Industries

Due to its rural and ecologically sensitive nature, large-scale heavy industry is absent. The local economy is driven by: * **Pilgrimage Tourism:** Hospitality, guesthouses, local transport, and religious retail catering to visitors of St. Alphonsa's shrine. * **Agriculture & Processing:** Small-scale rubber processing (latex collection, smokehouses for ribbed smoked sheets) and spice trading. * **Retail & Commerce:** Local markets providing daily goods, construction materials, and agricultural supplies. * **Banking & Finance:** A surprisingly high density of banks and financial institutions to manage agricultural loans and NRI remittances.