Chenkal
Grama Panchayat

Located adjacent to the Neyyar River and the National Highway, this panchayat has a diverse topography. The highest eastern boundary of the panchayat is Ponvila. Rubber, tapioca and coconut are cultivated in this area, which suffers from severe water scarcity. The same type of farming system is not practiced in all parts of the panchayat. The soil composition is almost uniform. The soil types found in different parts of the panchayat can be classified as gravelly soil, clayey loamy soil, white sandy soil, alluvial soil, black soil and sandy soil. The Neyyar River flows in the western part of the panchayat. All the main streams of the panchayat fall into the Neyyar. The surface water source of Chenkal panchayat is a combination of 62 ponds and nine major streams of the Neyyar. Chenkal panchayat is generally an agricultural village. Statistics indicate that more than 60% of the people of this panchayat are engaged in agriculture. The flat fields, fertile soil, and adequate water from the Neyyar and Vandichirathotud rivers enrich the agricultural sector. Although rice is the main crop in this panchayat, which is located near the Neyyar, coconut, cassava, banana, vegetables, betel leaves, and pulses, tubers, and sesame are also cultivated well as intercrops. Rice cultivation is now on the verge of decline. The areas of Vlathankara, Thrikannapuram, Maryapuram, Kudumbamottukonam, Arayur, Vaniyankala, and Kuzhichani are famous for vegetable cultivation. This is a panchayat that mainly depends on rain-fed agriculture.