The Hindu Business Line : Sowing for third paddy crop begins in Kerala

NURSERY preparation and sowing for Puncha, the third summary paddy crop has begun in all areas with irrigation facilities in the State, says the Agromet Bulletin dated January 20 by the Met Office, Thiruvananthapuram.

The Mundakan crop has reached the dough to harvesting stage. The late planted crop and the medium duration varieties are in the boot leaf to dough stage. The main plant protection operation now on is against rice bug.

Massive spraying operation against widespread attack of Eriophid mite in coconut is also continuing. Intercultural operations, plant protection measures and shading of young plants are on in coconut gardens, pepper, arecanut, nutmeg, cardamom, turmeric and ginger. In some cases, harvesting and processing operations are being simultaneously undertaken. Rubber tapping has been stopped due to winter leaf fall in most of the planted areas. Monthly top dressing and intercultural operations are in progress in banana, tapioca and vegetables. New planting is being continued in tapioca and seasonal vegetables wherever irrigation facility is available.

Forecast valid until the morning of January 22 spoke about mainly dry weather in all districts.

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

Farm advisory: This was the first time after the tsunami disaster that the Agromet Bulletin did not carry the tsunami advisory warning farmers not to undertake irrigation of their paddy fields from canals that open out into the sea. Instead, the bulletin merely said water may be drained off at least 10 days prior to harvest. But the fields should be watched for sheath blight and rot disease in the boot leaves stage, in the Puncha nursery as also in direct sown fields.

The massive/community spraying against mite attack in coconut must be persisted with. This will also help reduce the incidence of coried bug attack also. Plant protection measures against red palm weevil must be ensured. Coconut and other garden land crops must be irrigated at least once in every 10-14 days depending on crop, soil and water availability.

Control measures against tea mosquito infestation can be undertaken in consultation with the local Krishi Bhavan.

New planting can be continued in banana, tapioca and seasonal vegetables in areas with assured irrigation source.

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