  the  impact  of  soil  conservation  treatment  on  the  yield  of  crops,  a 
detailed  survey  was  conducted  following  the  “Before”  and  “After”  method.    Details 
regarding the yield and value of crops are collected from the beneficiaries in the scheme 
area.  District wise details are presented in table No7 and 8. Survey result reveals that in 
most  cases, the crop yields  after the implementation of the programme were higher than 
that  of  before.    Therefore,  the  total  output  from  crops  represented  a  big  increase.    As 
much  as  major  portion  of  this  output  came  from  perennial  crops  indicating  improved 
stability  in output.  Almost  all  perennial crops  have  also shown  a marked  improvement.
  In Kozhikkode district Gross cropped area is more increased.   In this district total 
cropped  area  before  Soil  conservation  works  was  34.9  acres.    Itis  increased  to  66.81 
acres  after  the  implementation  of  Soil  conservation  measures.    The  increase  in  area  is 
accounted  as  31.91  acres.    The  percentage  of  increase  recorded  as91.43%.    When  we 
analyzethe  yield  of  perennial  crops  in  this  district,  it  can  be  seen  that  production  of 
Coconut,  Pepper,  Arecanut,  are  increased.   In  the  case  of Seasonal  crops,  in  this  district 
it can be seen that the yield of tapioca, plantain, banana etc. are increased. 
  In  Kasargode,  Malappuram,  Idukki  and  Ernakulum  districts  before  soil 
conservation  work,  thetotal  gross  cropped  area  were  249.01,  78.47,  202.93  and 
183.14acres  respectively.    It  is  increased  to272.41,  93.29,  208.80and187.80  acres 
respectively  after  the  implementation  of  soil  conservation  work.  Increase  in  area 
accounted are 22.8, 14.82, 5.87and 4.66 respectively.     
  Production  impact  is  also  commendable.    Productions  of  all  perennial  crops  are 
increased Except Cashew   after soil conservation works. 
The  district  wise  details  ofSeasonal  Crops  area  shows  that  area  of  all  other 
seasonal crops except ginger &pineapple are increased.

30 
   
Table-7 
 Crop wise Yield and Value of Perennial Crops in Scheme Area 
District  Name of Crop  Unit  Before SC Work  After SC Work 
Value at 
constant 
price  % 
Change  Over 
Quantity 	
Quantity  Value  Quantity  Value 	
1  2 3  4  5  6  7  8 	
Thiruvananthapuram  Coconut  Nos.  25292  133043  27089  299610  279735  7.11 	
Areca nut  Nos.  6155  3632  6300  6364  6218  2.36 
Pepper(Garbled)  Quintal  0.45  5625  0.47  22281  21333  4.44 
Rubber  Quintal  84.2  825585  86.9  1359622  1317378  3.21 
Jack 
Quintal  6.7  1676  6.95  1638  1579  3.73 
Total   	 	969561 	 	1689515  1626243 	 	
Kollam  Coconut  Nos.  9547  60717  12455  199410  152852  30.46 	
Areca nut  Nos.  4480  2509  5400  6588  5466  21.54 
Pepper(Garbled)  Quintal  0.42  5315  0.70  32366  19420  66.67 
Cashew  Quintal  5.6  30336  8.27  62646  42421  47.68 
Rubber  Quintal  721.02  6644213  1054.45  16242939  11106723  46.24 
Jack 
Quintal  360.25  43230  499.45  459494  331430  38.64 
Total   	 	6786320 	 	17003443  11658312 	 	
Pathanamthitta  Coconut  Nos.  1059  7192  2477  33984  14529  133.90 	
Areca nut  Nos.  350  186  855  992  406  144.29 
Pepper(Garbled)  Quintal  6.26  72477  12.46  632431  317738  99.04 
Rubber  Quintal  169.88  1595343  255.28  3975192  2645353  50.27 
Total 
  	 	1675198 	 	4642599  2978026 	 	
Alappuzha  Coconut  Nos.  23321  144826  29876  371960  290349  28.11 	Areca nut  Nos.  210  94  242  242  210  15.24 
Mango 
Quintal  1.86  1471  2.19  3422  2906  17.74 
Total    	 	146391 	 	375624  293465 	 	
Kottayam  Coconut  Nos.  54990  362934  61282  720676  646682  11.44 	
Areca nut  Nos.  313070  194103  353730  396179  350640  12.99 
Pepper(Garbled)  Quintal  46.6  536929  51.52  2625076  2374389  10.56 
Rubber  Quintal  1667.2  15683370  1633.20  25454775  25984693  2.04 
Coffee 
Quintal  11.75  66188  13.27  94190  83401  12.94 
Coco Quintal  13.20  35971  14.55  52905  47996  10.23 
Nutmeg  Quintal  51.20  6247  56.9  17393  15651  11.13 
Total   	 	16885742 	 	29361194  29503452

31 
  Table 7 Contd...... 
1  2 3  4  5  6  7  8  9 	
Idukki  Coconut  Nos.  44458  321876  60550  640620  470366  36.2 	
Arecanut  Nos.  5000  2000  1200  852  3550  76 
Pepper(Garbled)  Quintal  134.5  1499282   155.95  7768691  6700154  15.95 
Rubber  Quintal  18.75  183356  37.5  578984  289492  100 
Coffee  Quintal  45.30  332684  46.35  326317  318925  2.32 
Coco 
Quintal  32.40  95838  49.65  210805  137565  53.24 
Cardamom  Quintal  80.10  4781970  206.85  12153842  4706419  158.24 
Nutmeg  Quintal  2.6  327  10.10  3051  785  288.46 
Total   	 	7217333 	 	21683162  12627256 	 	
Ernakulam Coconut  Nos.  95290  565077  102669  1308007  1213991  7.74 	
Arecanut  Nos.  277206  138603  301128  225859  207916  8.63 
Pepper(Garbled)  Quintal  18.59  205482  23.23  1149604  919980  24.96 
Cashew  Quintal  0.51  1734  0.58  3329  2927  13.73 
Rubber  Quintal  1193.48  11198430  1243.51  19306526  18529769  4.19 
Jack 
Quintal  30.43  12601  34.78  15303  13389  14.30 
Mango  Quintal  0.30  232  0.35  889  762  16.67 
Coffee  Quintal  0.77  956  0.94  6956  5698  22.08 
Nutmeg  Quintal  1.6  30560  1.76  52898  48089  10 
Total   	 	12153675 	 	22069371  20942521 	 	
Thrissur Coconut  Nos.  262530  1338903  434970  4201810  2536040  65.68 	Nutmeg  Quintal  25.5  326400  57.75  1780664  786267  126.47 
Total 
  	 	1665303 	 	5982474  3322307 	 	
Palakkad Coconut  Nos.  119379  558693  131918  1364030  1234377  10.5 	
Arecanut  Nos.  181107  63388  207672  164061  143075  14.67 
Rubber  Quintal  728.52  6913658  850.76  12864196  11015826  16.78 
Mango  Quintal  8.40  6334  47.80  102461  18006  469.05 
Total 
  
 7542073 
 14494748  12411284

32 
  Table 7 Contd...... 
1  2 3  4  5  6  7  8  9 	
Malappuram  Coconut  Nos.  120556  530446  135514  1191154  1059675  12.41 	
Arecanut  Nos.  44800  17024  63620  50896  35840  42.01 
Pepper(Garbled)  Quintal  0.20  2308  0.28  13711  9794  40 
Cashew  Quintal  23.10  69924  7.75  46314  138046  66.45 
Rubber  Quintal  63.20  584790  80.94  1247116  973780  28.07 
Total 
  
 1204492 
 2549191  2217135 
 	
Kozhikkode Coconut  Nos.  98422  409439  115540  1101107  937971  17.39 	
Arecanut  Nos.  87630  31547  107900  119770  97270  23.13 
Pepper(Garbled)  Quintal  0.98  11160  1  49137  48154  2.04 
Total 
  
 452146 
 1270014  1083395 
 	
Kannur Coconut  Nos.  74600  294673  97850  811173  618431  31.17 	
Arecanut  Nos.  474000  194340  529000  476100  426600  12 
Pepper(Garbled)  Quintal  5.17  59330  8.53  402366  243872  64.99 
Cashew  Quintal  59.24  253073  53.34  351822  390737  9.96 
Rubber  Quintal  451.90  4199510  587.7  9146097  7032706  30.05 
Total 
  	 	5000926 	 	11187558  8712346 	 	
Kasaragod Coconut  Nos.  264187  1215260  319321  3228343  2670937  20.87 	
Arecanut  Nos.  3064570  1624223  3413840  4403857  3953298  11.4 
Pepper(Garbled)  Quintal  9.98  114544  14.90  803772  538365  49.30 
Cashew  Quintal  30.54  132851  34.79  252491  221646  13.92 
Rubber  Quintal  1856.51  16170205  2446.99  36348009  27576918 
31.81 
 
Total    
 19257083 
 45036472  34961164

33 
   
Table-7 Contd.......   
STATE  Name of 
Crop  Unit Before SC Work  After SC Work 
Value at constant  price  % 
Change  Over 
Quantity 	
Quantity  Value  Quantity  Value 	
1  2  3  4  5  6  7 8  9 
KERALA 	
Coconut  Nos.  1193631  5943079  1531511  15471884  12125935  28.31 
Arecanut  Nos. 4458578  2271649  4990887  5851760  5230489  11.94 
Pepper(Garbl
ed) Quintal 
223.15  2512452  269.04  13499435  11193199  20.56 
Cashew  Quintal 
118.99  487918  104.73  716602  795777 
11.98 
Rubber  Quintal  6954.66  63998460  8277.23  126523456  106472638  19.02 
Jack  Quintal  397.38  57507  541.18  476435  345398  36.19 
Mango  Quintal  10.56  8037  50.34  106772 
21674  376.70 
Coffee  Quintal 57.82  399828  60.56  427463  408024  4.74 
Coco  Quintal  45.6  131809  64.20  263710  185561  40.79 
Cardamom  Quintal 80.10  4781970  206.85  12153842  4706419  158.24 
Nutmeg  Quintal 80.90  363534  126.51  1854006  850792  56.38 
Total        80956243     177345365  142335906

34 
  Table 8 - Crop wise Yield and Value of Seasonal Crops in Scheme Area 
District  Name of 	
 	
Crop Unit Before SC Work 
After SC Work 
Value at 
constant  price  % of 
Change 
Over 
Quantity 	Quantity  Value  Quantity  Value 	
1  2 
3 4  5  6  7 8  9 	
Thiruvananthapuram  Paddy  Quintal  6.35  6154  8.40  13751  10395  32.28 	
Tapioca  Quintal  735.40  372854  807.30  1235335  1125313  9.78 
Ginger  Quintal  5.65  22538  8.85  44665  28515  56.64 
Plantain  Quintal  303.37  264240  359.03  641200  541796  18.35 
Banana  Quintal  274.65  473223  298.15  1076134  991314  8.56 
Pineapple  Quintal  2.55  2295  3.95  4889  3156  54.9 
Colocasia  Quintal  1.88  2570  2.29  7477  6138  21.81 
Total 
  1143874 
 3023451  2706627 
 	
Kollam  Tapioca  Quintal  20.25  11039  27.34  45210  33486  35.01 	
Ginger  Quintal  0.48  1920  0.65  6539  4829  35.42 
Plantain  Quintal  16.93  14311  21.31  41645  33085  25.87 
Banana  Quintal  11.43  19179  7.62  29439  44159  -33.33 
Pineapple  Quintal  0.20  167  0.35  849  485  75 
Chenai  Quintal  2.20  1816  2.95  5540  4132  34.09 
Total 
  48432 
 129222  120176 
 	
Pathanamthitta  Tapioca  Quintal  1.7  1013  2.56  5212  3461  50.59 	
Plantain  Quintal  2.10  1594  5.41  8359  3245  157.62 
Banana  Quintal  0.45  805  0.70  2584  1661  55.56 
Total 
  3412 
 16155  8367 
 	
Alappuzha  Paddy  Quintal  6048.03  6580259  8032.71  14458878  10886454  32.82 	
Tapioca  Quintal  3.75  2190  4.72  8212  6524  25.87 
Plantain  Quintal  19.83  15668  22.95  36464  31507  15.73 
Total 
  6598117 
 14503554  10924485 
 	
Kottayam Tapioca  Quintal  54.75  35642  57.8  107492  101820  5.57 	Total 
  35642 
 107492  101820

35 
  Table - 8 Contd... 
1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 
Idukki  Tapioca  Quintal 
5  3145  0  0  8924  -100 	
Ginger  Quintal 3  9009  0  0  19908  -100 
Plantain  Quintal 4  2876  0  0  6050  -100 
Banana  Quintal 57  75582  80  258612  184261  40.35 
Total    	 	90612 	 	258612  219143 	 	
Eranakulam Paddy  Quintal 
68.7  65403  73.7  107880  100561  7.28 	
Tapioca  Quintal 
576.55  315948  620.55  1109964  1031262  7.63 
Ginger  Quintal  21  46725  24  186850  163494  14.29 
Plantain  Quintal 333.05  229806  360.7  618217  570827  8.30 
Banana  Quintal 
372.45  578790  398.45  1418035  1325504  6.98 
Vegetables  Quintal 
16.9  11492  22.30  24530  18590  31.95 
Total    	 	1248164 	 	3465476  3210238 	 	
Thrissur Plantain  Quintal 
15.05  9257  40.7  64576  23879  170.43 	Total    	 	9257 	 	64576  23879 	 	
Palakkad Paddy  Quintal 
364.50  343359  376  647945  628128  3.16 	Pineapple  Quintal  534  654150  0  0  1068000  -100 
Total    	 	997509 	 	647945  1696128 	 	
Malappuram Paddy  Quintal 
4.8  4253  5.10  8670  8160  6.25 	
Peas  Quintal 
0.22  242  0.24  720  660  9.09 
Plantain  Quintal 6.46  5096  10.05  17629  11332  55.57 
Banana  Quintal 26.10  37219  29.5  95691  84662  13.03 
Vegetables  Quintal 
3.96  2376  4.48  5601  4951  13.13 
Total    	 	49186 	 	128311  109765 	 	
Kozhikkode Tapioca  Quintal 
10  5911  25.20  45798  18174  152 	
Ginger  Quintal 0.70  1251  0.90  5255  4087  28.57 
Plantain  Quintal 10.98  9993  15.5  29181  20671  41.17 
Banana  Quintal  2.8  4386  22.30  77214  9695  696.43 
Total    	 	21541 	 	157448  52627 	 	
Kannur Plantain  Quintal 
28.20  26395  33.95  61252  50878  20.39 	Banana  Quintal  4  6104  4.5  15837  14077  12.50 
Total    	 	32499 	 	77089  64955 	 	
Kasargode Tapioca  Quintal 
1.8  1557  1.90  3557  3370  5.56 	Plantain  Quintal 173.2  137697  269.49  499117  320780  55.59 
Total    	 	139254 	 	502674  324150

36 
  Table - 8 Contd... 	
District 	
Name of  
Crop  Unit 
Before SC Work  After SC Work 
Value at 
constant  price  % of 
Change 
Over 
Quantity 	
Quantity  Value  Quantity  Value 	
1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 
STATE 	
Paddy  Quintal  6493.38  6999428  8495.91  15237124  11633698  30.86 
Tapioca  Quintal 1409.20  749299  1547.37  2560780  2332334  9.8 
Peas  Quintal  0.22  242  0.24  720  660  9.09 
Ginger  Quintal 30.83  81443  34.40  243309  220833  11.58 
Plantain  Quintal 913.17  716933  1139.09  2017640  1614050  24.74 
Banana  Quintal 
748.88  1195288  841.22  2973546  2655333  12.33 
Vegetables  Quintal  20.86  13868  26.78  30131  23541  28.38 
Pineapple  Quintal 536.75  656612  4.30  5738  1071641  -99.20 
Elephant 
Yam Quintal 
2.20  1816  2.95  5540  4132  34.09 
Colocasia  Quintal 
1.88  2570  2.29  7477  6138  21.81 
Total    
 10417499 
 23082005  19562360

37 
  Table - 9 
Quantity and Value of Selected Perennial and Seasonal Crops for the year 2014-2015 
  Name of 
Crops  Units  Before SC Work 
After SC Work  Value at 
% 
change  over 
quantity 	
Quantity  Values(Rs)  Quantity  Values(Rs)  Constant Price 	
1  2  3  4  5 6  7  8 9 
A. Perennial 	
Coconut  Nos.  1193631  5943079  1531511  15471884  12125935  28.31 
Arecanut  Nos.  4458578  2271649  4990887  5851760  5260489  11.94 
Pepper(Garb
led)  Quintal  223.15  2512452  269.04  13499435  11193199  20.56 
Cashew  Quintal  118.99  487918  104.73  716602  795777  -11.98 
Rubber  Quintal  6954.66  63998460  8277.23  126523456  106472638  19.02 
Jack  Quintal  397.38  57507  541.18  476435  346398  36.19 
Mango  Quintal  10.56  8037  50.34  106772  21674  376.70 
Cardamom  Quintal  80  4781970  206.85  12153842  4706419  158.56 
Coffee  Quintal  57.82  399828  60.56  427463  408024  4.74 
Coco  Quintal  45.6  131809  64.20  263710  185561  40.79 
Nutmeg  Quintal  80.9  363534  126.51  1854006  850792  56.38 
Total    	 	80956243 	 	177345365  142366906 	 	
B. Seasonal 	
  
  	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Paddy  Quintal  6493.38  6999428  8496  15237124  11633698  30.86 
Tapioca  Quintal  1409  749299  1547  2560780  2332334  19.8 
Peas  Quintal  0.22  242  0.24  720  660  9.09 
Ginger  Quintal  30.83  81443  34.40  243309  220833  11.58 
Plantain  Quintal  913.17  716933  1139.09  2017640  1614050  24.74 
Banana  Quintal  748.88  1195288  841.22  2973546  2655333  12.33 
Pineapple  Quintal  536.75  656612  4.30  5738  1071641  -99.20 
Elephant 
Yam Quintal  2.20  1816  2.95  5540  4132  34.09 
Colocasia  Quintal  1.88  2570  2.29  7477  6138  21.81 
Vegetables  Quintal  20.86  13868  26.78  30131  23541  28.38 
Total    	 	10417499 	 	23082005  19562360 	 	
All Crops  
(A+B)   
 91373742 
 200427370  161929266

38 
  2.2. Cost Benefit Analysis of the Soil Conservation Programmes 
  An important objective of a project evaluation is to estimate various impacts of its 
operation such as income, employment, demographic change, regional development and 
so on.  Hence an analysis to appraise the performance of operating investment projects is 
essential for improved planning process.  Degradation of land due to soil erosion leads to 
destruction  of  agricultural  land.   If  it  continues  over  a  period,  the  entire soil  will  be lost 
and  the  land  will  become  barren  and  unproductive.    In  the  case  of  sloppy  regions,  soil 
erosion depletes the fertility of the soil and production and degradation of the area under 
agriculture is to be assessed in terms of production and protection benefits accrued from 
these  areas.   These  benefits  are  to  be  compared  further  with  the  investments  to  arrive  at 
benefit cost ratio, which gives an indication of viability of the programme implemented. 
Productive  benefits  are  the  direct  returns  from  the  programmes  implemented.    In 
regular  agricultural  lands,  increase  in  the  yield  provides  the  productive  benefits.    In 
addition, production from degraded land, which are cultivated after the soil conservation 
measures are also taken into consideration. 
Protective benefits are the intangible benefits derived from implementation of soil 
conservation  programme.    These  benefits  are  more  stable  and  provide  base  for  the 
continued prosperity in  the area.  In  the  case of  agricultural  land,  protective benefits  are 
assessed  in  terms  of  these  increased  values  because  of  the  prevention  of  further  soil 
erosion and its increased productive potentialities. 
In  the  light  of  the  present  study  an  attempt  is  made  for  cost  benefit  analysis  with 
the  collected  data.    Total  cost  incurred  for  the  soil  conservation  works,  including 
maintenance work for the 39 schemes is ₹127996853/-. 
The  total  area  under  cultivation  after  soil  conservation  work  was  1719.07acres.  
The  value  of  crops  before  the  soil  conservation  programme  comes  to  ₹91373742/-  and 
the  value  of  crops  after  the  implementation  of  soil  conservation  programme  has  also 
been  calculated  as  ₹200427370/-  .    It  is  estimated  that  the  value  at  constant  price  as  ₹ 
161929266/- .

39 
   
 
Several benefits flow from the soil conservation programme implementation,  three of 
them, which derive special attention are taken up for consideration.   
They are: 
(i)  Extension of area under cultivation 
(ii)   Increase in productivity 
(iii)  Diversification of cropping pattern 
 
(i) Extension of area under cultivation 
   
  The  study  revealed  that  33.16  acres  of  land  has  been  additionally  brought  under 
cultivation  by  cultivating  areas  which  were  not  cultivated  before  soil  conservation 
programme.    This  benefit  is  achieved  only  due  to  the  implementation  of  soil 
conservation programme. 
 
(ii) Increase in Production 
 
Production also increased due to the implementation of soil conservation programme.  
In  the  case  of  coconut,  it  recorded  28.31%,  Pepper  20.56%,  Rubber  19.02%,  Jack 
36.19  %,  Mango  376.7%,  Cardamom158.56%,  Cocoa  40.79%  and  Nutmeg  56.38%.   
In  the  case  of  seasonal  crops,  percentage  increase  in  production  of  Paddy,Tapioca 
,Ginger,  Plantain,  Banana  ,Elephant  Yam,  Colocasia  and  Vegetables  are    30.84%, 
9.8%, 11.58%,   24.74%,12.33%,34.09%,21.81%and28.38% respectively.  
 
(iii) Diversification of cropping pattern 
 
  Soil  Conservation  Programmes  increased  the  soil  capacity  and  which  facilitates 
the  cultivation  of  more  remunerative  crops.    This  advantagecanbe  reaped  in  full,  only  if 
the  conservation  programmes  are  followed  properly,  i.e.  the  dissemination  of  new 
techniques  of  production,  adequate  provision  of  inputs  and  service  which  will  promote 
the land to improve production.

40 
    In  the  scheme  area,  cultivation  of  perennial  crops  has  shown  encouraging 
performance.  The increase in area of perennial crops is higher than the area under same 
before  the  conservation  programme  (3.82  %.)    Growing  of  perennial  crops  will 
accelerate conservation of soil more affectively. 
 
Occupational Profile 
 
  The  occupational  profile  of  the  selected  beneficiaries  reveals  that  40.99% 
included  agriculture  job,  41.11%  are  accounted  as  non-agriculture;  9.74%  agricultural 
labourersand8.16%  are  categorized  as  non-agricultural  labourers.    Details  are  presented 
in Table No. 14 and 14 (a).  
  Table 10-Total Income, expenditure and Net Income of Scheme area (₹)   
Sl 
No.    District 
Income(₹)  Expenditure(₹)  Net Income (₹) 	
Before 
SC Work After 
SC Work Before 
SC Work  After 
SC Work  Before 
SC Work After 
SC Work 	
1  2 
3  4  5  6 7  8 
1 Thiruvananthap
uram 
2113435  4712966  1025157  1693892  1088278  3019074 
2  Kollam 
6834752  17132665  1702685  3419050  5132067  13713615 
3  Pathanamthitta 1678610  4658754  664140  1586396  1014470  3072358 
4  Alappuzha 6744508  14879178  1815068  4246866  4929440  10632312 
5  Kottayam 
16921994  29470520  8329474  11789930  8592520  17680590 
6  Idukki  7307945  21941774  6300300  15490600  1007645  6451174 
7  Ernakulum 
13401839  25534847  3964680  5930900  9437159  19603947 
8 	Thrissur	 	1674560  6047050  884500  1672920  790060  4374130 	
9  Palakkad  8539582  15142693  2317405  4916124  6222177  10226569 
10  Malappuram  1253594  2677302  1463350  2218083  -209756  459219 
11  Kozhikkode  473687  1427462  352440  731900  121247  695562 
12  Kannur 5033425  11264647  1813130  3505380  3220295  7759267 
13  Kasargode 
19396337  45539146  2971216  8312517  16425121  37226629 	
Total 
91374268  200429004  33603545  65514558  57770723  134914446

301907413713615	3072358	
0
5000000
10000000 15000000 20000000 25000000 30000000 35000000 40000000	
Net income in ₹.	
Net Income of Scheme  Area After SC Work in ₹	
41 	
3072358	
10632312 17680590
645117419603947
437413010226569	
459219	
Net Income of Scheme  Area After SC Work in ₹	
459219	6955627759267 37226629	
Net Income of Scheme  Area After SC Work in ₹

Table 10(A) - 	
Income, Expenditure and Net 	
Sl.No.  Name of District	 	
1  2 
1  Thiruvananthapuram	 	
2  Kollam 
3  Pathanamthitta 
4  Alappuzha 
5  Kottayam 
6  Idukki 
7  Eranakulam 
8  Thrissur 
9  Palakkad 
10  Malappuram 
11  Kozhikkode 
12  Kannur 
13  Kasaragod 	
Total 	
 
 
 	
233493604632	590415	
0
1000000
2000000
3000000
4000000
5000000
6000000
7000000
8000000
9000000
10000000	
Net Income in ₹.	
Net Income of Control Plot in ₹	
42 	
Income, Expenditure and Net 	Income of Control Plot (	
 	Income  Expenditure 	 	
3 
4 	
 	481253 247760 
1465582  860950 
899350 308935 
1412778  613295 
3489249  2396900 
995870 935500 
2850373  853500 
444710 192896 
1296947  436895 
583476 430900 
233805 120900 
2358052  811600 
10674268  1620670 
27185713  9830701 	
590415	
799483
1092349
60370 1996873
251814860052
152576	
112905	
Net Income of Control Plot in ₹	
Income of Control Plot (	₹) 	
 	Net Income 	
5 	
233493 
604632 
590415 
799483 
1092349 
60370 
1996873 
251814 
860052 
152576 
112905 
1546452 
9053598 
17355012 	
 	
112905	
15464529053598

43 
  Table 11 - Income Per Acre Before And After Soil Conservation Programme 
(Income in ₹.)	
 	
 
Sl. 
No   
District Name  Before SC work 
After SC work 	
Area in 
acre  Net 
Income  (₹)  Net 
Income  per 
acre(₹)  Area in 
acre  Net 
Income(₹)  Net 
Income 
per acre 	
1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8 
1  Thiruvananthapuram 
23.70  1088278  45919  25.31  3019074  119284 
2  Kollam 68.04  5132067  75427  68.04  13713615  201552 
3  Pathanamthitta 50.03  1014470  20277  50.03  3072358  61410 
4  Alappuzha 
192.86  4929440  25560  194.90  10632312  54553 
5  Kottayam 239.79  8592520  35834  239.79  17680590  73734 
6  Idukki 163.35  1007645  6169  182.52  6451174  35345 
7  Eranakulam 157.39  9437159  59960  157.39  19603947  124556 
8  Thrissur  56.08  790060  14088  56.08  4374130  77998 
9  Palakkad 
148.51  6222177  41897  148.77  10226569  68741 
10  Malappuram  93.42  -209756  -2272  99.94  459219  4534 
11  Kozhikkode 38.13  121247  3180  40.12  695562  17337 
12  Kannur 138.52  3220295  23248  140.09  7759267  55388 
13  Kasaragod 316.09  16425121  51963  316.09  37226629  117772 	
Total 1685.91  57770723  34267  1719.07  134914446  78481 	
 
 
 
 	
45919 75427
202772556035834
616959960
14088 41897
-2272 318023248 51963
-10000 0
10000 20000 30000 40000
50000 60000 70000 80000	
Net Income Per Acres in ₹.	
Net Income Per Acre in ₹. Before SC Work

Table 11(A) 	
Sl. 
No  District Name 
1 
2 
1 	Thiruvananthapuram	 	
2 	Kollam	 	
3  Pathanamthitta 
4  Alappuzha 
5  Kottayam 
6  Idukki 
7  Ernkulam 
8 	Thrissur	 	
9 	Palakkad	 	
10  Malappuram 
11  Kozhikkode 
12  Kannur 
13  Kasargode 	
Total 	
 	
119284201552
61410
0
50000
100000 150000 200000 250000	
Net Income Per Acres in ₹.	
44 	
Table 11(A) 	- Income Per Acre in the Control Plots 
Area in Acre  Net Income (₹) 	
Net Income per	
Acre	
3  4 
3.20	 	233493	 	72967	
14.60	 	604632	 	41413	
11.61  590415 	50854	
24.79  799483 	32250	
46.04  1092349 	23726	
30.60  60370 	1973	
19.72  1996873 	101261	
12.02	 	251814	 	20950	
21.32	 	860052	 	40340	
26.62  152576 	5732	
6.63  112905 	17029	
30.33  1546452 	50988	
45.28  9053598 	199947	
292.76  17355012 	59281	
 
 	
5455373734
35345 124556
77998 68741
4534 17337	55388	
Net Income Per Acre in ₹. After  SC Work	
 	
Net Income per	 	
Acre	 	
5 	
72967	 	
41413	 	
50854	 	
32250	 	
23726	 	
1973	 	
101261	 	
20950	 	
40340	 	
5732	 	
17029	 	
50988	 	
199947	 	
59281	 	
55388	
117772

3.214.6
11.61
0 5
10 15
20 25 30
35
40 45 50	
Area in Acres	
72967
41413	
50854	
0
50000
100000 150000 200000
250000	
Net Income Per Acres in ₹.	
District wise Net Income Per Acre in the Control Plots	
45 
 
 	
24.79 46.04
30.619.72 12.0221.32
26.62
6.63	
30.33	
District wise Area in Acres for Control Plots	
50854	3225023726
1973101261
2095040340
573217029	
District wise Net Income Per Acre in the Control Plots	
 
 	
30.33	
45.28	
District wise Area in Acres for Control Plots	
50988199947

46 
  Chapter III 
 
3 .1 General Observations 
 
During  the  survey  period  the  staffs  of  this  department  has  visited  all  the 
beneficiary plots. 
The  distribution  of  holdings  of  the  selected  beneficiaries  of  the  soil conservation 
programmes  reveals  that  56.55%  of  the  beneficiary  holding  belongs  to    less  than  one 
acre, 38.46% have holding area between one acre to 3 acres,   above 3 acres were 4.17%  
and  up to 5 acres were 0.82% respectively. 
The  opinions  of  selected  beneficiaries  are  collected.    Out  of  this,  32.32%  of  the 
beneficiaries  reported  that  contour  bunds  effectively  controlled  soil  erosion  while  about 
67.24% rests in the opinion that it moderately controlled soil erosion.  
About  the  fertility  of  the  soil  11.70%  are  of  the  view  that  the  conservation 
measures  have  improved  the  fertility  of  the  soil  remarkably  while  87.54%  reported  that 
the  fertility  of  the  soil  has  improved  moderately  and  0.76%  opinioned  that  it  has  no 
effect on the fertility of the soil. 
Similarly  regarding  the  moisture  retention  9.74%  reported  that  the  scheme  has 
substantially  controlled  moisture  retention  while  89.69%  reported  that  the  scheme  has 
caused  moisture  retention  moderately  and  0.57%  reported  that    no  effect.  Details  are 
presented in Table No. 12

47 
   
Table 12  
Opinion of Cultivators About of Effectiveness of Bunds, Fertility of the Soil and Moisture Retention of  Scheme Area 
   Effectiveness of 
Contour Bunds  Fertility of Soil 
Moisture Retention 
  	
Sl.N
o  Name of District 	
Effectively 
Controlled 	
Moderately 
Contr olled 	
No effect 	
Remarka
bly 
Controlle d  Moderat
ely 
Controll ed 	
No effect 	
Substanti
ally 
Controlle d  Mode
rately 
Contr olled 	
No effect 	
Total 	
1  2 3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12 
1  Thiruvananthapuram  32  93  0  2  122  1  2  123  0  125 
2  Kollam  4  121  0  1  124  0  1  124  0  125 
3  Pathanamthitta  116  9  0  2  123  0  0  125  0  125 
4  Alappuzha 10  114  1  6  119  0  5  120  0  125 
5  Kottayam  4  121  0  2  123  0  0  125  0  125 
6  Idukki 10  114  1  3  121  1  2  123  0  125 
7  Ernakulam 108  17  0  107  18  0  108  17  0  125 
8  Thrissur  4  120  1  1  124  0  0  125  0  125 
9  Palakkad 100  24  1  1  124  0  1  124  0  125 
10  Malappuram  10  72  0  4  78  0  4  78  0  82 
11  Kozhikkode  28  95  2  0  116  9  0  116  9  125 
12  Kannur  4  120  1  0  124  1  0  125  0  125 
13  Kasaragod 81  43  0  56  68  0  31  93  0  124 	
State 511  1063  7  185  1384  12  154  1418  9  1581

48 
  Table 13 
 Conditions of Bunds  (Scheme Area) 
SLNO	
 	District  Good	 	Partially damaged  Seriously  damaged  Total	 	
1  2 3 4  5 6 
1  Thiruvananthapuram  120 
5  0 125 
2  Kollam  109 
16  0 125 
3  Pathanamthitta  125 
0  0 125 
4  Alappuzha  33 
92  0 125 
5  Kottayam  116 
9  0 125 
6  Idukki  81 
44  0 125 
7  Ernakulum  99 
26  0 125 
8  Thrissur  14 
111  0 125 
9  Palakkad  125 
0  0 125 
10  Malappuram  74 
8  0 82 
11  Kozhikkode  58 
52  15 125 
12  Kannur  116 
9  0 125 
13  Kasaragod  57 
67  0 124 	
State  1127  439 
15 1581 	
 
Table 14  
 Occupational Profile  (Scheme Area)	
 	
Sl. 
No  Name of District 
  Occupation 	Agriculture	 	
Non- 
Agriculture	
 	
Agricultural- 
Labours 	
Non	- 	
Agri. 
Labours 	
Total	 	
1 
2  3 4  5 6  7 
1  Thiruvananthapuram  9  38  23  55  125 
2  Kollam 
84  28  9  4  125 
3  Pathanamthitta 26  93  6  0  125 
4  Alappuzha 43  60  14  8  125 
5  Kottayam 74  38  12  1  125 
6  Idukki 
76  40  6  3  125 
7  Ernakulum 85  39  1  0  125 
8  Thrissur 14  107  4  0  125 
9  Palakkad 88  29  5  3  125 
10  Malappuram 
5  68  4  5  82 
11  Kozhikkode 6  78  11  30  125 
12  Kannoor 58  18  33  16  125 
13  Kasaragod 80  14  26  4  124 	
State 648  650  154  129  1581

49 
  Table 14(a)  
 Occupational Profile ( Control Plots )	
 	
Sl.No	 	Name of District  Occupation 	Agriculture	 	Non- 
Agriculture	
 	
Agricultural-  Labours  Non- 
Agri. 
Labours  Total 	
1 
2  3 4  5 6  7 
1  Thiruvananthapuram	 	1  6  6  12  25 	
2  Kollam  22  3 0  0  25 
3  Pathanamthitta  21  3  1  0  25 
4  Alappuzha 6  12  5  2  25 
5  Kottayam 15  5 4  1  25 
6  Idukki  9  13  0  3  25 
7  Eranakulam 12  11  2  0  25 
8  Thrissur  1  5 2  17  25 
9  Palakkad  19  1 5  0  25 
10  Malappuram  4  16  0  0  20 
11  Kozhikkode  0  20  0  5  25 
12  Kannoor 13  0  10  2  25 
13  Kasargode  16  3 6  0  25 	
State 139  98  41  42  320 	
 
  One  important finding  of this study is  that the concept of watershed management 
has  been  well  recognized  in  the  scheme  area.  Watershed  management  implies  the  wise 
use  of  soil,  water  and  bio-resources  in  a  watershed  to  obtain  optimum  production  with 
minimum disturbance to the environment.  Through this water and soil can be conserved 
since  both  of  them  are  interdependent.    The  overall  objective  of  watershed  programme 
includes  recognition  of  watershed  as  a  basic  unit  for  judicious  utilization  and 
development  of  all  lands.    The  land  is  to  be  treated  according  to  the  capability  and 
requirement by adopting suitable methods that  will  control soil  erosion,  conserve water, 
improve farm income, control flood and droughts, etc. 
 There  are  a  number  of  direct  and  indirect  outcome  of  the  project  that  can  be 
associated with the impact of watershed development project.  These include raising rain 
fed agricultural productivity changes in land use pattern, etc.

50 
  Conditions of Bund  
While  examining  the  condition  of  bund  the  study  revealed  that  71.28%  are  in 
good  condition  27.77%  reported  that  bundsare  partially  damaged  and  0.95%  reported 
that bunds are  seriously damaged.  District wise statement is given in Table No. 13.          
Summary of Findings   The data furnished in this report are collected through the Evaluation study 
on soil conservation programmes conducted during 2014-15.  The entire districts except 
Wayanad  were  covered  in  this  study.    The  methodology  of  this  study  was  stratified 
sampling method on the basis of the area of the holding.  For the study purpose schemes 
implemented  by  the  Soil  Conservation  Department  and  other  Local  Self  Government 
were  included.    For  the  purpose  of  comparison  control  plots  are  also  selected  from  the 
scheme  area  where  the  soil  conservation  works  are  not  carried  out  under  any  scheme.   
In the light of the present study, an attempt is made for the cost benefit analysis with the 
collected  data.    Several  benefits  flow  from  the  soil  conservation  programme 
implementation  in  this  report  district  wise  name  of  all  selected  schemes  are  also 
included.  Some of the findings of the study are given below: 
 For  the  study  purpose  39  schemes  were  selected.    The  total  number  of 
beneficiaries  comes  to 8243. Out of  this  1581  number  of  beneficiaries  were selected for 
the  detailed  study.      Land  use  particulars  of  beneficiary  plots  give  us  certain  positive 
trends while  comparing  with  the area before  and after  the soil  conservation  programme.  
The  study  revealed  that  33.16  acres  of  land  has  been  additionally  brought  under 
cultivation by cultivating area which was under the fallow land.  There  is  an  increasing  awareness  of  the  importance  of  the  soil  conservation 
programme  especially  watershed  management  programme  among  the  people  in  the 
scheme  area.    BesidesSoilConservationDepartment,LocalSelfGovernment  implementing 
various  programmes  in  this  direction.    WGDP,  RIDF,  TSP  programmes  are  included 
under study.  Tribal colonies also enjoyed benefits.

51 
  Income and Expenditure 
  The  particulars  relating  to  income  and  expenditure  of  beneficiary  plots  reveals 
that  after  implementation  of  SC  programme  net  income  of  the  beneficiaries  of  the 
scheme  area  increased  to  133.53%.    It  is  estimated  that  the  percentage  increase  of  net 
income per acre in beneficiary plots of the scheme area as 129.03%.  Analysis  of  data  collected  from  the  beneficiary  and  control  plots  reveals  that  the  net 
income  per  acre,  received  from  the  beneficiary  plot  is  ₹.78481/-  and  from  the  control  plot  is 
₹.59281/-   The district wise details are presented in Table No. 11 and 11 (a).  The higher rate of 
income from the scheme area is due to the positive impact of soil conservation programme.  Cost  benefit  analysis  of  the  collected  data  reveals  that  85%  of  the  cost  of  soil 
conservation programme has benefited in the year under study.   Table 15  
 Cropping Intensity in Scheme Area 
 	 	 	 	 	 	
(Area in Acres) 
Sl.No 
  
   District 
  
  	
Net Area 
Cultivated 	
Total Gross Area 
Cropped 	
Intensity of 
Cropping (%)    	
Before 
Sc 
Work 	
 	
After Sc  Work  	
Before 
Sc 
Work 	
 	
After Sc  Work   Before Sc 
Work   After Sc 
Work  	
1  2  3  4  5  6  7 8 
1 Thiruvananthapuram	 	23.70  25.31  27.85  30.45  117.47  120.23 	
2 Kollam 
68.04  68.04  73.62  73.51  108.20  108.04 
3 Pathanamthitta 
50.03  50.03  54.05  54.03  108.02  108.02 
4 Alappuzha 
192.86  194.90  194.09  196.51  100.64  100.82 
5 Kottayam 
239.79  239.79  221.63  223.50  92.43  93.21 
6 Idukki 
163.35  182.52  202.93  208.80  124.24  114.40 
7 Ernakulam 
157.39  157.39  183.14  187.8  116.36  119.33 
8 Thrissur 
56.08  56.08  52.77  52.94  94.10  94.40 
9 Palakkad 
148.51  148.77  143.29  140.08  96.48  94.15 
10 Malappuram 
93.42  99.94  78.47  93.29  84 
93.35 
11 Kozhikkode 
38.13  40.12  34.90  66.81  91.53  166.53 
12 Kannur 
138.52  140.09  126.25  128.8  91.14  91.95 
13 Kasargode 
316.09  316.09  249.61  272.41  78.97  86.19 	
State 1685.91  1719.07  1642.6  1728.93  97.43  100.58

0
50
100 150 200 250 300 350	
Area In Acres	
Net Area Cultivated Before & After SC Work	
0
50
100 150 200 250 300	
Area in Acres	
Total Gross Area Cropped Before & After SC Work	
52 	
Net Area Cultivated Before & After SC Work	
Before Sc Work 
After Sc Work 	
Total Gross Area Cropped Before & After SC Work	
Before Sc Work 
After Sc Work 	
 
 	
Before Sc Work 
After Sc Work 
Before Sc Work 
After Sc Work

53 
  Cropping Intensity 
Productivity  of  the  land  to  a  certain  extent  influenced  the  cropping pattern  of  a  locality. 
Through this study, it is seen that, the cropping intensity of the scheme is increased from 
97.43% to 100.58%.  District wise details are presented in table No.15. 
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