The Hindu Business Line : Kannur district joins `deficient rain' list

THE current lean phase of the northeast monsoon that extended through the week ending November 26 saw Kannur joining Kozhikode in the list of districts recording `deficient' rainfall during the two-month-long season beginning October 1.

The list would add another northern district, Kasaragod, pretty soon, according to Mr M.D. Ramachandran, Director, Met Office, Thiruvananthapuram. But this was not wholly unexpected since northern parts of the State did not normally receive much rain during the northeast monsoon season that lasts till the end of December.

The position had been more or less comfortable in the southern districts, which house most of the State's hydel power generation centres. Especially so in Thiruvananthapuram, where `excess' rain was recorded up till now. It may be recalled that the southwest monsoon had left the capital city high and dry for a second consecutive season this year.

According to Mr Ramachandran, development of overnight cyclonic storm circulation, a typical condition associated with northeast monsoon season, could alter the rainfall scenario overnight. So all was not lost with regard to achievable precipitation levels during the `reverse monsoon' of 2003.

Trend in rainfall: Thiruvananthapuram apart, Idukki and Kottayam districts recorded `excess' rainfall during the first two months of the season, while Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kasaragod, Kollam, Malappuram, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta, Thrissur and Wayanad had `normal' rainfall.

However, rainfall for the week ending November 26 was not worth writing home about, with all 14 districts recording either 'scanty' (Alappuzha, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram) or no rain (Ernakulam, Idukki, Kannur, Kasaragod, Kollam, Kottayam, Malappuram, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta, Thrissur and Wayanad). Kochi Airport recorded 00.1 mm of rain on November 24 as per the latest Agromet Advisory Bulletin dated November 27 issued by the Met Office, Thiruvananthapuram.

Mean minimum temperature during the three days ending November 26 varied between 20 deg C and 24 deg C in various districts. The lowest minimum temperature of 19.4 deg C was recorded at Kochi International Airport on November 24.

Forecast valid until November 29 spoke about isolated rain/thundershowers in all districts. Outlook for the two subsequent days indicated no significant change.

State and stage of crops: Mundakan paddy was nearing the panicle initiation stage. Weeding and top dressing operations were in progress. Interculture operations and a second round of fertiliser application were apace in coconut, arecanut, cashew and rubber.

Arecanut also saw harvesting and processing gather momentum. Weeding and top dressing were being practised in banana, tapioca, sugarcane and vegetables. Pepper was in the berry maturing stage, and harvesting had commenced in some gardens. Rubber tapping went on without hassles and staking of young plants was also being performed in some cases.

Agricultural advisory: Paddy fields should continue to be closely surveyed for pests such as leaf roller and stem borer. In case of severe infestation, spraying with Phosphamidon at 0.5 ml/litre of water may be resorted to. 1 per cent Bordeaux mixture can be sprayed to control leaf rot in coconut, mahali in coconut and arecanut, wilt in pepper and leaf spot in clove.

Intercultural weeding operations and top dressing to be continued in banana, tapioca and vegetables.

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