Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Tuesday, Dec 07, 2004
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Tuesday, Dec 07, 2004 |
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Agri-Biz & Commodities
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Climate & Weather Monsoon tentative; dry spell continues in Kerala Our Bureau
THE northeast monsoon made a tentative return to circulation resulting in feeble rain activity at isolated places in the southern districts in the State during the four-day period ending December 5. Otherwise, dry weather prevailed for the most parts, with meteorologists not able to predict the timing of the next spell of rain. But they seemed to concur on the view that the reverse monsoon would last till the end of the month. The Agromet Bulletin dated December 6 issued by the Met Office, Thiruvananthapuram, said that the northeast monsoon was weak over the State on December 3. Rain had occurred at isolated places on December 3 and 4. Largely dry weather prevailed on December 2 and 5. Chief amounts of rainfall in cm are (December 2 to 5): Dec 4: Thiruvananthapuram City - 2; Thiruvananthapuram Airport, Nedumangad and Neyyattinkara - 1 each. Mean minimum temperature varied between 21 deg C and 24 deg C in various districts with Kottayam and Kannur recording the lowest minimum of 20.5 deg C on December 2. Mean relative humidity varied between 59 per cent and 82 per cent in various districts, mean cloud coverage between 1 okta and 5 okta and mean wind speed, 2 kmph and 8 kmph. Forecast until December 8 spoke about mainly dry weather in all districts. Outlook for the two subsequent days did not indicate any significant change. Stage and state of crops: The `Mundakan' paddy crop has reached the panicle initiation stage; weeding operations for the second top dressing are in the finishing stage. Intercultural operations are on in coconut garden, rubber, pepper, arecanut and cardamom while a second dose of fertiliser application, plant protection measures and shading of young plants are also being taken up along with harvest. Wintertime leaf fall has resulted in the stoppage of rubber tapping in some estates. Monthly top dressing is progressing in banana as also in tapioca. Pepper berries have reached the maturing stage and harvest has begun. Turmeric and ginger too have witnessed the beginning of harvesting operations. Cashew and fruit trees are in the flushing stage and are flowering. New planting operations are on in banana, tapioca and seasonal vegetables. Nutmeg has reached the harvesting stage. Intercultural operations are also on in respect of all these crops. Farm advisory: Weeding, water management and a second top dressing for `Mundakan' can be continued with. Paddy fields should be closely watched for pest attack and diseases. Control measures should be adopted against leaf rollers, stem borers and plant hoppers. Care should be taken to see that no pesticide other than Malathion or dichlorovos is used in fields where panicles have emerged. In coconut, leaf rot and stem bleeding are likely to continue. Spray 1 per cent Bordeaux mixture or apply Bordeaux paste to control the disease. While harvesting coconut, the rhinoceros beetle should be hooked out using a beetle hock. Plant protection measures should be adopted against possible red palm weevil attack. One per cent Bordeaux mixture should be sprayed to control `mahali' in arecanut, leaf spot and die back in clove and fruit rot in nutmeg. In ginger, vanilla, cashew, banana, tapioca and seasonal vegetables, the advisory issued during the past three weeks will continue to hold.
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