Abstract

Out of the annual normal deficit of 5 lakhs of tons of rice (husked rice) in the Madras Presidency, Malabar with an acerage of 9 lakhs of acres and a production of about 35 lakhs of tons of rice has a deficit of 2 lakhs of tons. It is therefore evident that the problem of the rice deficit of the Madras Presidency is chiefly one of its production in Malabar. The rest of the rice deficit districts have other cereals to depend upon as an alternative but Malabar stands on a different footing The only cereal that is grown is rice and there is even a positive dislike for any other cereal; for the matter of that even wheat, as the recent rationing has shown. The wheat off-take per individual was the lowest in Malabar compared with any other district. Thus rice plays a very important role in the economy of Malabar agriculture.

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