Kerala is witnessing a reversal of the tide of migration of farmers into hilly areas of the State. If the last century had seen farmers squatting on forest lands in the high ranges, the trend has changed though on a smaller scale.
The settlers are now moving out from remote areas of Kollam, Idukki and Kannur districts. The reasons vary. Many are on the look out for better educational opportunities for their children and other amenities. Some move out for better employment opportunities, practically abandoning agriculture. An underlying factor is that a better life has become affordable to many, often on account of non-farm incomes.
At Rajakkad near Rosemala in Kollam district, many families have moved to the plains in and around Aryankavu and Punalur.
Now, only a dozen houses and a few estates and orchards remain at Rajakkad which once bristled with activities of settlers (Rajakkad is one of the few places in Kerala where oranges are cultivated.) The only sign that it was a populated area in the past is the Church cemetery with many tombs.
Jeep driver Boby, who has his home at Rajakkad and works from Aryankavu, said that he would never move out from Rajakkad where he owns a house and some land. He commutes between his home and Aryankavu for work. However, a mud road connecting Aryankavu to Rajakkad has a precarious existence. A portion of the road branching off to Rosemala had recently been washed away in a landslip. With fewer people up the hills, the roads are likely to remain in disrepair for long.
According to R. Shanty, who bought a house from one of the departing settlers for use as a camp for nature lovers, said the place had around 50 families. Now only seven remained including that of Mr. Boby.
In Idukki district, families have relocated from difficult places, though in smaller numbers from a wider area. Agriculture in the district no more brings prosperity to farmers as it did for a while in the past. Degradation of soil and diseases have hit crops such as pepper. The generation next of the settlers are on the look out for other jobs.
At Paithalmala in Kannur district, more than a hundred families have moved down to locations near towns in the lower reaches. Many were looking for conveniences of urbanised areas like local towns. Unlike during the last century, these towns are no more centres catering predominantly to agriculture and agricultural families. They now sport many consumer products and even luxury items. Apparently, the purchasing power of people has improved. Most of those who left the hills still hold the land. However, the land is no more being cultivated intensively. Wild growth have covered some areas.
Much of the settled areas on the hills at Paithalmala are interspersed with bits of forests. The location offers panoramic views. The State Tourism Development Corporation has seen an opportunity here and is developing a resort on a hill after clearing a wooded area. A private party is also building a resort on the hills. The area, especially a few locations inside the forests, has considerable potential to attract trekkers. However, heavy tourist inflow is sure to destroy the shola grasslands on the top of the hills like what happened in Ponmudi in Thiruvananthapuram district.
In Wayanad, a number of tribals living in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary are willing to move out if the government offered them a settlement package. They also are looking for better communication and other facilities. The government is yet to come up with a clear policy on acquisition of farm lands and estates for conversion into forests, though the broad objective of increasing forest cover has been adopted.
