1.1 Review of the Performance of Paddy Farm Sector in Kerala According to 1961 census Kerala had a population of 16.9 millions that amounted to 3.85 percent of the country’s total population. In the year 1960-61 the state accounted for 2.5 percent of the total amount of rice produced inside the country. The relative shares of the state both in area and production of rice showed positive growth trends throughout that decade but began to decline since the early years of the seventies. By the year 1980-81 the state’s share in area under paddy and rice production declined to 2 percent and 2.37 percent respectively. As per the 1991 census the state’s population increased to 29.1 millions which was 3.45 percent of the country’s total population in that year. In spite of it, the percentage share of the state in area under paddy crop had decreased to 1.31 and its share in the total rice production in the country came down to 1.46 percent during the year 1990-91. Kerala’s population for the year 1999 is projected as 31.98 millions which amounts to 3.26 percent of the country’s total population. However, the relative shares of the 2 GOK (1998):
