In the study area the average profit per acre from paddy cultivation during the year 2000-’01 is estimated as 3694 rupees and the average size of a paddy- cultivating household is found to be 5.48. Again it is found that only 4.67 percent of the paddy landowners in this area are large farmers who cultivate five or more acres of land. The per capita income of the state during the year 1999-2000 is estimated as 19461 rupees at current prices 47 . In order to keep its income at par with the state level a household solely depending on paddy cultivation should 46 Babu Ambat (1992): Kuttanad, Sathiyavum Midhyayum (Mal), Kerala Sastra Parishat, Kozhikode, p 47 GOK (2001): Economic Review 2000 , SPB, Thiruvananthapuram, p, table 2.8
