The Hindu Business Line : `Mundakan' harvesting under way

HARVESTING has begun in the early-planted Mundakan paddy fields in the State, according to the Agromet Advisory dated February 9 issued by the Thiruvananthapuram Met Office.

In the Kuttanad areas, the crop is nearing the `dough stage' of earhead development. Plant protection operations are in progress in regions where a bout of rice bug attack has been reported.

Processing of pepper and other spice crops is continuing. Planting of summer vegetable crops and tubers has been commenced with. Banana, tapioca and vegetables have reached various stages of growth. New planting and harvesting operations are also apace.

Advisory for 3 days: Land preparation can be started in those paddy fields where harvesting operations have been completed and sowing of pulses, sesamum and vegetables, taken up.

The rice bug attack can be brought under control by spraying Mercaptothion at 2 ml/litre of water. In coconut, an episode of stem bleeding can be expected. In case of actual infestation, the decayed portions should be carefully cleaned using a chisel and smeared with hot tar.

In vegetables and sugarcane, the ongoing intercultural operations, top dressing and irrigation can be continued.

Summary of weather: Mainly dry weather prevailed over the State during the four-day period ending February 8. No rain of any recordable significance was reported from anywhere in the State.

The mean minimum temperature varied between 22 deg C and 25 deg C in various districts. The lowest minimum of 20.9 deg C was recorded at the Cochin International Airport on February 5.

Mean relative humidity ranged between 55 per cent and 79 per cent, mean cloud coverage between 1 okta and 5 okta and mean wind speed, 2 kmph and 10 kmph.

Forecast valid until February 11 spoke about isolated rain/thundershowers, which are likely to be spread over all districts. Outlook for the two subsequent days did not indicate any significant change.

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