The Hindu Business Line : Northern dists bear the drought brunt in Kerala

THE northern districts hit hardest by the drought are still waiting to get the first few showers as the summer rains continue to reveal a pronounced southern bias, as per the Agromet Advisory dated March 18 issued by the Met Office, Thiruvananthapuram.

During the week ending March 17, `excess' rain was recorded in Kottayam district only, while it was `deficient' in Idukki and Kollam, `scanty' in Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta and Thiruvananthapuram. The entire northern belt comprising Kannur, Kasaragod, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur and Wayanad got absolutely no rain.

The seasonal (March 1 to 17) rainfall pattern returned even bleaker figures with even Kottayam recording `deficient' rain. The rest of the southern districts experienced `scanty' rain while none of the northern districts had any rain at all.

Chief amounts of rainfall are (in cm): March 15: Konni - 1

March 16: Kollam - 2, Punalur and Thiruvananthapuram - 1 each.

Mean maximum temperature varied between 33 deg C and 39 deg C in various districts, with Vellanikkara (Thrissur) recording the highest of 39.4 deg C on March 16. Mean minimum temperature varied between 23 deg C and 27 deg C, with Punalur recording the lowest minimum of 22 deg C at Punalur on March 16.

Mean relative humidity varied between 61 per cent and 77 per cent, mean cloud coverage between 2 okta and 6 okta and mean wind speeds, 2 kmph and 10 kmph.

Forecast until March 20 spoke about rain or thundershowers in isolated places in the districts of Thrissur, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram. Mainly dry weather will prevail in the remaining districts.

Outlook for the two subsequent days did not indicate any significant change.

State and stage of crops: The `Puncha' paddy crop is in the early tillering stage. Irrigation and mulching continue in coconut gardens.

Mulching with dry leaves, coconut husk and crop waste are increasingly being resorted in almost all crops in order that they survive the heat of the summer.

Young plants are being provided with shading. New planting is being taken up in banana, tubers, vegetables and tapioca. Rubber tapping is apace.

Crop forecast: Paddy crop should be watched for pests and diseases. Weeding and top dressing can be continued. In coconut, irrigation, if once started, should be continued with, since any interruption can lead to reduced yields. Collection and storage of seed nuts can be practised.

Crowns of palms should be cleaned and rhinoceros beetle, if any, hooked out and destroyed.

Tapping of rubber and shading of young plants can be persisted with. Processing of clove and nutmeg can be continued.

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