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RAINFALL statistics up to August 18 reveal that nine out of the 14 districts have recorded `normal' rainfall in the ongoing southwest monsoon while the rest received `deficient' precipitation.

According to the Agromet bulletin dated August 19 issued by the Thiruvananthapuram Met Office, Ernakulam, Kasaragod, Kottayam, Kozhikode and Wayanad fell under the `deficient rainfall' category. Of these, Kasaragod, Kozhikode and Wayanad were among those which had bore the brunt of the drought during the immediate preceding summer.

Chief amounts of rainfall in cm are (Aug 16 to Aug 18):

Aug 16: Kochi Airport - five; Hosdurg - four; Alappuzha, Haripad, Kayamkulam, Chengannur, Thodupuzha and Kottayam - three each; and Mavelikara, Cherthala, Munnar, Idukki, Thalassery, Kollam, Kozhikode, Vadakara, Koilandy, Ponnani, Karipur Airport, Pattambi, Thiruvalla, Varkala, Kodungallur, Enamackel, Mananthavady and Kuppady- two each.

Aug 17: Alappuzha, Chengannur, Munnar, Kannur and Hosdurg - two each.

Aug 18: Alappuzha, Cherthala, Mancompu, Piravom and Thiruvalla - two each.

Mean relative humidity varied between 67 per cent and 93 per cent in various districts, mean cloud coverage between five okta and eight okta and mean wind speed, two kmph and 10 kmph.

Forecast valid until the morning of August 21 spoke about the possibility of rain at many places in all districts.

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

State and stage of crops: The `Virippu' paddy crop is in the `milky' stage of panicle development. Preparation of nurseries and sowing of the `Mundakan' crop are also in progress. In vegetables, betel vines and tubers, land preparation and new planting continue. Weeding and top dressing operations are on in coconut, arecanut, rubber, banana, spices, tubers and vegetables.

Ginger and turmeric, too, are witnessing weeding, top dressing and a second round of mulching with green leaves and wastes gather pace. In cardamom, new plantings and planting of shade trees are progressing.

In the case of existing plantations, weeding is in progress where the crop is ready for harvest.

Farm advisory: Instances of severe infestation of rice bug in paddy would necessitate spraying of Mercoptothion at two ml/litre of water. Spraying of one per cent Bordeaux mixture must be continued to control leaf rot and `mahali' in coconut, `pollu' and wilt in pepper, `azhukal' and capsule rot on cardamom and fungal diseases in spices.

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