Industries
The growth Kottayam has achieved in the industrial sector during the past few years, is considerable. Now there are 11 large and medium small scale industries, 12 mini industrial estates and 12000 small scale industrial units. 

Significant growth has been achieved in the agro based industrial sector. The increasing output in Rubber Production and the advent of modern processing techniques, has resulted in the establishment of Rubber based industrial units like Latex, Crepe Rubber and Latex diversifying into items such as M.C. Sheets, footwear, etc. There is a major industrial estate for Rubber and Plastics at Changanassery. The Travancore Cement factory, which manufactures the unique white cement, is located at Nattakom, not far from the town. 

The district has a rich forest wealth with good availability of soft wood and other varieties of timber. As a result many industries like plywood, packing cases, splints and veneers, furniture,..etc are thriving. The Hindustan Paper Corporation has set up a factory at Velloor in Vaikom Taluk, for the production of News Print . The coir industry in Kottayam district is more or less confined to Vaikom Taluk. 

Agriculture
Agriculture forms the livelihood of the majority in the district. It is also the main factor influencing the economy. Food crops as well as cash crops are cultivated here. 

Paddy field Paddy and Tapioca are the main food crops while Rubber, Coconut and Pepper are the main cash crops. Annual crops like Plantain and Pineapple, Seasonal crops like Ginger, Tubers, Vegetables and a wide range of perennial crops like jack, Mango,.. etc are also grown.

Paddy is the most important food crop. The area under paddy cultivation is 36392 hectares. An average of 2325 kg/ha paddy is produced. Next to paddy, is tapioca. It is cultivated in 11620 hectares and 267260 tons of tapioca is produced per annum. Now its improved varieties are popular among the farmers. 

Rubber Cultivation Rubber is the major cash crop. It is grown in 1.07 lakh hectares; the largest area under Rubber cultivation in the state and its production is going up gradually. Here 105198metric tons of Rubber is produced per annum. Meenachil taluk of this district has maximum area under Rubber cultivation. A big Rubber centre, Kottayam has been chosen as the headquarters of the Indian Rubber Board. 

Coconut, another important, cash crop, has a total area of 46012 hectares under cultivation. Production is being raised by adopting modern farming methods, enhancing irrigation facilities and distributing quality seedlings. 

Other Crops
Pepper, Tea, Coffee, Ginger, Arecanut, Pulses, Plantains, Pineapple, Sugarcane, Cocoa,.. etc are also cultivated in this district. The area under cultivation in hectares, is as below. (average production kg./ha. is in brackets) Pepper 10546 (1910) /Mango 2442, Banana 2370 Plantain 3251 cashew 1011 vegetables 11620, Fruits 11272 (3500). There are 74 Krishi Bhavans under the Dept. Of Agriculture in the district.

Animal Husbandry
The main species of livestock in the district are cows, buffaloes, goats and pigs. Majority of the cattle still found in the district are Rangayam, Hallikyr and cross breeds of Jersey, Sindhi and Swiss Brown. Following the introduction of the artificial insemination schemes and intensive cattle development projects of the Animal Husbandry Department, there is a fairly large number of cross-bred Jersey and Swiss Brown animals here. Two other breeds found here are Murrah and Surabhi.

The goat population consists of Kalabari, a few cross breeds of Jamanapari and the local breeds. Fowls, Ducks, Turkey,.. etc form the poultry.

There are 11 veterinary hospitals, 4 veterinary polyclinics 43 dispensaries and 3 mobile farm aid units in this district. 69 artificial insemination centres, one poultry farm and two pig breeding units are also functioning here.

Fisheries
Deprived of a sea coast, but abundant in lakes & rivers, inland fishing flourishes here, providing livelihood to around 5000 families. To popularise inland fishing, various programmes are being implemented for giving assistance to fish growers. Fingerlings of new varieties of fish like Catla, Rohu, etc. Are distributed to the farmers according to the suitability of their ponds. Farmers are also given Government subsidy.