![]() The presence of a large number of rivers has made Kerala rich in water resources which are systematically being harnessed for irrigation and power generation. Among the major schemes, the Malampuzha Project has brought around 47,600 acres under irrigation. One of the most outstanding achievements of planning in Kerala has been the tremendous expansion in the generation of hydro-electric power. With its heavy population pressure, Kerala has also been compelled to clear forest areas for settlement. Forests occupy about twenty-seven per cent of the total area of the state, compared to twenty per cent at the all-India level. Forest cover of Kerala is largely spread over the Western Ghats which border the state. The Western Ghats represent one of the world's 18 hotspots of biodiversity and is considered to be a depositary of endemic, endangered and rare flora and fauna. The spatial distribution of forests in Kerala is very uneven, with high forest concentration in the high land of the Western Ghats, supplemented by a few forest areas in the midlands. There are considerable variations in forest type, the predominant three broad types being tropical moist deciduous forests, tropical wet evergreen forests in the mountain ranges of the Ghats, and tropical semi-evergreen forests between these two types. These three types cover most of the natural forest area around 79 per cent of the total area. The coverage of the plantation forestry is to the extent of 19.30 per cent of the total area. The forests in Kerala are better stocked than forests in most other parts of India. ![]() Economy of Kerala is also supported by the traditional industries. Coir, cashew, bricks and tiles, oil milling, handloom and timber dominate the industrial sector in the state, employing around 83 per cent of the total work force in the industrial sector. The coir industry provides employment to nearly a million people directly or indirectly. More than ninety per cent of the total Indian production of coir yarn is produced in Kerala. Backwaters in Kerala and the inland waterways nourish the coir industry, which is the oldest traditional cottage industry in the state. Coir is made out of coconut husk which is bestowed on the state in abundant measure. These waterways also offer cheap and economic transportation of this produce. The major industrial concerns of the state have been established either under Government auspices or with the active participation of the Government. The factories owned by the state put out rubber goods, cycle rims, shark liver oil, plywood, ceramics, soaps and textiles. (Last Updated on : 29-03-2014) |
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