The Hindu Business Line : Sporadic rains in Kerala

THE cyclonic circulation to the south of Sri Lanka continued to bring rain at a few places in the State on January 30 and at isolated places on the three preceding days.

According to the Agromet advisory dated January 31 issued by the Met Office, Thiruvananthapuram, chief amounts of rainfall in cm are (January 27 to 30):

January 28: Kollam and Idukki - 2 each; Kochi Airport and Devikolam - 1 each.

January 29: Alappuzha - 3; Punalur - 1.

January 30: Kochi Airport - 7; Vadakkancherry - 4; Karipur Airport and Thalassery - 3 each; Kozhikode, Punalur, Kunnamkulam and Vadakara - 2 each; and Aluva and Koilandy - 1 each.

Mean minimum temperature varied between 21°C and 24°C in various districts. Kottayam recorded the lowest minimum of 20.0°C on January 28.

Mean relative humidity varied between 66 per cent and 85 per cent in various districts, mean cloud coverage between three okta and seven okta and mean wind speed, two kmph and 8 kmph.

Forecast valid until the morning of February 2 spoke about the possibility of rain in all districts. Outlook for the two subsequent days did not indicate any significant change.

Stage and state of crops: The `Mundakan' paddy is in the harvesting stage. Late-planted crop and the medium duration varieties are in the boot leaf to dough stages. Nursery preparation and sowing for Puncha, the third summer paddy crop, has begun in all places with irrigation facilities.

Intercultural operations, plant protection measures and shading of young plants are progressing in coconut gardens, pepper, arecanut, nutmeg and cardamom. Harvesting and processing operations are being taken up simultaneously in some cases. Rubber tapping has been stopped due to winter leaf fall in most plantations.

Farm advisory: Paddy fields should be drained off water at least 10 days prior to harvesting. The fields should also be watched for sheath blight and sheath rot disease in the flowering stage, in the Puncha nurseries and also in the direct-sown fields.

Spraying against mite attack in coconuts should be continued with. Plant protection measures should be taken against red palm weevil.

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

New planting can be continued in banana, tapioca and seasonal vegetables in areas with assured irrigation sources. Based on leaf fall intensity, rubber tapping may be temporarily withheld. However, tapping may be resumed in intervals of three days.

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