Agriculture in Kerala is distinct due to its focus on cash crops over food crops. The state is the largest producer of natural rubber in India, accounting for over 90% of the national output. Other major agricultural products include coconuts, tea, coffee, and a wide array of spices like pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
Rice is the staple food crop, predominantly cultivated in the Palakkad plains and the unique below-sea-level fields of Kuttanad. The state also heavily relies on its fisheries sector, with extensive marine fishing along the Arabian Sea coast and inland aquaculture in its backwaters. Forestry also plays a role, with commercially valuable species like teak, rosewood, and bamboo sourced from the Western Ghats.