The Hindu Business Line : Isolated rains likely in Kerala

THE Agromet Bulletin dated December 13 issued by the Met Office, Thiruvananthapuram, has forecast rain or thundershowers in isolated places in the districts of Thrissur, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts until the morning of December 15 (Wednesday).

This will expectedly break the long dry spell in these districts, while the rest six will continue to experience fair weather during the period under reference.

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

The four days ending December 12, in respect of which the bulletin provides statistics, did not record any rain from any part of the State.

Mean minimum temperature varied between 20 deg C and 23 deg C in various districts. Cochin International Airport recorded the lowest minimum of 18.7 deg C on December 11. It was 4 deg C below normal on December 11 and below 3 deg C the next day in Alappuzha.

Stage and state of crops: `Mundakan' paddy is in between the panicle initiation and boot leaf stages and final weeding operations are going on. The late-planted crop is nearing the panicle initiation stage. In coconut gardens, rubber, pepper arecanut and cardamom, intercultural operations are on.

Mulching with green manure, plant protection measures and providing shade to the young plants are the highlights of these operations, carried out along with harvesting.

In rubber, the winter leaf fall has resulted in the stoppage of tapping work in most of the areas. The monthly top dressing is in progress in banana and tapioca. Harvest is on in pepper, turmeric and ginger as well. Cashew and the fruit trees are in the flushing stage and are flowering.

New planting operations continue in banana, tapioca and seasonal vegetables in areas with irrigation facilities. Nutmeg is reaching the harvesting stage. Intercultural operations are also being adopted in these crops.

Farm advisory: Weeding, water management and a second top dressing can be continued for the late-planted Mundakan crop. Paddy fields should be closely watched for pests and diseases.

Control measures should be adopted against leaf roller, stem borer, plant hoppers and rice bug. In coconut, leaf rot and stem bleeding are likely to persist. Rhinoceros beetle should be hooked out while harvesting coconut.

Plant protection measures against possible red palm weevil attack should also be adopted.

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

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