The Hindu Business Line : Excess rain in Ernakulam, Malappuram and Wayanad districts

ERNAKULAM, Malappuram and Wayanad districts have recorded "excess" rain during the first 12 days of the New Year, while Alappuzha received "normal" precipitation. It was "deficient" in Idukki and Pathanamthitta and "scanty" in Kottayam. The rest of the districts received no rain during the period.

According to the Agromet Bulletin dated January 13 brought out by the Met Office, Thiruvananthapuram, the mean minimum temperature varied between 19°C and 22°C in various districts. Kottayam recorded the lowest minimum of 17.9°C on January 10. The minimum was three degrees below normal in Kollam the same day.

Mean relative humidity varied between 59 per cent and 76 per cent, mean cloud coverage between one okta and five okta and mean wind speed, two kmph and 10 kmph.

Forecast valid until the morning of January 15 spoke about mainly dry weather for all districts. Outlook for the two subsequent days did not indicate any significant change.

Meanwhile, the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) has started putting out five-day weather forecasts from its New Delhi base. Its bulletin dated January 13 has forecast that fair weather conditions over central India and the north peninsula is likely to continue during the next four days. The weather is likely to be mainly dry over rest regions of the country during the period.

Stage and state of crops: The Mundakan paddy crop is in the flowering to dough stage. Water management operations continued to hold. Late planted crop and the medium duration varieties are in the boot leaf stage. Nursery preparation and sowing for the Puncha, the third summer paddy crop, has begun in areas with irrigation facilities. The main plant protection measures are focussed on the rice bug menace.

In rubber, tapping has been stopped due to winter leaf fall in most of the areas. Monthly top dressing and intercultural operations are in progress in banana, tapioca and vegetables. New planting continued in tapioca and seasonal vegetables in areas with irrigation facilities.

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