Mannarkkad (also known as Mannarghat) is a small town in Palakkad district of Kerala state, south India. Silent Valley (a tropical evergreen rain forest with an unbroken evolutionary history of 50 million years) is only 66 km from Mannarkkad. A rough population estimate is 150,000+. Mannarkkad has an agri-based economy. Main agriculture produce consists of natural rubber, coconut, areca nut, banana, plantain, nutmeg, pepper and rice. Due to inordinate use of chemicals, the natural ecosystem was adversely affected. But over a decade of control, has revived many almost extinct natural species of reptile, butter flies, fresh water fish and other organisms. 70%-80% of the agri-income is earned by 20%-25% of the population. Of the rest, 10% are into trading and the remaining 65% of the total population are below or slightly above the poverty line. The town has, for ages, attracted immigrants from all over and is an amazing community of people who speak multiple languages including...
