<p></p><p>For a long time Kerala held a virtual monopoly on the production and export of various spices and agricultural commodities but of late has been progressively ceding ground to other states. Having already lost its position as the largest producer of pepper in the country, its ranking in the production of cocoa and cashew has also slipped. <br></p> <p>"Andhra Pradesh has replaced Kerala as the top cocoa producer in the country for the first time. Till financial year 2012-13, Kerala had maintained its lead for the last few decades," said Venkatesh N Hubballi, director, Directorate of Cashewnut and Cocoa Development (DCCD). According to DCCD figures, in FY06, Kerala produced 6,490 ton, which slowly came down to 6,000 ton in FY15. On the other hand, Andhra's production grew from 2,974 ton to 6,300 ton in the corresponding period. <br></p> <p>The story of cashew production is similar to that of cocoa. In FY'94, Kerala produced 1.4 lakh ton of raw cashew nut, in contrast to 47,000 ton of Maharashtra. But through the nineties Maharashtra augmented its production and overtook Kerala by producing 1.25 lakh ton in 2000. Kerala's yield that year was 1 lakh ton. Finally, in FY14, there was a clear role reversal with Kerala figures plummeting to 80,000 ton and Maharashtra's soaring to 2.36 lakh ton. <br></p> <p>"Scarcity of agricultural land is holding back Kerala from increasing its cocoa or cashew production," said Hubballi. In cocoa's case, Andhra government is very proactive with many farmers adopting cocoa cultivation.</p> <p>Over a four-year period till FY13, Kerala's black pepper production steadily declined to 25,000 ton from 34,000 ton in FY09. And during this time, Karnataka's production grew four-fold toppling Kerala in FY13 with a yield of 26,000 ton. <br></p> <p>As of now, Kerala doesn't have any chance of regaining its top slot in any of these commodities. As farmers with large holdings have started farming cocoa, Andhra's lead will continue, said Hubballi.</p> <p>In the case of cashew too, a similar situation exists. "Kerala could still improve its cashew production by utilizing unused paddy fields,'' said Harikrishnan Nair, a leading cashew exporter and chairman of Kerala chapter of Confederation of Indian Industry. <br></p> <p>"Kerala's cashew productivity is just above 300 kg per acre, which we could easily increase to 1 ton per acre with the help of scientists," he said. But till the time an effective catalyst turns around the state's agri scenario, Kerala will struggle to arrest the fall in production.<br></p><p></p>