ISBN: - 978-93-88936-09-5 2.3 (B) 3.General Information of Kanyakumari District Kanyakumari district is situated in the Southern most end of Indian Sub-Continent. The District has a large number of historic monuments and temples. A series of kingdom are known to have ruled Kanyakumari and most important being the Chera, Chola and Pandya. On the recommendation of the commission Agastheeswaram, Thovalai, Kalkulam, Vilavancode and Shenkottai taluks were given to Tamil Nadu among which the first four were grouped to form a new Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu. It is predominantly an agricultural region. The district has a total area of 1672 square kilometre. 2.3 (B) 4.SOIL CONDITION In Kanyakumari district the soil is acid in nature. The contents including nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potash and limes are found to be 0.08 percent, 0.02 percent, 0.09 percent and 0.17 percent respectively. 2.3 (B) 5.AGRICULTURE Agriculture is the main occupation of this district. This district procures paddy, tapioca, and oil seeds such as Groundnut and Coconut besides, commercial crops like cashew, rubber, fruits and spices. The important feature of this district is the production of seasonal Mangoes. 2.3 (B) 6.SPICES AND OTHER PLANTATION Spices like cardamom, clove, and pepper are also cultivated in kanyakumari district. No other region in Kanayakumari district is suitable for the production of spices. Paddy is the main crop of this district. It is grown in two seasons. First crop is sown in the months of April – June (Kannipoo) and second crop is raised in the months of September (kumba Poo) Tapico is raised as a subsidiary food crop in Kanyakumari District. The highest planting season in April – May. Coconut is the main cash crop which occupies the second position in the gross cropped area and major portion of the non – good crop area of the Kanyakumari district. Banana is cultivated mainly during March- May and September- October. Groundnut is raised during March - April and October – November as rainfall crop to a small extent. 2.3 (B) 7.FORESTS Due to rich soil and favourable rainfall the taluk is endowed with a very valuable tropical evergreen forest. Elevation of forest from the sea level has been estimated at 1850 meters under regeneration programme acacia (babul) and eucalyptus species are planted in the forests. 50
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