Paddy 
The important crop at the low land area is paddy. Usually hybrid seeds are cultivated. The total area under cultivation is 24695 hectares.


The area besides the Meenachil and Vembanad rivers are below the sea level and forms part of the Kuttanad belt. The paddy fields at Pallom, Ettumanoor, Kaduthuruthy, etc. are known as "upper" Kuttanad. 

Rubber
The area under rubber is estimated to be 107647 ha, which is about 60% of the cropped area. Kottayam accounts for 25% of the entire rubber plantation in the country. The agro-climatic conditions in the district is best suited for rubber plantation. 

The entire district, barring a few villages in the low land region, lying close to Vembanad lake, is found to be suitable for rubber cultivation. One of the factor for the promotion of rubber in the district is the location of Rubber Board Head quarters and Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII). It is the only agriculture crop which provides an assured and steady income to the farmer. 

Coconut
Coconut is the second important crop being cultivated in 41531 ha in the district. The area under coconut had been recording a steady decline over the last two decades. The area shrinked from 51,115 ha in 1981-82 to 41,531 ha in 1993-94. The cultivation of coconut is mainly confined to three taluks viz. Vaikom, Kottayam and Changanassery, comprising the low lands and midlands is being replaced by rubber. 

Pepper 
Pepper is also an important crop in the district. The crop is mostly found in the mid and high land portions of the district, taken as intercrop. Pure crop plantations are not very common in the district. Being an important export commodity, the pepper has a prime place in the economy. But the highly fluctuating prices and the "Quick wilt" disease has discouraged the farmers from the expansion of the crop leading to its decline from 12,868 ha in 1981 to 8,783 ha in 1994.

Cocoa
Cocoa is cultivated in 2,827 ha in the district. The area under crop had been dwindling due to the high demand of rubber plantation among farmers. However, the crop is still found to be a viable inter crop among coconut and arecanut gardens. As farmers are now getting better prices for cocoa, it is likely to pick up in future, especially in low lying areas.

Pineapple
Pineapple is another horticulture that is popular in the district. The present area under pineapple is estimated to be around 783 ha. The crop is both taken as pure crop and mixed crop. The crop is recommended for inter cropping in the young rubber plantations. It is also possible to take the crop in the boundaries of other crop provided sufficient sunlight is available 

Spice crops like nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, ginger, etc. are also cultivated in small areas. Most of these crops are taken as mixed crop among the existing plantation of coconut, arecanut, etc. The Spices Board with its field office at Kanjirappally had been promoting cardamom plantation in two taluks viz. Meenachil and Kanjirapally. It is reported that an area of about 205 ha has been already brought under cardamom cultivation in Meenachil taluk. Similarly, Vanilla cultivation is also encouraged by the Spices Board. 

The important floriculture crops which are grown commercially are anthurium, orchid and bush jasmine. All the three are recent introduction but promises to be a major economic activity on the district. 

The floriculturists Federation of India has taken a lead in promoting anthurium and orchid in the district. The Kottayam floriculturists Society has already been affiliated to the Federation and jointly they are planning to set up an integrated cold chain for the preservation and transport of flowers. The Floriculturists societies at Pala, Kanjirapally and Changanassery also provide the necessary encouragement for the development of floriculture in the district. 

Sericulture is another activity which include cultivation of mulberry plants, rearing of silk worms and reeling of cocoons. Sericulture activity was initially co-ordinated by the KVIB. But the success was limited mainly due to the difficulties faced by the farmers in marketing the cocoons at remunerative price. The establishments of a cocoon-collection centre at Pattanakkad in the neighbouring Alappuzha district has improved the situation. The establishment of Kerala State Sericulture Co-operative Federation Ltd (SERIFED), with offices at all districts including Kottayam, is likely to improve the position. The Federation is procuring cocoons at remunerative prices from the farmers. It provides training and give subsidy support for various activities.

Kottayam is one of the leading districts in the production of vegetables. The areas adjoing Kurupanthara, Kaduthuruthi, Vaikom and Changanassery are considered to be the major centers of vegetables cultivation even from ancient time.

The vegetable cultivation is mostly taken by small and marginal farmers. There are a large number of cultivators who are engaged in vegetable cultivation on the leased lands. Being a short term activity the need for investment credit is limited. 

Other plantation/horticulture activities include cultivation of banana, betel vine, mushroom, medicinal plants, raising of nurseries, etc.

Banana 
It occupies an area of 2128 ha. The financial requirements for this crop is of short term in nature, which is provided by the banks as production credit. The plantains other than banana occupies about 3758 Ha and most of which are not in the form of commercial cultivation, but as mixed crop among other crops.

Betel vine
It is a minor crop occupying about 40 Ha only. Commercial cultivating of betel vine is not very common in the district.

Mushroom
It is an innovative activity promoted in the recent years. The Rubber Board and Regional Agriculture research Station (RARS) at Kumarakorn are the two agencies in the district which are promoting this activity. It is likely to become a commercial venture in future.

Medicinal Plants 
There is potential to grow a variety of medicinal plants such as Sarpagandhi, Sadavari, Kacholam, etc. The District Horticulture Project committee, with the support of Vaghbhatacharya Institute of Ayurvedic medicines has been promoting cultivation of these crops in the district. The crops can be cultivated as inter crop also. Recently the Nagarjuna Research Foundation has come forward to supply the planting material of different medicinal plants, at controlled rates. These efforts may likely result in more investment in medicinal plants.

Raising of nurseries 
This is another commercial activity that can be taken up under plantation/horticulture. Raising quality seedlings of agriculture/horticulture crops including ornamental plants is a profitable venture, which could be attempted as self employment.

Apiculture
Rearing of honey bee is also a popular activity in the district. It can be commercially taken in rubber plantations.

Tea
It is a minor crop, as far as Kottayam is concerned. The crop is mainly confined to the Teekoy and Poonjar areas of Erattupetta block and Koottiokal areas of Kanjirapally block. The total area under Tea is estimated to be about 2036 Ha. The tea gardens are mostly owned by corporate bodies.