Complete Paddy Farming Guide

Malayalam name: നെല്ല് (Nellu)
Rice grain in Malayalam: അരി (Ari)
Botanical name: Oryza sativa L.
Crop category: Cereals and food grains
Crop type: Annual grass
Main propagation method: Seeds
Main growing seasons: Virippu, Mundakan and Puncha
Research and source verification date: 31 October 2026

Rice is one of Keralam’s most important food crops. It is grown in ordinary wetlands, rainfed fields, irrigated paddy lands, coastal saline fields and high-range valleys.

Successful rice farming depends on choosing the right variety for the location, planting at the right time, controlling water carefully and managing fertiliser according to soil conditions.

This guide explains how to grow paddy in Keralam, from choosing seeds to harvesting and selling the crop.

1. Where Can Rice Grow in Keralam?

Suitable districts and farming regions

Rice is cultivated in all 14 districts of Keralam, but the area under cultivation and farming systems differ considerably.

According to the Keralam Government’s 2024–25 district-level statistics, the leading districts by rice cultivation area were:

District	Paddy cultivation area
Palakkad	65,561.88 hectares
Alappuzha	36,860.50 hectares
Thrissur	23,707.59 hectares
Kottayam	17,659.56 hectares
Malappuram	9,162.38 hectares
Wayanad	6,804.19 hectares

Other districts, including Ernakulam, Kannur, Kasaragod, Kozhikode, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Thiruvananthapuram and Idukki, also have established rice-growing areas.

Source: Keralam Data Portal, district-wise rice statistics for 2024–25. [S1]

Important rice-growing ecosystems

Region	Farming conditions
Palakkad	Large irrigated and rainfed paddy fields
Kuttanad, Alappuzha and Kottayam	Low-lying and below-sea-level wetlands requiring organised water management
Kole lands, Thrissur and Malappuram	Seasonally flooded clay wetlands
Pokkali lands, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Alappuzha	Coastal saline wetlands using salt-tolerant rice
Kaipad lands, Kannur, Kasaragod and Kozhikode	Brackish coastal wetlands with traditional rice systems
Wayanad and other high-range valleys	Valley and terraced rice cultivation with locally adapted varieties
Onattukara and coastal sandy areas	Lighter soils requiring special nutrient and moisture management

The district alone cannot decide suitability. A field’s water availability, drainage, salinity, acidity and flooding history are more important.

Climate requirements

Factor	Research-supported guidance
Temperature	ICAR reports approximately 25–35°C as a favourable general growth range, although the ideal temperature differs by growth stage
Flowering	ICAR cites around 25–30°C daytime and 20–25°C nighttime temperatures during flower initiation
High-temperature risk	Temperatures above 35°C can affect grain filling
Rainfall	ICAR identifies 1,000–2,000 mm annual rainfall as favourable for rice-growing regions
Sunlight	Abundant sunshine is important, especially during grain filling and ripening
Relative humidity	ICAR reports 60–80% as a favourable range during crop growth
Soil pH	KAU recommends a suitable general range of 5.0–8.0
Altitude	Rice grows in Keralam’s below-sea-level fields and high-range valleys; no single Keralam-wide maximum altitude is established in the consulted KAU guidance

The rainfall figure is an agroclimatic indicator, not the amount of water that must fall during one crop. Irrigation, water storage, soil and rainfall distribution all influence suitability.

Sources: ICAR-National Rice Research Institute [S2]; KAU climate and soil guidance [S3].

Best soils

Rice can grow in several soil types. Clay and clay-loam soils are particularly useful for wetland cultivation because they retain moisture and reduce water loss.

Important soil situations include:

• Clay and clay loam: Suitable for ordinary flooded paddy cultivation.
• Sandy and sandy-loam soils: Rice is possible, but irrigation and nutrient management may be more demanding.
• Acidic wetlands: Soil testing and properly recommended amendments are important.
• Saline coastal soils: Require suitable salt-tolerant varieties and water control.
• Upland soils: Require rainfed or upland-adapted varieties rather than ordinary flooded-paddy management.

Rice needs water control, not uncontrolled permanent deep flooding. Bunds, outlets, channels and field levelling are important.

Before starting: Take a soil sample to the local Krishi Bhavan or an authorised soil-testing laboratory. Check pH and nutrient status, and assess salinity where coastal water enters the field.

2. When Should Farmers Plant Rice?

Keralam Agricultural University recognises three main rice-growing seasons.

General Keralam planting calendar

Season	General crop-start period	General harvest period
Virippu — first crop	April–May	September–October
Mundakan — second crop	September–October	December–January
Puncha — third/summer crop	December–January	March–April

These are KAU’s general seasonal windows, not fixed planting dates for every farm.

Important regional exceptions

Kuttanad: KAU lists an additional crop beginning in May–June and Puncha cultivation beginning in October–November, with harvest commonly around February–March for the latter.

Kole lands: KAU lists Mundakan cultivation beginning around August–September and ending around December–January.

Pokkali lands: The first crop generally begins around May–June, after the field’s freshwater and salinity conditions become suitable.

High-range areas: KAU identifies Nancha cultivation beginning around May–June, with harvesting around October–November, and Puncha crops in suitable irrigated areas.

Onattukara: The first crop can begin in April, earlier than in many other regions.

Farmers should choose the actual sowing date after checking local rainfall, irrigation supply, flood forecasts and seed duration.

Source: KAU regional cropping seasons [S3].

3. Which Rice Varieties Are Suitable?

A rice variety should be selected for its growing duration, soil type, water conditions, pest resistance and local market demand.

KAU lists different varieties for different Keralam ecosystems.

Farming situation	Examples from KAU recommendations
Ordinary transplanted wetlands	Jyothi, Matta Triveni, Jaya, Aiswarya, Uma
Rainfed uplands	PTB 28, PTB 29, PTB 30, Suvarnamodan, Rohini
Kuttanad Puncha	Jyothi, Karthika, Makom, Uma, Jaya
Kole lands	Karthika, Jyothi, Uma, Bharathy, Aiswarya
Pokkali saline wetlands	Vyttila series
Kaipad saline wetlands	Ezhome series
High-altitude rice areas	Aswathy, Jaya, Sabari, Mahsuri, Bhadra and other locally recommended varieties

These are suitability examples, not a recommendation that every listed variety will perform equally well in every season.

Newer KAU varieties worth evaluating

KAU’s released-variety information includes:

KAU Punya (MO 25): A red-kernelled, short-duration variety released in 2024. KAU reports approximately 110 days of duration and a potential yield of 5.0–5.5 tonnes per hectare under the conditions used for variety evaluation.

KAU Aadhya (MO 24): A white-kernelled, medium-duration variety released in 2024. KAU reports a duration of 125–130 days and an average reported yield of 6.5–7.0 tonnes per hectare under its evaluation conditions.

These are published variety-performance figures, not guaranteed commercial farm yields.

Farmers should check seed availability, local suitability and current KAU or Krishi Bhavan advice before adopting a newer variety.

Sources: KAU variety recommendations [S4] and KAU released varieties [S5].

How to select quality seed

1. Buy clearly identified seed from a KAU research station, government farm or recognised seed producer.
2. Check the variety name, lot number, purity, germination and packaging information.
3. Check the seed’s age and storage conditions.
4. Avoid visibly damaged, discoloured, contaminated or poorly stored seed.
5. Confirm that the variety suits the intended season.
6. Use KAU-recommended seed treatment and nursery hygiene where appropriate.

KAU’s conventional seed-rate guidance is based on a minimum germination level of 80%. Poor germination can make the recommended rate inadequate.

Rice is grown from seed. Saplings and grafts are not used.

4. How to Plant Rice

Rice can be established by raising seedlings and transplanting them, or by direct seeding.

Seed quantity

KAU provides the following conventional seed rates.

Planting method	Seed per hectare	Approximate seed per acre
Transplanting	60–85 kg	24.3–34.4 kg
Broadcasting	80–100 kg	32.4–40.5 kg
Dibbling	80–90 kg	32.4–36.4 kg

These figures apply to KAU’s conventional recommendations. Special ecosystems and mechanised methods may require different rates.

For example, KAU lists a much lower seed rate of 5 kg per hectare for its System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method. That rate must not be substituted directly into conventional planting without following the entire SRI system.

Source: KAU seed and spacing guidance [S6].

Preparing a nursery

For a conventional transplanted wetland rice crop:

1. Select fertile land with access to irrigation and drainage.
2. Plough and puddle the nursery field.
3. Prepare raised nursery beds approximately 5–10 cm high and 1–1.5 metres wide.
4. Provide channels between the beds.
5. KAU recommends approximately 1,000 square metres of wet nursery area for each hectare to be transplanted.
6. Incorporate compost or cattle manure at 1 kg per square metre of nursery bed, according to the KAU nursery recommendation.
7. Treat the seed by the appropriate recommended method, allow it to sprout and sow it evenly.
8. Keep the nursery moist and manage water to avoid weak, excessively elongated seedlings.

For dry nurseries, KAU gives raised beds approximately 15 cm high and 1–1.5 metres wide.

When seedlings are ready

Variety duration	KAU nursery guidance
Short-duration varieties	Approximately 18 days after sowing
Medium-duration varieties	Approximately 20–25 days after sowing
Certain long-duration varieties in poorly drained conditions	Around 30 days

KAU also recommends observing the seedling’s 4–5-leaf stage rather than relying on age alone.

Preparing the main field

Before transplanting:

• Clear and incorporate suitable weeds and crop residues.
• Repair bunds and drainage channels.
• Plough and puddle the soil according to the farming system.
• Level the field properly.
• Incorporate recommended organic manure.
• Complete soil-test-based amendments.
• Arrange a reliable water inlet and outlet.

KAU advises that transplanting can be carried out approximately 10–15 days after incorporating organic manure, where feasible.

Spacing and plant population

KAU recommends different spacing for different seasons and crop durations.

Situation	Spacing	Approximate hills per cent	Approximate hills per acre
Virippu, medium-duration rice	20 × 15 cm	1,349	13,490
Mundakan or Puncha, medium-duration rice	20 × 10 cm	2,023	20,234
Short-duration rice	15 × 10 cm	2,698	26,979

The figures are mathematically calculated from the spacing and gross land area. Actual field populations will be lower if bunds, paths and channels reduce the planted area.

One hill means one planting position, not necessarily one individual rice plant.

KAU recommends generally transplanting 2–3 seedlings per hill at a depth of approximately 3–4 cm for conventional transplanted rice.

Step-by-step transplanting

1. Bring the field to a level, workable condition.
2. Maintain a shallow water layer during transplanting.
3. Remove healthy seedlings carefully from the nursery.
4. Mark the rows using the selected KAU spacing.
5. Plant seedlings at the recommended depth.
6. Avoid overcrowding or burying seedlings too deeply.
7. Check for missing hills and poor establishment.
8. Maintain the recommended water level after establishment.
9. Start weed and pest surveillance immediately.

KAU also advises providing an access alley of approximately 30 cm after every 3 metres of planted rows to facilitate field operations.

Sources: KAU nursery and spacing [S6]; field preparation and planting [S7].

Are planting pits necessary?

No. Ordinary rice is planted in prepared fields rather than individual pits.

For traditional Pokkali and Kaipad establishment, KAU describes a different system involving raised field mounds of approximately 1 metre base and 0.5 metre height. These mounds protect seedlings in saline, flood-prone conditions and should not be confused with conventional rice nursery beds.

5. How to Maintain the Crop

Irrigation and water management

Water management is one of the most important parts of paddy farming.

KAU gives the following guidance for ordinary transplanted rice:

Growth condition	Water guidance
At transplanting	Around 1.5 cm water depth
Up to maximum tillering	Gradually increase to about 5 cm
Mundakan with assured irrigation after the northeast monsoon	KAU indicates that 5 cm irrigation approximately once every six days can be sufficient in the stated project conditions
Summer rice under specified shallow-groundwater conditions	KAU recommends 5 cm irrigation two days after disappearance of ponded water
Before harvest	Drain the field in advance of harvesting

These are condition-specific recommendations, not a fixed irrigation schedule for every field.

During heavy rainfall, farmers may need drainage rather than irrigation. During summer, water requirements depend on temperature, soil, groundwater and the growth stage.

Avoid prolonged uncontrolled deep flooding, particularly during early establishment. Water stress at flowering and grain filling can also reduce yield.

Source: KAU water management [S8].

Organic manure

KAU recommends incorporating approximately:

5 tonnes of farmyard manure, compost or green leaves per hectare, equivalent to about 2.02 tonnes per acre, during land preparation.

For certain Onattukara conditions, KAU provides alternatives using vermicompost or coirpith compost at 2.5 tonnes per hectare.

These are agronomic recommendations. Actual input purchases should reflect soil testing and availability.

Fertiliser requirements

KAU provides nutrient recommendations in kilograms per hectare.

Field and variety	Nitrogen (N)	Phosphorus (P₂O₅)	Potassium (K₂O)
Ordinary wetlands, short-duration HYV	70	35	35
Ordinary wetlands, medium-duration HYV	90	45	45
Ordinary wetlands, local varieties	40	20	20
Uplands, short-duration HYV	60	30	30
Kole lands, medium-duration HYV	110	45	45

These are kilograms of nutrients per hectare, not kilograms of urea, superphosphate or potash fertiliser products.

For example, the ordinary wetland short-duration recommendation converts to approximately:

• Nitrogen: 28.3 kg per acre
• P₂O₅: 14.2 kg per acre
• K₂O: 14.2 kg per acre

The amount of fertiliser product required depends on its nutrient concentration. Ask Krishi Bhavan to calculate the actual quantities after soil testing.

Source: KAU rice manuring [S9].

When to apply fertiliser

For conventional transplanted high-yielding rice, KAU provides the following general pattern.

Short-duration varieties: Apply the recommended phosphorus at the basal stage. Split nitrogen between the basal stage and panicle initiation, using the KAU proportions of two-thirds and one-third. Potassium is generally split between basal application and panicle initiation.

Medium-duration varieties: KAU recommends splitting nitrogen into two halves, at basal application and panicle initiation. Phosphorus is generally supplied as basal application and potassium is divided between basal application and panicle initiation.

Direct-seeded rice: KAU generally describes nitrogen in three portions, around establishment, tillering and panicle initiation, with suitable adjustments for wet seeding and regional conditions.

Special recommendations apply to Wayanad, sandy Onattukara soils, Kuttanad, Kole fields and other situations.

Do not automatically apply the maximum listed dose. Excess nitrogen can encourage lodging and increase susceptibility to some pests and diseases.

Weed management

Weeds compete with young rice plants for nutrients, water and light.

Useful practices include maintaining the recommended plant spacing, field levelling, timely manual or mechanical weeding and proper water management.

KAU recognises the cono-weeder as an option in suitable rice cultivation systems. Herbicides should only be used when appropriate for the specific crop establishment method and currently registered for that use.

Mulching and crop residues

Ordinary flooded rice does not require conventional thick surface mulching around each hill.

Rice straw can be managed as a soil organic-matter resource or used in permitted farming systems. Where straw is incorporated, allow proper decomposition and account for its effects on nutrient management.

Avoid burning residues as a routine practice.

Pruning and pollination

Rice does not require tree-style pruning.

Rice is predominantly self-pollinating, so commercial rice production does not require hired pollinators or manual pollination. Nevertheless, high temperatures, adverse weather and water stress around flowering can interfere with successful grain formation.

Intercropping and crop rotation

KAU describes green-manure approaches such as:

• Cowpea in suitable dry-seeded, semi-dry rice fields.
• Daincha in suitable wet-seeded rice fields.

For dry-seeded lowland rice, KAU mentions cowpea seed at 12.5 kg per hectare in its concurrent green-manure system. These crops are managed as green manure, not automatically as a second marketable harvest.

ICAR also discusses diversified rice-based cropping systems, including rice followed by other crops where soil, season and water conditions permit.

6. Month-by-Month Rice Farming Calendar

The following is a planning calendar based on KAU’s general Virippu, Mundakan and Puncha periods. It must be adjusted to the specific Keralam region.

Month	Main activities
January	Manage Mundakan harvest where due; maintain Puncha crops and irrigation
February	Maintain summer rice; watch for water stress, pests and grain development
March	Harvest applicable Puncha fields; dry and market produce; plan Virippu
April	Repair bunds; prepare fields and nurseries for the Virippu season
May	Begin suitable Virippu planting; monitor pre-monsoon rainfall and drainage
June	Maintain established crops; monitor monsoon flooding, weeds and pests
July	Manage drainage, nutrients and disease risks in growing first-season crops
August	Monitor grain formation; prepare for harvest where regional crop calendars require it
September	Harvest applicable Virippu crops; begin suitable Mundakan establishment
October	Complete applicable first-crop harvesting and Mundakan planting; begin Kuttanad Puncha preparation where appropriate
November	Manage winter crops, fertiliser and water; monitor pest pressure
December	Harvest early Mundakan crops where mature; begin general Puncha establishment where suitable

Regional reminder: Kuttanad, Kole, high-range, Pokkali and Kaipad farming calendars differ from the general three-season pattern. They should follow their local KAU recommendations rather than this table alone.

7. When and How Much Rice Can Farmers Harvest?

Time to first harvest

Rice is an annual field crop. A successful crop normally gives its first and only grain harvest after reaching maturity.

KAU’s general harvesting guidance states that rice commonly reaches harvest in approximately 4–5 months after planting, although shorter-duration varieties can mature earlier.

For example, KAU Punya is reported to have a duration of about 110 days, while KAU Aadhya is reported at 125–130 days.

These variety durations should be confirmed against the current local sowing and harvesting recommendations.

How to recognise harvest maturity

KAU recommends harvesting when approximately 80–85% of the grains become straw-coloured.

KAU also provides the following guidance:

• Grain moisture near harvesting: approximately 20–25%.
• During dry-season cultivation: harvest approximately 28–35 days after heading.
• During wet-season cultivation: approximately 32–38 days after heading.
• Drain the field ahead of harvest.
• Thresh and winnow the harvested grain.
• Dry grain to approximately 12% moisture for storage.

Source: KAU harvesting guidance [S10].

How much rice can one acre produce?

Yield depends on variety, season, irrigation, pest control, soil fertility, flood damage and harvesting losses.

Keralam’s official 2024–25 statistics provide these examples of district-level reported rice productivity.

District	Reported rice productivity per hectare	Approximate equivalent per acre
Palakkad	3,281 kg	1,328 kg
Thrissur	3,136 kg	1,269 kg
Wayanad	3,207 kg	1,298 kg
Alappuzha	2,776 kg	1,123 kg
Kannur	2,205 kg	892 kg
Kasaragod	2,310 kg	935 kg

Important: These are official statistical figures for rice productivity. The weight of harvested and marketed unmilled paddy is different. Do not use these rice figures directly as saleable paddy weights in a procurement-profit calculation.

The statistics also represent district averages across different growing conditions, not a yield guarantee for an individual field.

Source: Keralam Data Portal, 2024–25 [S1].

Research-station yields versus farm averages

KAU has released improved varieties with published evaluation yields of approximately 5–7 tonnes per hectare for particular varieties.

Those figures demonstrate the potential of the varieties under evaluated conditions. Actual farm performance may be substantially different.

A farmer should record the real harvested weight of paddy, its moisture content, saleable quantity and actual price separately for each season.

Yield per plant and crop lifespan

Unlike coconut, cashew or pepper, yield per individual rice plant is not a useful standard commercial measure. It depends on tillering, panicle formation and the number of seedlings per hill.

Rice is harvested once from an established annual crop. It does not have a mature-tree production phase.

If two or three crops are successfully cultivated on the same land in one year, annual production is the sum of those separate harvests. It must not be assumed that every paddy field can support three crops.

8. Major Pests and Diseases

Rice farming in Keralam can be affected by insects, fungal diseases, bacterial diseases, weather-related stress and nutritional problems.

Common pests

Pest	Warning signs	Safer initial management
Brown planthopper	Yellowing or dried patches, insects at the base of tillers, hopper burn	Monitor plant bases; avoid excessive nitrogen and overcrowding; manage field water appropriately
Yellow stem borer	Dead central shoots or white, empty panicles	Monitor egg masses, use locally suitable tolerant varieties and recommended traps
Leaf folder	Folded leaves with whitish feeding patches	Maintain spacing, monitor larvae and conserve natural enemies
Gall midge	Abnormal tubular or silver-shoot tillers	Monitor incidence, select suitable tolerant varieties
Rice bugs	Damage to developing grains and poor grain filling	Monitor panicles and field margins; use threshold-based management

KAU and ICAR emphasise the importance of crop surveillance and integrated pest management.

For example, older KAU IPM guidance lists 10 brown planthoppers per hill at mid-tillering as an economic threshold. Thresholds differ by crop stage, local natural-enemy populations and advisory updates. A visible insect does not automatically justify spraying.

Common diseases

Rice blast: Watch for spindle-shaped leaf lesions with pale centres and darker margins. Severe infection can damage panicles and reduce grain filling.

Sheath blight: Look for water-soaked or grey-green lesions on lower leaf sheaths. Dense, humid crops can encourage spread.

Bacterial leaf blight: Leaf lesions often begin near the tips or margins and spread. Avoid unnecessary injury to seedlings and excessive nitrogen.

Brown spot: Brown lesions on leaves may indicate disease or be associated with broader crop-health problems. Proper diagnosis is important.

Sheath rot: Lesions develop around the upper sheath enclosing the panicle and may prevent normal panicle emergence.

Integrated pest and disease control

Use these practices before resorting to chemical treatment:

1. Use clean, appropriate seed and locally recommended varieties.
2. Maintain proper spacing.
3. Avoid excessive nitrogen.
4. Keep field bunds and irrigation channels clean.
5. Inspect the crop regularly, particularly at the tillering and panicle stages.
6. Protect spiders, parasitoids and other beneficial organisms.
7. Use recommended trapping and biological-control methods where appropriate.
8. Diagnose the problem before applying any treatment.
9. Use pesticides only when necessary, legally registered for rice and recommended for the diagnosed problem.

Do not reuse an old pesticide list without checking current registration, label restrictions, dose, protective equipment, pre-harvest interval and nearby aquatic-life risks.

Sources: KAU rice pest and disease guides [S11–S14].

9. Weather Risks and Common Farming Mistakes

Heavy rain and flooding

Flooding may wash away seedlings, delay field operations, cause nutrient loss and damage crops near flowering or harvest.

Farmers should maintain functional outlets, watch local warnings and avoid fertilising immediately before severe expected rainfall.

Flood-prone areas may benefit from locally recommended tolerant varieties and adjusted planting dates.

Drought and irrigation failure

Water shortage during establishment, flowering and grain filling may reduce production.

Before planting Puncha rice, confirm that the required irrigation can actually be supplied.

Salinity

Sea-water intrusion can damage ordinary rice varieties.

Pokkali and Kaipad systems use specialised varieties and field management. They should not be treated like ordinary freshwater paddy cultivation.

Excessive fertiliser

Too much nitrogen can produce excessive vegetative growth, contribute to lodging and increase pest or disease risk.

Poor drying and storage

Moist grain may deteriorate, develop fungal problems or lose market quality. Drying and safe storage are essential parts of rice production.

10. How to Harvest, Store and Process Rice

Harvest when the crop has reached suitable grain maturity and weather conditions permit.

After harvest:

1. Thresh the paddy promptly.
2. Separate straw, chaff and foreign matter.
3. Dry the grain on a clean, suitable surface or with an appropriate dryer.
4. Prevent contamination by soil, animals, chemicals and dirty water.
5. Check moisture before storage or sale.
6. Keep storage containers and rooms clean, dry, ventilated and protected from rodents.
7. Maintain batch records showing variety, field, harvest date and weight.

KAU recommends drying rice grain to approximately 12% moisture for storage. Grain kept as seed has additional germination and viability requirements.

Possible value-added products

Rice can be processed into raw rice, parboiled rice, rice flour, puttu powder, pathiri flour, aval and other prepared food products.

Rice bran and straw also have possible economic uses.

However, milled rice should not be priced as if all harvested paddy becomes rice. Milling losses, husk removal, drying losses, transport, packing, branding and labour affect the final return.

Food businesses should obtain applicable registrations and follow food-safety and labelling requirements.

11. How Much Does Rice Farming Cost in Keralam?

Published cultivation costs

The Keralam Directorate of Economics and Statistics published its 2023–24 Cost of Cultivation of Important Crops report on 25 February 2026.

For the winter Mundakan crop, the report gives the following statewide, all-holding-size average costs per hectare.

Expense	Published cost per hectare	Calculated cost per acre
Hired human labour	₹28,409	₹11,497
Machine labour	₹15,852	₹6,415
Seed and seedlings	₹3,868	₹1,565
Farmyard manure and fertilisers	₹9,412	₹3,809
Plant protection	₹2,256	₹913
Land tax and irrigation cess	₹295	₹119
Repairs and maintenance	₹313	₹127
Interest on working capital	₹5,980	₹2,420
Other expenses	₹12,212	₹4,942
Total Cost A, as officially reported	₹78,596	₹31,807

The individual figures in the published report differ from the stated total by ₹1 per hectare due to source-table rounding or transcription. The total above uses the official reported figure.

This is a 2023–24 survey average, not a verified cost quotation for October 2026.

The figures are also not a full economic-cost calculation including the rental value or opportunity cost of land and unpaid family labour. The survey reports additional cost concepts for these.

For comparison, the same survey reports average Cost A per hectare of:

• Virippu: ₹82,488
• Mundakan: ₹78,596
• Puncha: ₹74,874

Costs differ between districts, farm sizes and production systems.

Source: Keralam Directorate of Economics and Statistics [S15].

One-time land establishment costs

A new paddy cultivation project may require additional spending on clearing neglected land, repairing bunds, constructing channels, restoring irrigation, acquiring tools or arranging pumping facilities.

No reliable uniform Keralam-wide one-time cost for these activities was identified in the reviewed sources.

Get local written quotations before including them in a farm budget. Do not automatically treat the historical cultivation-cost average as the full cost of rehabilitating an unused field.

12. Current Paddy Prices and Profit Calculation

Published 2026–27 minimum support prices

The Government of India announced these MSPs for the 2026–27 Kharif Marketing Season:

Paddy grade	MSP per quintal	Equivalent per kg
Common	₹2,441	₹24.41
Grade A	₹2,461	₹24.61

These are government-declared MSPs, not guaranteed prices for every private sale. Procurement depends on applicable registration, quality standards and purchasing arrangements.

Keralam’s Governor’s Address dated 20 January 2026 referred to an announced enhanced procurement rate of ₹30 per kilogram and procurement reforms intended for 2026–27. Farmers should confirm the applicable State incentive, operational procurement rate and payment conditions with Supplyco before selling.

Keralam’s official market-price data also show that paddy quotations vary by variety and market. A retail rice price must never be mistaken for a farm-gate paddy price.

Sources: Government of India MSP [S16]; Keralam Governor’s Address [S17]; Keralam Economics and Statistics price data [S18].

Example: One-acre rice farming profit or loss

The following is a transparent calculation, not a published Keralam farm-profit forecast.

Assumptions

• Area: 1 acre
• Crop: One conventional Mundakan season
• Saleable paddy: hypothetical 1,500 kg
• Operating-cost baseline: ₹31,807 per acre, calculated from the 2023–24 published Mundakan Cost A
• Selling price scenarios: ₹24.41/kg and ₹30/kg
• No separate straw income
• No subsidy included
• No additional 2026 cost escalation or land-rent adjustment

Item	At ₹24.41/kg	At ₹30/kg
Saleable paddy	1,500 kg	1,500 kg
Gross paddy revenue	₹36,615	₹45,000
Historical Cost A baseline	₹31,807	₹31,807
Illustrative surplus	₹4,808	₹13,193

This surplus is not final net profit. It excludes additional land-related costs, any unpriced own labour, possible new establishment expenditure and inflation since the survey period.

The ₹30 scenario is conditional on the farmer actually receiving that price.

What happens if yield changes?

Using the same historical cost baseline:

Paddy yield per acre	Surplus/loss at ₹24.41/kg	Surplus/loss at ₹30/kg
1,000 kg	−₹7,397	−₹1,807
1,500 kg	+₹4,808	+₹13,193
2,000 kg	+₹17,013	+₹28,193

These are mathematical sensitivity scenarios, not research yield forecasts.

If the historical cost baseline were 20% higher, the illustrative cost would rise to approximately ₹38,168. At 1,500 kg saleable paddy and ₹24.41/kg, the farm would then show an illustrative loss of approximately ₹1,553 before additional excluded costs.

This demonstrates why farmers should obtain actual seasonal cost quotations and not rely on a single expected profit figure.

13. Where Can Farmers Sell Paddy?

Government procurement

Keralam’s paddy procurement mechanism operates through Supplyco for registered farmers, subject to applicable procurement rules and quality requirements.

Farmers should check registration procedures, procurement dates, variety classification, accepted quality, weighing arrangements, payment method and the current notified price.

Paddy procurement portal: http://www.supplycopaddy.in/

Private and cooperative buyers

Other channels may include local rice mills, farmer cooperatives, Farmer Producer Organisations, specialty rice buyers and direct consumer marketing.

Farmers producing traditional red rice, Pokkali, Kaipad or other specialty varieties may explore identity-preserved marketing, but any price premium needs to be verified with a buyer before planting.

A branded rice business involves more than cultivation. Milling recovery, packaging, food-safety compliance, transport, storage and customer acquisition must all be costed.

14. Government Support and Insurance

Keralam provides several forms of support to eligible paddy farmers.

The Keralam State Planning Board’s Keralam Development Report 2026, Table 13.2, documents the following assistance categories and rates provided through local government initiatives.

Support component	Rate reported in the 2026 report
Sustainable rice development	₹5,500 per hectare
Royalty to paddy landowners	₹3,000 per hectare
Cultivation of fallow paddy land	₹40,000 per hectare
Promotion of specialty rice	₹10,000 per hectare
Rice micronutrient foliar application	₹2,000 per hectare
Operational support for Padasekhara Samithis	₹360 per hectare, subject to the reported scheme ceiling

These figures describe assistance in the published report. They are not confirmation that every rate remains open for new applications in every panchayat in October 2026.

Current availability depends on the financial year’s orders, local government projects, farmer eligibility, budget allocation and scheme rules.

Crop insurance

Keralam operates a State Crop Insurance system, and notified crops and areas may have access to relevant central or weather-based crop insurance arrangements.

Farmers should register before the relevant deadline and check the actual policy coverage and exclusions.

How to apply or enquire

1. Contact the local Krishi Bhavan.
2. Register land and crop details through the relevant Agriculture Department system.
3. Check whether the intended benefit applies to owners, tenants, registered cultivators or farmer groups.
4. Confirm the current subsidy amount and application deadline.
5. Keep cultivation, purchase, payment and damage records.
6. For crop damage, report it promptly through the prescribed process.

Official farmer services: https://ashraya.kerala.gov.in/

AIMS and farmer registration information: Available through the Agriculture Department services linked from Ashraya.

Sources: Keralam Development Report 2026 [S19]; Keralam Agriculture services [S20]; crop insurance services [S21].

15. Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can rice be cultivated throughout Keralam?

Yes. Rice is cultivated in all 14 districts, but suitable land, season, variety, drainage and irrigation determine success. Ordinary wetlands, high-range terraces and saline coastal fields require different farming practices.

2. Which is the best rice variety for Keralam?

There is no single best variety for the whole state. Jyothi, Jaya, Uma and Matta Triveni are among the varieties recommended for suitable wetland situations. Pokkali, Kaipad and high-range fields need their own locally suitable selections.

3. How many rice crops can be grown in one year?

Keralam has three recognised general seasons: Virippu, Mundakan and Puncha. Some farms can cultivate more than one crop per year, but this depends on irrigation, flood patterns, crop duration and local farming systems.

4. How many kilograms of rice will one acre produce?

There is no single dependable figure. Keralam’s 2024–25 district-level reported rice productivity ranged substantially between districts. The farmer should also distinguish statistical rice production from the weight of unmilled paddy harvested and sold. Actual yield must be estimated from local field records and variety performance.

5. Is rice farming profitable in Keralam?

It can be, but the outcome depends heavily on labour, machinery, yield, water management, selling price and support available to the farmer. The official cultivation-cost survey shows meaningful regional and seasonal cost differences. A farmer should prepare a field-specific budget before planting.

16. Farmer’s Checklist

Before planting

• Confirm the field is suitable for rice cultivation.
• Identify the correct local growing season.
• Check irrigation, flooding and drainage.
• Conduct a soil test.
• Select a locally recommended rice variety.
• Obtain quality seed from a reliable source.
• Confirm labour and machinery arrangements.
• Check current procurement and market conditions.
• Enquire about applicable assistance and crop insurance.

During cultivation

• Use the recommended seed rate and planting spacing.
• Maintain suitable water levels.
• Apply nutrients according to soil testing and KAU guidance.
• Monitor weeds, pests and diseases.
• Avoid unnecessary pesticide applications.
• Record labour, fertiliser, irrigation and other expenses.
• Monitor weather warnings and crop growth.

Before and after harvest

• Check grain maturity.
• Arrange harvesting and threshing facilities.
• Dry and store grain safely.
• Record harvested and saleable paddy weights separately.
• Check the actual selling price and deductions.
• Complete applicable procurement records.
• Calculate the realised income and full costs.
• Record lessons for the next season.

17. Verified Sources and Further Reading

All sources below were checked for this guide on 31 October 2026. Publication and dataset dates differ from the checking date.

[S1] Government of Keralam — Keralam Data Portal
District-wise and season-wise rice cultivation statistics, 2024–25; dataset updated 4 February 2026.

[S2] ICAR-National Rice Research Institute
Eco-regional-based Rice Farming for Enhancing Productivity, Profitability and Sustainability, Research Bulletin 22, February 2020.

[S3] Keralam Agricultural University — Climate and Soil

[S4] Keralam Agricultural University — Rice Varieties

[S5] Keralam Agricultural University — Varieties Released

[S6] Keralam Agricultural University — Seed Rate, Spacing and Nursery

[S7] Keralam Agricultural University — Land Preparation and Planting

[S8] Keralam Agricultural University — Water Management

[S9] Keralam Agricultural University — Manuring

[S10] Keralam Agricultural University — Harvesting

[S11] KAU — Brown Planthopper

[S12] KAU — Rice Blast

[S13] KAU — Sheath Blight

[S14] KAU — Rice Pest Identification

[S15] Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Keralam
Report on Cost of Cultivation of Important Crops in Keralam 2023–24, published 25 February 2026.

[S16] Government of India — Minimum Support Price for Paddy
2026–27 marketing-season rates.

[S17] Government of Keralam — Governor’s Address, 20 January 2026
State procurement-rate announcement and reform plans.

[S18] Keralam Department of Economics and Statistics — Market Prices

[S19] Keralam State Planning Board — Keralam Development Report 2026
Table 13.2, page 134, local-government assistance for paddy cultivation.

[S20] Keralam Agriculture Department — Ashraya Farmer Services

[S21] Government of Keralam — State Crop Insurance Policy

Additional authoritative references

Keralam GI Products — Pokkali Rice:

Keralam GI Products — Kaipad Rice:

ICAR — Keralam Agricultural Overview:

Important note for farmers

The information in this guide combines published agricultural recommendations, official statistics and clearly identified calculations. Cultivation methods, input requirements, prices and financial assistance vary by location and season.

Farmers should confirm critical field decisions with their Krishi Bhavan, Keralam Agricultural University or the nearest appropriate agricultural extension office before making significant expenditure or applying crop-protection products.