Why does Keralam import food despite its productive agriculture?

Although Keralam has a productive agricultural sector, the state must import food for local consumption because a significant portion of its cultivated land is dedicated to commercial plantings.1

These cash crops, which include rubber, coffee, tea, cardamom, cashew nut, coconut, ginger, and pepper, are highly valuable and earn a substantial amount of foreign exchange for the state's economy. While Keralam does produce food crops such as rice, sorghum, and tapioca, the prioritization of these profitable commercial plantations on more than half of the total cultivated land necessitates the importation of additional food supplies.1