At a glance
Iritty Block Panchayat is located in the hilly region of Kannur district, between the catchment areas of the Valapattanam River and Anjarakandy River, along with their numerous tributaries. The area contains 32 watersheds and consists of both midland and highland terrains, with elevations ranging from 13 to 300 meters above sea level.
The block has significant forest cover, particularly in Ayyankunnu and Aralam Panchayats. A substantial portion of Aralam Farm has been designated as a tribal rehabilitation area. Based on topography, the region can be classified into hilltops, steep slopes, moderate slopes, valleys, and plains. The soil types include gravelly soil, sandy soil, laterite soil, black soil, red soil, and hard rock formations, most of which are fertile and suitable for agriculture.
Agriculture is a major livelihood in the region, with rubber, coconut, and cashew being the principal crops. Pepper, arecanut, banana, yam, tapioca, ginger, turmeric, and vegetables are also cultivated as intercrops. However, farmers' interest in traditional crops such as coconut, arecanut, pepper, and rubber has declined due to economic challenges, particularly the fall in rubber prices. The area under paddy cultivation is also decreasing.
The Valapattanam River, the region’s main river, originates in the Brahmagiri Reserve Forest in Karnataka and flows about 110 km before joining the Arabian Sea. The Pazhassi Irrigation Project, one of the major irrigation schemes in Kannur district, is located on this river, and efforts are underway to develop it into a hydropower project.
Although the region receives abundant rainfall and was once characterized by a balanced ecosystem, environmental degradation has become a growing concern. Extensive hill cutting, land reclamation, quarrying of granite and laterite, and excessive sand mining have adversely affected groundwater resources and disrupted the ecological balance of the area.