The Hindu Business Line : Excess rains in 3 dists

HYDEL power capital Idukki (+50 per cent) and the drought-hit Wayanad (+12 per cent) and Kottayam (+84 per cent) were the three districts that recorded excess rainfall while Pathanamthitta (+4 per cent), with its share of hydel stations, totted up a normal rainfall during the month of March.

Overall, the month saw the State record less than normal rainfall (2.9 cm against 3.8 cm) , according to Mr M. D. Ramachandran, Director, Met Office, Thiruvananthapuram. Kannur, Kasaragod, Kozhikode and Malappuram did not record any rain at all.

The season's (March 1 to 30) rainfall as put out by the Agromet Bulletin dated March 31 and issued by the Met Office is as follows:

Excess: Idukki, Kottayam and Wayanad

Normal: Pathanamthitta

Deficient: Alappuzha, Kollam, Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram

Scanty: Ernakulam and Thrissur

Chief amounts of rainfall in mm are:

March 28: Thiruvalla - 5.6; Nedumangad - 4.8; Thiruvananthapuram Airport - 3.0; and Kanjirappally - 2.8

March 29: Kanjirappally - 40.2; Thodupuzha - 29.0; Kuppady - 15.6; and Ambalavayal - 15.2

March 30: Kanjirappally - 3.8

Mean maximum temperature varied between 33°C and 35°C in various district with Punalur recording the highest maximum of 36.2°C on March 28. Mean minimum temperature varied between 23°C and 28°C, with Punalur recording the lowest minimum of 22.8°C on March 28.

Mean relative humidity varied between 66 per cent and 79 per cent in various districts, mean cloud coverage between four okta and seven okta and mean wind speed, two kmph and 10 kmph.

Forecast valid until the morning of April 2 spoke about the possibility of rain/thundershowers at isolated places in all districts in the State.

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

Stage and state of crops: Harvesting in the late-planted and medium duration crop varieties in Mundakan paddy is continuing. Puncha, the third summer crop, is in the panicle initiation stage. Irrigation and plant protection measures are the main operations now on in this crop.

Massive spraying operation is still being continued in coconut to check the attack of Eriophid mite. Intercultural operations, plant protection measures and shading of young plants along with harvesting and processing are being carried out in coconut and arecanut. Raising of the rooted pepper cutting is also being practiced.

Rubber tapping has been hampered in most areas due to winter leaf fall. Monthly top dressing and intercultural operations are in progress in banana, tapioca and vegetables. Harvesting has begun in cashew.

Farm advisory: Paddy fields should be watched for leaf folder and rice thrips. The Puncha crop must be irrigated at least once in six days in all areas where moisture stress is noted. The massive spraying of coconut should be continued with.

Plant protection measures should be adopted against brown plant hopper. Required quantity of fertiliser may be applied in the panicle initiation stage. Plant protection measures should be readied against red palm weevil attack. Stem bleeding is likely to be reported from some areas.

Coconuts and all other garden land crops must be irrigated in all possible areas at least once in 10-14 days depending on crop, soil and water availability.

Control measures should be adopted for stem borer attack in cashew.

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