eng Enviro Research Publishers Current Agriculture Research Journal 2347-4688 2321-9971 2026-01-10 13 3 1004 1015 26264 article Treesa Siby 1 Anupa Jacob 1 Department of Economics, St. Teresa’s College (Autonomous), Ernakulam, Kerala, India This study investigated the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of the highland exodus in Kerala, focusing on second- and third-generation Syrian Christian farming communities in Kozhikode district of Kerala, India. A major driving force behind the return migration—especially from Malabar back to Travancore and Kottayam regions were the sharp decline in agricultural prices, rising threats from animal attacks, pest and fungal outbreaks, and unpredictable weather conditions. Through primary surveys and regression analysis, the study examined income decline, generational occupational shifts, and human-wildlife conflict. It highlighted   the need for integrated policy interventions to sustain highland agrarian livelihoods and address the challenges faced by communities anticipating exodus. https://www.agriculturejournal.org/volume13number3/agrarian-exodus-reverse-migration-and-rural-livelihoods-in-highlands-of-kerala-india/ Agriculture decline; Highland Exodus; Human-Wildlife Conflict; Land-use pattern; Migration Dynamics