Kerala is India's major rubber producer. But low prices, skilled labor shortages and soil depletion are forcing farmers to try out new growing methods and crops.
Kerala’s rubber industry, once a pillar of prosperity, is now in crisis – hit by low prices, climate-change-driven rains, and soil degradation from decades of monoculture. Farmers are turning to sustainable alternatives. 80-year-old Thomas Kattakayam is creating jackfruit gene banks and intercropped farms that restore soil health and conserve water. Others experiment with rambutan, pineapple and coffee to ensure a continuous income. Experts say the future of rubber lies in agroforestry – integrating it with native species to balance livelihoods and ecology.
Source: dw