The Hindu Business Line : Rains in north Kerala, at last

THE Agromet Advisory for the week ending March 24 says summer showers continue to be restricted to the south of Kerala but latest reports reaching here said the northern districts have, in fact, started receiving summer rains, bringing much relief to some of the worst drought-affected areas in the State.

During the 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on March 25, Kannur in the north received a solid 8-cm spell, while Thodupuzha in Idukki received 7 cm. The other chief amounts of rainfall for the day are Punalur (Kollam) - 5 cm, Alappuzha and Varkala - 4 cm each and Kottayam - 3 cm. More such episodes have been forecast for the next 24 hours as well.

Widespread rains have also been reported from other places in the parched north such as Kasaragod, Azhikode and Pallikkunnu (Kannur) and Kanhangad, Pilicode, Padanna and Cheruvathur (Kasaragod) also.

On the other hand, Met Office statistics said rainfall for the week ending March 24 was `excess' in Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts, `deficient' in Alappuzha, and `scanty' in Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram. No rain was reported from Ernakulam, Idukki, Kannur, Kasaragod, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur and Wayanad during the week.

The season's rainfall from March 1 was `excess' in Pathanamthitta and `normal' in Kottayam. The rest of the districts recorded either `scanty' or no rain.

Chief amounts of rainfall from March 22 to 24 are (in cm):

March 24: Konni - 6, Chengannur and Kanjirappally - 2 each and Mancompu - 1.

Mean maximum temperature varied between 33 deg C and 36 deg C in various districts. The highest minimum of 36.6 deg C was recorded at Kannur on March 23. The maximum was 3 deg C above normal in Ernakulam the same day.

Mean minimum temperature varied between 23 deg C and 28 deg C, with the lowest minimum of 23.2 deg C being recorded at Punalur on March 23.

Mean relative humidity varied between 63 per cent and 77 per cent, mean cloud coverage between 3 okta and 6 okta and mean wind speeds, 4 kmph and 10 kmph.

Forecast valid until March 27 spoke about rain or thundershowers at a few places in all districts. Outlook for the two subsequent days did not indicate any significant change.

State and stage of crops: The `Puncha' paddy is in the maximum tillering stage. Weeding, top dressing and plant protection operations are in progress. Pulses and vegetables in rice fallows are in the vegetative stage.

In coconut gardens, seednut collection and storage are apace while selection and sowing of nuts are on in arecanut. Fruit trees are in the fruit developing stage. Tapping of rubber is progressing while harvesting operations are in tapioca, cashew and pineapple.

Advisory for four days: Leaf roller infestation has been indicated in paddy. If pest population exceeds the threshold level, spraying of Quinalphos at 1.5 ml/litre has been recommended. Rooted pepper cuttings can be prepared from selected runners of mother vines for purposes of multiplication. Irrigation may be continued with in all crops wherever possible.

Plant protection measures can be initiated against thrips in cardamom, stem borer in cashew, coreid bug in coconut and aphids and pod borers in pulses. In severe cases of coreid bug attack in coconut, spraying of wettable sulphur at 4 gm/litre of water may be resorted to.