• Investment World
• eWorld
• Catalyst
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest

Stocks

• Quotes
• SE Diary
• Scoreboard
• Open-End Mutual Fund

Cross Currency

• Rates
  
  

Shipping

• Ports
  
  

Archives

• Yesterday
• Datewise
• Resources

Group Sites

• The Hindu
• Business Line
• Sportstar
• Frontline
• The Hindu eBooks
• The Hindu Images

Our Bureau

KOZHIKODE and Malappuram districts in the north provided the only exception to a refreshingly welcome trend as summer rains continued to pour it down `in excess' in Kerala during the week-ended March 31.

The Agromet Advisory issued by the Met Office, Thiruvananthapuram, said Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kannur, Kasaragod, Kollam, Kottayam, Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Wayanad returned `excess' rain figures, while Pathanamthitta had `normal' rain. Overall recorded rainfall for the month of March is as follows:

Excess: Idukki, Kannur, Kottayam, Palakkad and Wayanad.

Normal: Alappuzha, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Thrissur.

Deficient: Ernakulam, Kasaragod and Thiruvananthapuram.

Scanty: Kozhikode and Malappuram.

Chief amounts of rainfall in cm are (March 29 to 31):

March 29: Thodupuzha - 5, Idukki and Parambikkulam - 4 each, Cochin International Airport - 3, Aluva, Punalur and Kanjirappally - 2 each and Munnar, Hosdurg and Mananthavady - 1 each.

March 30: Konni - 8, Chittur - 5, Idukki, Mannarkad, Pattambi and Kannara - 4 each, Vadakkancherry - 3, Peermade - 2, Thodupuzha, Munnar, Punalur, Kanjirappally, Alathur and Mananthavady - 1 each. March 31: Thodupuzha - 4, Kodungallur - 3, Aluva, Cochin International Airport and Kanjirappally - 2 each, and Piravom, Chalakkudy and Ambalavayal - 1 each.

Mean maximum temperature varied between 33 deg C and 35 deg C in various districts. The highest maximum of 36.4 deg C was recorded at Vellanikkara on March 31. The maximum was 3 deg C above normal in Ernakulam the same day.

Mean minimum temperature varied between 22 deg C and 26 deg C, with the lowest minimum of 21.4 deg C being recorded at Alappuzha on March 30. The minimum temperature there was 4 deg C below normal.

Mean relative humidity varied between 63 per cent and 76 per cent, mean cloud coverage between 4 okta and 6 okta and mean wind speed, 2 kmph and 10 kmph.

Forecast valid until April 3 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 paddy crop is in the panicle initiation stages and weeding and fertiliser application have been completed. Pulses and vegetables (summer crop) are in the flowering stage. New planting of tapioca and banana are apace. Planting of `live standards' has also commenced with the recording of summer showers.

Application of lime has been started for coconut and arecanut crops. Pits are being dug for new rubber plants. Land preparation and new planting have begun for ginger and turmeric.

Advisory for 4 days: Control measures have been recommended against pests in the respective crops indicated against as follows - stem borer and blast (rice), black-headed caterpillar and red palm weevil (coconut), thrips and `Katte' disease (cardamom) and aphids and fruit flies (vegetables).

In severe cases, spraying with Quinalphos at 1.5 ml/litre has been recommended in the case of attack of stem borer and blast disease in rice. Affected leaves of coconut due to attack from black headed caterpillar should be cut and burnt down.

Carbaryl 50 per cent at 20 gm/litre of water should be poured down using a funnel in the case of red palm weevil attack. New planting can be continued in banana, tapioca, vegetables, ginger and turmeric.

More Stories on : Climate & Weather | Kerala

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Commodity exchanges to work with AMFI to draw norms for mutual fund products

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line