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ACTIVE `troughs' of low pressure on either side of the southern peninsula have resulted in some great spells of welcome rain for Kerala and Tamil Nadu in what is considered as a bonus wet weather during the heights of a summer.

According to the Agromet Bulletin dated April 7 and issued by the Met Office, Thiruvananthapuram, all districts in the State recorded `excess' rain during the week ending April 6, the first such instance in the three months subsequent to the withdrawal from the mainland of the northeast monsoon.

The week's bountiful rainfall also helped turn around the seasonal (March 1 to April 6) rainfall statistics with as many as 12 districts totting up `excess' or `normal' rainfall figures. Only two - Malappuram and Kasaragod - fell under the `deficient' or `scanty' categories.

Chief amounts of rainfall in cm are (April 4 to April 6):

April 4: Piravom - 11; Kumarakom and Pattambi - 9 each; Thrithala - 8; Chengannur, Kollam, Varkala and Kunnamkulam - 6 each; Mavelikara, Thiruvalla and Vythiri - five each; and Mancompu, Koilandy, Mannarkad, Ottapalam and Kodungallur - four each.

April 5: Nedumangad - 15; Thiruvananthapuram City - 14; Thiruvananthapuram Airport - 12; Neyyattinkara - 9; Alappuzha, Kayamkulam and Mancompu - eight each; Peermade and Varkala - seven each; Haripad and Thiruvalla - six each and Paravur, Kollam and Kanjirappally - five each.

April 6: Kollam - five; Koilandy and Vythiri - three each.

Mean maximum temperature varied between 31°C and 33°C in various districts with Alappuzha recording the highest of 34.6°C on April 6. Mean relative humidity varied between 73 per cent and 90 per cent, mean cloud coverage between five okta and eight okta and mean wind speed, two kmph and six kmph.

Forecast valid until the morning of April 5 spoke about the possibility of rain/thundershowers at many places in all districts. Outlook for the two subsequent days did not indicate any significant change.

Stage and state of crops: Harvesting in late-plated crop and medium duration varieties in Mundakan paddy may be stopped with in view of the ongoing spell of rain across the State. Puncha, the third summer crop, is in the boot leaf stage. Plant protection is the main operation in Puncha.

Massive spraying operation in coconut also has been stopped given the wet weather conditions. Intercultural opera- tions and plant protection measures along with harvesting and processing operations are in progress in coconut gardens and arecanut. Raising of rooted pepper cuttings is going on. The monthly top dressing and intercultural operations are in progress in banana as well as in tapioca. Harvesting is apace in cashew.

Farm advisory: Paddy fields should be watched for leaf folder and stem borer attack. Control measures should be adopted against brown plant hopper. Massive spraying operations in coconut against Eriophid mite can be suspended if rain intervenes.

Stem bleeding is likely to occur in some areas. Control measures should be initiated against stem borer attack in cashew. Rubber tapping can be carried out in intervals of three days. New planting (in case if gap filling is required) and weeding may be carried out in rubber.

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