General Information

The geological formation of the district is made up of marine and alluvial soils, raised beaches and alluvium, sand stones, veiegated clays and lignite. The beach deposits at Manavaalakurichi, Cape comerin and other coastal contain such heavy minerals of Industrial use as ruttle, illuminite, zircon, mocnozite etc.

An area of 54,644 hectares of 32.7% of the total area of the district is under forest. About 15,000 hectares of the forests in classified as the dense forest by the Forest Survey of India, Dehraden. There are 9 reserve forests.

The total geographic area of the district is about 1,65,810 hectares. Out of this 82,625 hectares is sown which works out to 49.83%. The non-agricultural land occupied by the buildings, roads, railways, rivers, canals etc., is 24,000 hectares (14.48%). The land lying fallow is 2,414 hectares (0.72%). As such the entire land in the district is almost utilised in one way or other. The area and percentage of land under various uses as given below:-

Popularly known as the granary of former Travancore state. Kanyakumari district is famous for its vast strectches of paddy fields. Nearly 16,000 hectares of lands were under paddy cultivation during 1999-2000. Paddy is raised in two seasons i.e. Kannipoo and Kumbapoo respectively. It's proximity to equator, topography and other climate factors favour the cultivation of varied crops. Besides paddy, other important crops grown are pulses, tapioca, banana, cocunut, rubber, cashew, mango, arecanut, cloves, cardomom, pepper etc.

Kanyakumari district has a costal length of 68 kms. About 30,000 fishermen families in 42 villages along the coast are living mainly depending on marine resources. About 47,500 fishermen are actively engaged in fishing annually about 35,000 tonnes of marine fishes are being landed. Fish and crustaceours like prawn and labstar are exported and fetch a fair foriegn exchange.

To uplift the economic condition of fishermen and to boost the production of marine fish, various schemes are implemented through fishermen co-operative societies. There are 26 number of registered societies for the welfare of fishermen. About 1655 numbers of mechanised boats. 1649 nos. of out board motor fitted crafts and 8400 cattumarams are used for fishing.

Kottar within Nagercoil municipal limit is a busy centre for trade. All items of provisions, vegetables, coconut, etc., are sent to kerala and other parts. Coir products and cashew kurnal, brushes are exported to abroad.

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