The Hindu Business Line : Summer rains return for varied spells in Kerala

Summer showers shifted gears to emerge out of a lull and pour it down selectively at many places in Kerala on April 22, a few places on the 24th and at isolated places on the 23rd and the 25th.

According to the Agromet Advisory dated April 26 and issued by the Met Office, Thiruvananthapuram, the chief amounts of rainfall in cm are:

April 22: Kunnamkulam - 5, Kannara - 4, Enamackel, Vadakkancherry, Mananthavady and Vythiri - 3 each; Alathur, Mannarkad, Ambalavayal, Vadakara, Kanjirappally and Thodpuzha - 2 each.

April 23: Thiruvananthapuram City and Munnar - 4 each; Thiruvananthapuram Airport and Thodupuzha - 1 each.

April 24: Mancompu and Ottappalam - 5 each; Kozhikode, Piravom and Konni - 4 each; Manjeri, Mannarkad, Thiruvalla and Thrissur - 1 each.

April 25: Aryankavu - 2.

Mean maximum temperature on the four days ending April 25 varied between 33 deg C and 35 deg C in various districts. The highest maximum of 36.4 deg C was recorded at Cochin International Airport on April 25. The maximum temperature was four deg C above normal on the 25th and three deg C above normal on the 22nd and the 23rd in Ernakulam district.

Mean relative humidity varied between 65 deg C and 80 deg C, mean cloud coverage between five okta and seven okta and mean wind speed, two kmph and 12 kmph.

Forecast until April 28 spoke about rain/thundershowers at a few places in all districts. The outlook for the two subsequent days did not indicate any significant change.

State and stage of crops: Harvesting of the `Puncha' paddy crop is in progress. Pulses and vegetables raised in rice fallows are in the fruit ripening stage. New planting of ginger, turmeric, banana and tapioca are apace. Pineapple saw weeding operations and measures for protecting the developing fruits from the sun being undertaken.

In rubber, digging of pits for new planting continued. Stock seedlings are being budded for production of new planting material while standing rubber plantations saw weeding operations being initiated. Harvesting and processing of clove, nutmeg and cocoa are in progress. Harvesting is in progress in cashew, mango and jack as well.

Advisory for 3 days: Land preparation can be continued for raising the `Virippu' paddy crop nurseries wherever water is available. In banana, depending on the stage of crop, new plantings, intercultural operations, top dressing and harvesting may be undertaken. New planting can be continued in ginger and turmeric as well. After planting of rhizomes, pits should be packed with a mixture of cow dung and loose soil and covered with green leaves. In cardamom, clumps showing symptoms of the `Katte' disease should be uprooted and destroyed. Sugar traps, containing a dash of pesticide, may be hung in `pandals' to repel fruits flies in cucurbits. Developing fruits should be covered with bags made of polythene, cloth or paper.

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