The Hindu Business Line : Monsoon withdraws in Kerala

Mr M. D. Ramachandran, Director, Met Office, told Business Line that the `end' was called after confirming that the northeast wind flow had receded completely. Last year, the northeast monsoon had ended by January 7.

The season was extended this year by a strong cyclonic circulation to the south of Sri Lanka, which dumped heavy rain on the island close on the heels of the devastating tsunami.

Kerala also had managed to get some rain so long as the system was in circulation, Mr Ramachandran said.

As if on cue, the seasonal weather system signed off by triggering light to moderate rain in some parts of the State. According to the Agromet Bulletin dated January 27 issued by the Met Office, rainfall for the week ending January 26 returned the following figures for various districts:

Excess: Kottayam and Wayanad.

Normal: Alappuzha.

Deficient: Ernakulam, Idukki and Kollam.

No rain: Kannur, Kasaragod, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta, Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur.

As for the season, Wayanad alone recorded `excess' rain. It was `deficient' in Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Malappuram and Pathanamthitta; `scanty' in Idukki and Kollam. There was no rain in the rest six districts.

Chief amounts of rainfall in cm are (January 24 to 26):

January 24: Ambalavayal and Kanjirappalli - 2 each; Mancompu - 1.

January 25: Perumbavur - 1. Mean minimum temperature varied between 21°C and 25°C with Kottayam recording the lowest minimum of 21.0°C on January 26.

Mean relative humidity varied between 65 per cent and 79 per cent, mean cloud coverage between one okta and five okta and mean wind speed, two kmph and 12 kmph.

Forecast valid until the morning of January 29 spoke about the possibility of rain/thundershowers at isolated places in the districts of Thrissur, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Thiruvananthapuram districts. Mainly dry weather will prevail in the remaining districts of the State.

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

Stage and state of crops: `Mundakan' paddy crop is in the harvesting stage. The late planted crop and medium duration varieties are in the boot leaf to dough stage.

Nursery preparation and sowing for `Puncha', the third summer crop, has begun in all areas with irrigation facilities. The main plant protection operation is against rice bug. Rubber tapping has been stopped due to winter leaf fall in most areas.

Farm advisory: Water should be drained off from paddy fields at least 10 days prior to harvest. The fields should be closely watched for sheath blight and rot disease in the boot leaf/flowering stage and also in the `Puncha' nursery and direct sown fields.

Coconut and other garden land crops should be irrigated at least once in 10-14 days depending on crop, soil and water availability.

In cashew, control measures against tea mosquitoes can be continued in consultation with the local Krishi Bhavans.

Based on lead fall intensity, tapping of rubber can be resumed once in every three days or so.

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