The Hindu Business Line : Wayanad and Kasaragode top monsoon deficit charts

WAYANAD (-35 per cent) and Kasaragode (-33 per cent) topped the district-wise monsoon deficit charts at the end of the 2004 season as Kerala once again ended up on the wrong side of normal (-22 per cent) in June-September precipitation.

However, the scenario is reversed if cumulative rainfall for the period from January 1 to September 30 this year, according to statistics provided by the Met Office, Thiruvananthapuram. A bountiful pre-monsoon from March to June ensured that the deficit during the June-September period is more or less made good.

Giving month-wise statistics, the Met Office said the State received on an average normal rainfall in June with Kannur and Idukki districts receiving excess rainfall. It was normal in the remaining districts except Alappuzha, Kasaragode and Kottayam where it was deficient.

In July, usually the wettest of the monsoon months, the State as a whole received deficient rainfall, with Thiruvananthapuram district alone recording a normal. Of the rest, 11 districts recorded deficient rainfall while two others - Kozhikode and Wayanad - returned `scanty' figures. The July statistics mirrored the conditions obtaining in the larger national context when monsoon failed the rest of the country as well.

August `normal': In August, the State was subjected to some good showers, helping it post the `normal' for the month on an average. Ten districts recorded normal rainfall while four - Kollam, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Thiruvananthapuram - totted up deficient figures.

In September, the State received deficient rainfall with Idukki, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode and Pathanamthitta districts posting the `normal' while Thiruvananthapuram recorded `excess'. The remaining seven received deficient rainfall while Kasaragode was the only one to return scanty figures.

To sum up, the State as a whole received deficient rainfall during the June-September season. Kannur, Idukki, Kollam, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta and Thiruvananthapuram received normal rainfall for the season while the remaining eight ended up with deficient rainfall.

Agro Met Bulletin: Meanwhile, the Agro Met Bulletin dated October 4 and issued by the Thiruvananthapuram Met Office said the southwest monsoon was vigorous over the State on October 3 and weak on September 30 and October 1 and 2. (The Bulletin did not include figures for October 4, when Thrissur was pounded to 42 cm of rain in 24 hours).

Highest rainfall during the four-day ending October 3 was recorded in Kochi (19.1 cm on October 3). Punalur recorded the highest maximum temperature of 32.8 degree Celsius on October 1 while Alappuzha recorded the lowest minimum temperature (19.9 deg Celsius) on October 2.

State and stage of crops: Harvesting is reaching the final stages for the `Virippu' rice crop. The `Mundakan' crop is in the transplanting stage, but it may be proceeded with only two weeks after the application of organic manure.

Land preparation, sowing and transplanting can continue. In coconut and arecanut, weeding, fertiliser and green manure application can continue. Fertiliser application is best avoided in times of heavy rainfall.

In rubber, tapping of mature trees can proceed, as can weeding and fertiliser application. Pepper has reached the berry developing stage and a bout of attack from `wilt' and `Pollu' disease has been indicated. Bordeaux mixture at one per cent may be sprayed for controlling the same.

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