ABSTRACT
Empirical research depends on assumptions made and on the applied theoretical frameworks and viewpoints. In turn, empirical data may call into question the assumptions and hypotheses of particular theories. Sustainable development has already been defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. This concept, however, requires proper operationalization to become useful for empirical research. The empirical research has confirmed that particular farming practices often correlate with the socioeconomic position of a farmer's household. However, the conventional farmer classifications that are based on a few particular aspects of the household's socioeconomic position did not provide adequate categories. The empirical research breaks into two parts: a macro-level appraisal of development, environmental and agricultural change, socioeconomic and technical-material factors for farming in Kerala; and two case studies on the cultivation and marketing of particular crops in selected localities.
