The Hindu Business Line : 12 districts in Kerala record `excess' rain

WITHDRAWAL of the northeast monsoon from the State in late January saw a revival in rain activity with 12 out of 14 districts recording `excess' rain during the 15-day period ended February 9.

Only Pathanamthitta (`deficient') and Thiruvananthapuram (`scanty') districts recorded trends that varied, according to the Agromet Bulletin issued by the Met Office, Thiruvananthapuram.

Season's rainfall (February 1 to 9):

Excess: Ernakulam, Idukki, Kannur, Kasaragod, Kollam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur and Wayanad.

Normal: Alappuzha and Kottayam

Deficient: Pathanamthitta

Scanty: Thiruvananthapuram

Chief amounts of rainfall in mm are (February 7 to 9):

February 7: Piravom - 5.2; and Cherthala - 0.5

Mean minimum temperature varied between 20°C and 24°C in various districts, with Kottayam recording the lowest 19°C on February 9. Mean relative humidity varied between 55 per cent and 71 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 February 12 spoke about mainly dry weather over the entire State. Outlook for the two subsequent days did not indicate any significant change.

State and stage of crops: Harvesting is progressing in the Mundakan paddy. The late-planted crop and medium duration varieties are in the dough to maturity stages. Nursery preparation and sowing for the Puncha, the third summer crop, is nearing completion in all areas with irrigation facility.

Massive spraying operation against the attack of Eriophid mite in coconut is continuing. Intercultural operation, plant protection measures and shading of young plants are in progress in pepper, arecanut, nutmeg and cardamom.

Raising of rooted pepper cuttings has started in pepper. Rubber tapping continues to be affected due to winter leaf fall. Monthly top dressing and intercultural operations are in progress in banana, tapioca and vegetables. New planting is on in tapioca and seasonal vegetables in areas with irrigation facilities.

Farm advisory: Paddy fields should be closely watched for sheath blight and sheath rot disease in the flowering stage, in the Puncha nursery and the direct sown fields. Control measures should be adopted against plant hoppers.

Coconut and other garden land crops should be irrigated atleast once in every 10-14 days depending on crop soil and water availability. A third round of control measures should be taken against tea mosquitoes in cashew plantations but in consultation with local Krishi Bhavans only.

New planting can be continued in banana, tapioca and seasonal vegetables in areas with assured irrigation source. New planting (if gap filling is required), weeding and fertiliser application may be carried out in rubber.

Nursery preparation for Puncha, coconut, arecanut and pepper and sowing for Puncha may also be continued with.

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