In every state in India land is reportedly put to use under various classifications. The barren and uncultivable category of land is always put to non-agricultural use. In Kerala, land is classified mostly as wetland and dry land. Wetland is again classified as fertile land and as mangroves. Dry land is classified as cultivable land and uncultivable rocky terrain.

The state of Kerala thus possesses more productive land than in any other state in India. However, out of the total land area under agriculture nearly half of it comes under forests. About one fourth of the net agricultural land is the net sown area. The remaining agricultural lands are being used as pastures, wastelands, currently left fallow and other fallow lands.

After the late eighties, there was a significant shift in the land use pattern. Due to the increase in urbanization, lands of all types were converted for real estate developments. Such a diversion was first witnessed in a mass way in Cochin. The business capital of Kerala was always a frontrunner in many aspects since very earlier times. It is also now heralding newer developments in business development.

Due to the increasing pressure on land, real estate values have already gone over the roof in Kochi. Buying land in the up market areas of the city is now beyond the reach of the common man. Thus in the case of proliferation of Apartments Kochi is now way ahead of other cities and towns in Kerala. In the aspect of pricing of apartments also, this city is following a different pattern. Apartments in Kochi now cost very similar to that in the leading metros.