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DRY weather prevailed over the State during the four days ending February 13, says the Agromet bulletin issued by the Met Office, Thiruvananthapuram.

Hardly any measurable amount of rain was reported from any part of the State.

Mean minimum temperature varied between 19 °C and 23°C with Kottayam recording the lowest of 17°C on February 13. Mean relative humidity varied between 43 per cent and 73 per cent in various districts, mean cloud coverage between one okta and five okta and mean wind speed, two kmph and 10 kmph.

Forecast valid until the morning of February 16 spoke about mainly dry weather in all districts. Outlook for the subsequent two days did not indicate any significant change.

Stage and state of crops: Harvesting of the Mundakan paddy is going on. The late planted crop and medium duration varieties are in the dough to maturity stage. Nursery preparation and sowing for Puncha, the third paddy crop, has been completed in all areas with irrigation facilities.

In coconut, massive spraying operation against Eriophid mite attack is still being carried out. Intercultural operations, plant protection measures and shading of young plants are in progress along with harvesting in coconut, arecanut, nutmeg and cardamom.

In pepper, turmeric and ginger, harvesting is almost over. Raising of rooted pepper cuttings has started. Rubber tapping has been stopped due to winter leaf fall in most areas. Monthly top dressing and intercultural operations are in progress in banana, tapioca and vegetables. New planting is being continued with in tapioca and seasonal vegetables in areas with irrigation facilities.

Farm advisory for three days: Paddy fields should be closely watched for sheath blight and sheath rot disease in the flowering stage in the Puncha nurseries as well as the direct sown fields. Control measures should be initiated against brown plant hoppers.

Land preparation can be started in the paddy fields where harvesting is over, for sowing pulses, sesamum and vegetables. Spraying against mite attack in coconut should continue.

Plant protection measures against red palm weevil should also be kept up. In case of stem bleeding, the affected tissues must be chiselled out and the wound painted with Tridemorph five per cent.

Coconut and other garden lands should be irrigated once in 10-14 days depending on crop, soil and availability of water. A third round of control measured can be initiated in cashew against tea mosquito in consultation with local Krishi Bhavans.

New planting can be continued in banana, tapioca and seasonal vegetables in areas with assured irrigation source. Based on leaf fall intensity, tapping of rubber can be temporarily withheld.

However, tapping can be continued/resumed in intervals of three days. New planting (if gap filling is required), weeding and fertiliser application can be carried out in rubber. Nursery preparation for coconut, arecanut and pepper may be continued with.

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Kerala: Dry weather prevails

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