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Farmers in the State have been advised against irrigating crops using canal waters that connect to the sea.

This has been necessitated by the intrusion of seawater into the irrigational canals that connect to the sea brought about by the tsunami wave that struck parts of the coastline last week.

The farm advisory contained in the Agromet Bulletin dated January 3, the Met Office, Thiruvananthapuram, said farmers should ideally contact the Krishi Bhavans for local level advisories. They should also attend meetings of the `padasekharam samithies'.

Intrusion of seawater into the irrigation canals following the tsunami wave had not receded fully making irrigation impossible in the coastal areas.

The late planted `Mundakan' paddy crop can do with the routine weeding operations, judicious water management after checking the salinity of irrigation waters and a second top dressing.

Paddy fields should also be closely watched for sheath blight and rot disease in the `boot leaves' stage.

Control measures should be initiated to prevent the attack of plant hoppers and rice bug. Massive/community spraying of coconut trees should be taken up to prevent mite infestation. This will work against the incidence of coried bug attack as well.

Plant protection measures should be adopted against red palm weevil, coried bug, leaf-rot and stem bleeding. Coconut gardens and other garden land crops should be irrigated at least once in 10-14 days depending upon crop, soil and water availability.

Control measures against tea mosquitoes in cashew may be continued in consultation with the local Krishi Bhavans. New planting can be continued in banana, tapioca and seasonal vegetables with assured irrigation source. In rubber, based on the leaf fall intensity, tapping may be temporarily withheld. Nursery operations for the `Puncha' paddy crop, arecanut, coconut and pepper may be started with.

Stage and state of crops: The `Mundakan' crop is in the flowering stage. Water management and the final weeding operations are still being persisted with. Late planted crop and the medium duration varieties are in the `late panicle initiation' to `boot leaf' stage. Plant protection measures against rice bug and sheath blight disease are progressing. Massive spraying operations are progressing in coconut against the Eriophid mite attack.

In rubber, winter leaf fall has resulted in stopping of rubber tapping in most of the areas. Monthly top dressing is progressing in banana, tapioca and vegetables. New planting is proceeding apace in tapioca and seasonal vegetables in areas with irrigation facilities.

Summary of weather: The northeast monsoon was weak over Kerala on January 1. Rain occurred at isolated places on January 1 and 2.

Chief amounts of rainfall in mm are (from December 30, 2004, to January 2, 2005): January 1: Piravom - 5.3; Mavelikkara - 5.2; Thiruvalla - 5.0

January 2: Perumbavoor - 40.0; Cherthala - 14.0; Manjeri - 13.0; Aluva - 4.4

Mean minimum temperature varied between 21°C and 24°C in various districts. The lowest minimum of 17.9°C was recorded at the Cochin International Airport on December 30, 2004. Mean relative humidity varied between 65 per cent and 78 per cent, mean cloud coverage between 3 okta and 6 okta and mean wind speed, 2 kmph and 8 kmph.

Forecast valid until the morning of January 5 spoke about rain/thundershowers at isolated places in all districts. Outlook did not indicate any significant change.

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