The Hindu Business Line : Excess summer rain in north Kerala

A latter-day surge has helped the northern districts, which had to bear the brunt of this year's harsh summer in the early stages, turn in a pleasant surprise by recording `excess' summer showers for the season beginning March 1 in Kerala.

According to the Agromet Advisory dated April 15 issued by the Met Office, Thiruvananthapuram, Kannur, Kasaragod and Wayanad districts recorded `excess rain', while Idukki, Kollam, Kottayam, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur recorded `normal' rain and Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Malappuram `deficient' rain during the season up till now (March 1 - April 14).

The week ending April 14 saw Thiruvananthapuram and Wayanad districts recording `excess' rain, Kasaragod, Kollam and Kottayam `normal', Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta `deficient' and Ernakulam, Idukki, Kannur, Malappuram, Palakkad and Thrissur `scanty'. Kozhikode recorded no rain during the week.

Chief amounts of rainfall in cm are:

April 12: Alappuzha and Kottayam - 3 each; Mancompu - 2 and Cherthala, Aluva, Punalur, Kanjirappally, Manjeri, Neyyattinkara, Varkala and Enamackel - 1 each.

April 13: Konni-3, Munnar, Kanjirappally, Nedumanagad and Varkala - 2 each; Alappuzha, Cherthala, Mancompu and Piravom - 1 each.

April 14: Piravom - 4, Punalur and Thiruvananthapuram City - 2 each and Kollam - 1.

Mean maximum temperature varied between 33 deg Celsius and 36 deg C in various districts with Vellanikkara recording the highest maximum of 36.8 deg C on April 12. The maximum temperature was 3 deg C above normal in Ernakulam on three days from April 12.

Mean relative humidity varied between 62 per cent and 81 per cent, mean cloud coverage between 2 okta and 8 okta and mean wind speed, 2 kmph and 8 kmph. Forecast valid until April 17 spoke about rain/thundershowers at isolated places in all districts. Outlook for the two subsequent days indicated no significant change.

State and stage of crops: The `Puncha' paddy crop is in the harvest stage. Pulses and vegetables standing in rice fallows have reached the flowering to fruit setting stages. New plantings continued in ginger, turmeric, banana and tapioca. In pineapple, weeding and `sun protection' for developing fruits are being undertaken. In rubber, pits are being taken for new plantings. Harvesting and processing of clove, nutmeg and cocoa are in progress.

Farm advisory: Land preparation for raising the `Virippu' crop nurseries may be continued.

Depending on the stage of the crop, new planting, intercultural operations, top dressing and harvesting may be taken up in banana. As for pulses and vegetables, spraying of diluted tobacco decoction may be resorted to in order to control aphids, mites and other sucking insects.

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