Agriculture defines the physical and cultural landscape of Lalam. Natural rubber is the undisputed premier cash crop, covering the vast majority of the arable slopes.
Beyond rubber, farmers cultivate a mixed-crop system typical of Kerala homesteads. This includes coconut palms, black pepper, nutmeg, tapioca, plantains, and jackfruit. While rice cultivation was historically significant in the low-lying wetlands, much of this land has been converted to other cash crops or residential plots over the last few decades due to economic pressures and labor shortages.