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National Agromet Advisory Bulletin Thursday, 13th May, 2010

(For the period 13th to 17th May, 2010)

Issued by National Agrometeorological Advisory Service Centre

Agricultural Meteorology Division India Meteorological Department

Shivajinagar Pune.

The bulletin is also displayed in the website (http://www.imdagrimet.gov.in) of the Division

Satellite image 6 UTC Dated 14th May, 2010

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Executive Summary

Significant Past Weather Contour maps of Maximum and Minimum temperatures for the week ending 12.5.10

Contour maps of Maximum and Minimum temperatures for the week ending 05.05.10

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• Actual Mean Maximum temperature anomaly ranged between 20C and above over most parts of

Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep Islands, some parts of Rajasthan, Saurashtra & Kutch, Marathwada, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, 0 to 20C over most parts of Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, West India (except Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra), Central India and South India

• Maximum temperature anomaly has decreased in most parts of Northwest India, East India, Central

India and West India as compared to the last week except most parts of Gujarat, Northeast India where it remained unchanged and increased in Konkan & Goa and Madhya Maharashtra.

• Rainfall occurred in most of the districts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal & Sikkim,

Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, some districts of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, South India during last week. No significant rainfall occurred or dry or mainly dry weather prevailed in remaining parts of the country.

4 Rainfall situation in some of the States in the country for the week ending 12.05.2010

State/Districts Actual

Rainfall (mm)

Departure (%)

Arunachal Pradesh

East Siang 179.7 103 Lohit 263.7 399 Papumpara 120.0 136 Tawang 50.6 28 Tirap 208.8 149 Upper Siang 65.7 48 Upper Subansiri 49.4 -3 Assam Barpeta 90.1 -5 Bongaigaon 175.5 64 Cachar 121.3 11 Dibrugarh 88.2 26 Goalpara 82.4 -19 Golghat 103.7 48 Hailakandi 144.8 29 Jorhat 99.5 44 Kamrup 151.6 159 Karbi Analog 27.8 29 Kokrajhar 1482.9 1320 Lakhimpur 74.4 -16 Morigaon 61.8 45 Nalbari 107.9 84 Nowgong 49.3 16 Sibsagar 74.9 -14 Sonitpur 70.1 15 Tinsukia 61.0 -19 Himachal Pradesh Bilaspur 45.1 306 Chamba 24.1 22 Hamirpur 29.7 350 Kangra 33.0 251 Kinnaur 25.1 84 Kullu 40.4 211 Lahaul and Spiti 28.9 17 Mandi 23.9 54 Shimla 19.9 26 Sirmaur 23.4 244 Solan 34.8 149 Una 47.3 884 Punjab Gurdaspur 8.2 105 Hoshiarpur 15.2 157 Kapurthala 5.0 79 Nawashahar 5.2 -13 Ropar 6.3 24 Haryana Ambala 17.6 238 Chandigarh 7.9 39 Karnal 6.0 106 Kurukshetra 11.0 378 Yamunanagar 7.3 15

State/Districts Actual

Rainfall (mm)

Departure (%)

Jammu & Kashmir

Anantnag 52.8 118 Badgam 34.0 114 Doda 52.4 180 Jammu 21.4 224 Kathua 17.6 700 Kupwara 58 148 Pulwama 35.6 79 Srinagar 20.4 28 Udhampur 26.7 64 East Madhya Pradesh

Chhatarpur 2.8 833 Chattisgarh Bilaspur 12.0 362 East Uttar Pradesh

Ambedkar Nagar 18.2 420 Azamgarh 5.0 56 Barabanki 25.0 1035 Faizabad 29.8 705 Farrukhabad 15.5 496 Gorakhpur 9.6 71 Hardoi 10.9 289 Kanpur Dehat 12.0 1400 Mau 8.0 135 Sultanpur 22.1 1603 Varanasi 26.5 1225 West Uttar Pradesh

Bijnor 18.0 413 Firozabad 16.0 515 Mahamaya Nagar 18.7 619 Mainpuri 10.5 708 Mathura 12.0 700 Moradabad 43.7 1185 Saharanpur 19.3 320 UttaraKhand Almora 24.1 162 Chamoli 23.3 59 Champawat 29.5 186 Dehradun 28.9 248 Garhwal Tehri 18.1 27 Haridwar 30.9 758 Nainital 30.5 169 Pithorgarh 28.4 74 Udham Sing Nagar 70.0 1246 Uttarkashi 36.4 65 Bihar Bhabua 28.6 653 East Champaran 68.2 569 Gaya 17.0 486

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State/Districts Actual

Rainfall (mm)

Departure (%)

Bihar Patna 19.6 184 Rohtas 25.2 1226 Saran 27.3 170 Jharkhand East Singbhum 32.7 92 Giridih 35.1 259 Hazaribagh 16.8 75 West Rajasthan Bikaner 10.5 302 Saurashtra, Kutch & Diu region

Junagarh 1.0 233 Orissa Balasore 84.5 241 Bhadrak 41.5 158 Deogarh 19.7 628 Jagatsingpur 20.3 29 Jajpur 29.1 74 Khurda 32.5 215 Mayurbhanj 32.0 80 Puri 20.0 125 Sonepur 19.3 154 Sundargarh 17.0 110 West Bengal GWB Bankura 26.7 48 Birbhum 25.5 34 Burdwan 28.9 39 Hooghly 34.9 48 Howrah 30.6 -14 East Midnapore 25.3 6 Nadia 29.6 25 24 Pargana (N) 53.6 96 Purulia 16.3 36 24 Pargana (S) 17.7 -5 West Midnapore 79.3 266

State/Districts Actual

Rainfall (mm)

Departure (%)

SHWB Darjeeling 34.0 -6 Jalpaiguri 54.0 -10 Malda 33.8 64 Sikkim North Sikkim 154.3 164 Karnataka Coastal Karnataka

Dakshin Kannada 39.4 161 Udupi 16.6 7 North Interior Karnataka Dharwad 22.1 53 South Interior Karnataka Chickmagalur 38.3 150 Hassan 38.6 87 Kodagu 47.7 86 Mandya 20.7 9 Shimoga 17.5 47 Tumkur 11.9 9 Kerala Kannur 39.6 76 Kasaragod 19.4 15 Kozhikode 35.0 27 Malappuram 31.7 30 Palakkad 34.7 37 Pathanamthitta 43.5 -12 Wyanad 41.8 86 Tamil Nadu Kanyakumari 36.8 179 Krishnagiri 15.2 11 Perambalur 20.3 -7 Sivaganga 23.4 67 Theni 15.3 23 Tirunelveli 11.5 -11 Tiruvallur 17.0 53 Vellore 19.1 74 Villupuram 24.0 225

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Weather Forecast

(Valid upto 1430 hours of 16th May, 2010)

Rainfall is likely to occur at many places in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam & Meghalaya, at many places in Jammu & Kashmir during next 24 hours and at a few places thereafter, at a few places in Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, Coastal Karnataka, South Interior Karnataka, Kerala, at a few places over Himachal Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands during next 48 hours, at a few places over Lakshdweep during next 24 hours and thereafter many places in Andaman & Nicobar Islands and at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh and Lakshadweep. Isolated rain is likely to occur over West Bengal, Sikkim, Orissa, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu & Pducherry, North Interior Karnataka. Rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places over West Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Punjab during next 48 hours and mainly dry weather will prevail thereafter. Mainly dry weather will prevail over remaining States of the country during the period.

Warning

• Thundersqualls would occur at some places over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and isolated places over West Bengal & Sikkim, northeastern States and Orissa during next 48 hours.

• Isolated heavy to very heavy rain/thundershowers would occur over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya during next 48 hours.

3Major crops in different States

• Wheat is at harvesting stage in Jammu & Kashmir and Sikkim. • Summer / boro rice is at grain formation / early maturity / maturity stage in Orissa, Chhattisgarh, West

Bengal and Assam. • Ahu rice (sowing / seedling / transplanting / tillering) in Assam. • Rice, pulses and vegetables (sowing) and maize (sowing / vegetative) in Arunachal Pradesh. • Potato is at vegetative stage and rabi potato is at tuberization / maturity / harvesting in Sikkim. • Summer green gram and black gram is at sowing / early vegetative / vegetative / flowering stage in

Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, at flowering / pod formation / early maturity / maturity stage in Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal.

• Jute is at sowing / early vegetative stage in West Bengal and Orissa, at sowing / early vegetative / vegetative in Assam.

Salient advisories

NORTH WEST INDIA As there is possibility of rain at many places in Jammu and Kashmir, postpone irrigation to the crops.

Farmers are also advised to postpone intercultural operation, application of fertilizers and plant protection measures.

Also postpone irrigation in Uttarakhand except Rudraprayag, Himachal Pradesh and Barabanki, Faizabad, Varanasi, Moradabad districts of Uttar Pradesh as there was rainfall during last week. As no significant rain occurred in Rudraprayag and remaining districts of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan during last week, apply irrigation to the crops in these regions.

Farmers in Jammu & Kashmir are advised to keep the harvested wheat crop in safer places to protect from rainfall. Farmers may delay harvesting of the standing crops as rainfall is expected.

Prevailing weather conditions may be favourable for the incidence of leaf miner, psylla and lemon butter fly in citrus crops in Jammu and Kashmir. Farmers are advised to spray Monocrotophos @ 0.04% after current spells of rain.

NORTHEAST INDIA

Considering the rainfall during last couple of weeks in most of the districts of this region, postpone irrigation to the standing crops in the states of this region.

In view of isolated thunder squall and isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, arrange for draining out excess water from the fields. Farmers are also advised to postpone intercultural operation, application of fertilizer and pesticides to the crops.

To protect the maize crop from water logging, arrange for proper drainage. Also drain out excess water from green gram and black gram fields immediately to protect the emerging seedlings and from the root zone of cucurbitaceous crops to avoid fungal diseases likely to occur.

Farmers should provide proper support to the fruit crops like papaya and banana in Assam to reduce the probable damage due to high wind velocity.

Protection of the poultry birds against attack of coccidiosis disease should be prioritized in present weather conditions. Anti coccidia drugs viz. Cocci Plus, Amprolium, etc. should be added in plain clean water and feed and given.

EAST INDIA

As Bhabua, East Champaran, Rohtas and Saran districts of Bihar, East Singbhum and Giridih districts of Jharkhand, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Khurda, Mayurbhanj districts of Orissa, most of the districts of Gangetic West Bengal except Murshidabad, Purulia and 24 Parganas (S) and all the districts of Sub Himalayan West Bengal except Dinajpur (S) and also all the districts of Sikkim received good rainfall

4 during last week, postpone irrigation to the crops. Apply irrigation to the standing crops in remaining

districts of the region as there is less possibility of rainfall during coming days. Apply irrigation in mango and litchi trees in Bihar to save from fruit dropping and cracking. Keep the harvested crops at safer place in view of thunder squall over the region during next 48 hours. Utilising recent rainfall, prepare land for nursery bed for aus rice in West Bengal. Under prevailing weather there is chance of infestation of red mite in litchi in Jharkhand. Apply Dicofol

@ 2 ml / litre of water at an interval of 15 days. Under the current weather situation, attack of stem rot may be increased in pointed gourd in New

Alluvial zone of West Bengal. Apply Bavistin or Benlate (1 g per litre of water) to control the disease. Due to increase of temperature, mite attack may be dominant in chilli in this region. Apply Dicofol or Kelthane @ 2 ml per litre of water to control the attack.

WEST INDIA

As there was no significant rain during last week in most of the districts of the region and no significant rain is likely to occur during next five days, apply protective irrigation to the standing crops.

As heat wave conditions are prevailing over parts of Vidarbha and Marathwada of Maharashtra, farmers are advised to apply light and frequent irrigation to the crops over these regions.

Prepare shades from south side and arrange mulching with grass or paddy straw to protect newly planted grafts of coconut and arecanut in Maharashtra from bright sunlight.

Arrange staking for banana and propping for sugarcane in Gujarat to counteract the effect of high wind speed.

In view of high temperature, keep milch animals under shade in Gujarat and provide fresh drinking water. Put wetted curtains on west direction in poultry house to protect the birds against hot winds.

Due to cloudy weather cucumber, water melon, musk melon and bottle gourd are likely to be infested by downy mildew in Maharashtra; spray Metalaxyl MZ 72 @ 25 g + Mancozeb @20 g in 10 liters of water at 10 days interval.

Due to cloudy conditions, there may be attack of fruit fly in mango in Maharashtra, farmers are advised to use Rakshak fruit fly traps @ 4 traps / ha.

SOUTH INDIA

As there was not sufficient rainfall during last week in the region except in Dakshin Kannada Chikmagalur, Hassan and Kodagu districts in Karnataka, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad and Pathanamthitta districts in Kerala and Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu, apply irrigation to the standing crops. Postpone irrigation to the crops in the above mentioned districts as there was rain during last week.

Dry weather conditions prevail over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema region in Andhra Pradesh. Due to high temperature, farmers are advised to undertake harvesting of rice to avoid shattering of grains.

Prevailing weather conditions in Southern Telangana zone in Andhra Pradesh are congenial for whitefly and the incidence of tomato leaf curl virus transmitted by whitefly in fruits and vegetables. To control the vector, spray Triazophos or Profenophos @ 2 ml and neem oil @ 5 ml.

Due to high humidity, pollu beetle and thrips in pepper and leaf rust in coffee in High Altitude zone in Kerala may occur. Undertake plant protection measures to control the pest and diseases.

Plant protection measures may be undertaken on a non rainy day over Coastal and South Interior Karnataka and Kerala.

Keep animals under cool conditions and provide drinking water frequently to overcome summer effect. To minimize the summer effect on poultry birds, arrange fans and foggers in sheds, cover the sheds with

paddy straw and arrange sprinklers, feed poultry birds with wet mash to increase the feed intake and provide cool water for drinking.

5CENTRAL INDIA

In view of dry weather condition prevailing during last few weeks and less possibility of rainfall during next five days over the States, farmers are advised to apply irrigation to the standing crops.

Presently the maximum temperature is more than 40ºC and due to hot and dry winds banana and papaya fruits may be damaged in Chhattisgargh. Hence, farmers are advised to cover the fruits by using leaves or Jute bags. It is also advised to provide wind breaks in west / north-west direction.

As high temperature conditions prevail during these days, avoid grazing of animals under direct sun. Farmers are advised to provide clean drinking water to cattle 3 – 4 times a day. Also protect young calves from scorching sun. Hang out wetted gunny bags in poultry sheds to minimize the effect of the dry wind.

Zonewise Agromet Advisories

NORTH WEST INDIA [J & K, H. P., UTTARAKHAND, PUNJAB, HARYANA, DELHI, UP, RAJASTHAN] • Realised Rainfall: Rainfall occurred at most places in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and

Uttarakhand during last week. No significant rainfall occurred in most of the districts of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi.

• Rainfall Forecast: Rainfall is likely at many places during next 24 hours in Jammu & Kashmir and at a few places thereafter. Rainfall is likely at a few places during next two days in Himachal Pradesh and isolated rain will occur thereafter. Rainfall is likely at isolated places during next two days in Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and West Uttar Pradesh during next two days and either isolated rain will occur or mainly dry weather will prevail thereafter. Mainly dry weather/dry weather will prevail in Rajasthan and East Uttar Pradesh.

• Major Crops: Vegetables (sowing / nursery sowing / vegetative) in Himachal Pradesh. Wheat, barley (harvesting), vegetable crops (sowing / vegetative / flowering / fruiting / harvesting) in

Jammu & Kashmir. Maize (early vegetative), black gram and green gram (sowing / vegetative / flowering) in Uttarakhand. Sugarcane (vegetative), black gram and green gram (early vegetative) in Punjab. Sugarcane (vegetative), black gram and green gram (sowing) in Haryana. Green gram and black gram (early vegetative) and vegetable crops (vegetative / flowering / fruiting /

harvesting) in Delhi. Sugarcane (vegetative), sunflower, black gram and green gram (sowing / vegetative / flowering) in Uttar

Pradesh. Vegetable crops (flowering / fruiting / harvesting) in Rajasthan.

• Advisory: As there is possibility of rain at many places in Jammu and Kashmir, postpone irrigation to the crops.

Also postpone irrigation in all the districts of Uttarakhand except Rudraprayag, all the districts of Himachal Pradesh and Barabanki, Faizabad, Varanasi, Moradabad districts of Uttar Pradesh as there was rainfall during last week. As no significant rain occurred in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan during last week and there is less possibility of rain during the period, apply irrigation to the crops in these States.

In view of expected rainfall at many places in Jammu and Kashmir, farmers are also advised to undertake intercultural operation, application of fertilizers and plant protection measures after current spells of rain.

In view of prevailing high temperature in some parts of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, farmers are advised to apply light and frequent irrigation to the standing crops to meet the excess evaporative demands.

6 Farmers in Jammu & Kashmir particularly Rajouri and Udhampur districts are advised to take care of the harvested wheat crop to protect it from rainfall. Farmers may delay harvesting of the standing crop as rainfall is expected. Already harvested crops may be removed from the field to the safer place.

As there was light showers in and around the Faridkot district in Punjab, the temperature has come down slightly. Farmers are advised to prepare their fields for sowing of paddy nursery. They may use recommended varieties i. e. PAU 201, PR 120, PR 118, PR 116, PR 114, PR 113, PR 111, PR 115 etc.

Undertake sowing of recommended varieties, hybrids of cotton, desi cotton including Bt cotton under irrigated conditions in Haryana and upto15th May in Punjab during morning and evening hours only.

Due to increase in the maximum and minimum temperature, provide covers or white wash the lower stem of newly planted plants and young plants of litchi, mango etc. in order to protect from heat injury in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir. However, the same may be postponed until the rain stops in Jammu & Kashmir.

Farmers are advised to undertake field preparation and transplanting of tomato, chillies and brinjal in Jammu & Kashmir. This is also the optimum time for direct sowing of bottle gourd, bittergourd, cucumber and pumpkin. However, the same may be postponed to one or two days until the rain stops.

As there is sufficient moisture in the fields due to the preceding week’s rainfall, farmers are advised to sow okra in Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand. Timely operations at this time should enable the farmers to take advantage of the previous week’s rainfall.

Due to rainfall during last few days in Uttarakhand and also light rainfall is expected in coming few days, farmers at 1500 m height are advised to continue sowing/transplanting of Chaitee Dhan under un-irrigated conditions.

Sowing of guar, maize, sweet corn, bajra, cluster bean as fodder crops may be done during this week and pigeonpea and cotton may be done after 15th May.

Prevailing weather conditions may be favorable for the incidence of leaf minor, citrus psylla and lemon butter fly in citrus crop in Jammu & Kashmir. Under such situation farmers are advised to spray the crop with Monocrotophous@ 0.04% or Endosulfan 0.07% after current spells of rain.

EAST INDIA [JHARKHAND, BIHAR, ORISSA, WEST BENGAL & SIKKIM] • Realised Rainfall: Bhabua, East Champaran, Rohtas and Saran districts of Bihar, East Singbhum and

Giridih districts of Jharkhand, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Khurda, Mayurbhanj districts of Orissa, most of the districts of Gangetic West Bengal except Murshidabad, Purulia and 24 Parganas (S) and all the districts of Sub Himalayan West Bengal except Dinajpur (S) and all the districts of Sikkim received good rainfall during last week. No significant rain occurred over remaining parts of the region.

• Rainfall Forecast: Rain is likely to occur at a few places over Sub Himalayan West Bengal during the period. Either isolated rain will occur or mainly dry weather will prevail over remaining parts of the region. Thunder squalls would occur at some places over Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa,West Bengal and Sikkim during next 48 hours.

• Major Rabi Crops: Maize (Maturity / harvesting) and moong (flowering / pod formation / maturity) in Bihar. Green gram and black gram (flowering / pod formation / maturity) in Jharkhand. Black gram and green gram (pod formation / maturity), groundnut (early maturity / maturity), maize

(maturity) and summer rice (early maturity / maturity / harvesting) in Orissa. Sugarcane (vegetative), vegetable crops (vegetative / flowering / fruiting / harvesting), boro rice (early

maturity / maturity / harvesting), black gram and green gram (grain formation / early maturity / maturity / harvesting), sunflower (seed formation / early maturity / maturity) and sesame (seed formation / early maturity / maturity / harvesting) in West Bengal.

High hills (1500- 2000 m) in Sikkim: large cardamom (vegetative / primary flowering / secondary flowering), seed potato (tuberization), summer potato (Very High Hills) (tuberization), kharif vegetables & off season vegetables (transplanting / vegetative), maize (sowing / germination / early vegetative / vegetative); Medium hills (1000 - 1500 m): large cardamom (vegetative / primary flowering / secondary flowering), Rabi potatoes (maturity / harvesting), maize (early vegetative / vegetative / tasseling / silking

7/ cob formation), kharif vegetable (transplanting / vegetative), ginger (sowing / germination), rice (sowing / nursery sowing); Low Hills (Below 1000 m): large cardamom (vegetative / primary flowering / secondary flowering), Rabi potatoes (maturity / harvesting), wheat (harvesting), maize (early vegetative / vegetative / tasseling / silking / cob formation), kharif vegetable (transplanting / vegetative), ginger (sowing / germination).

• Advisories: As Bhabua, East Champaran, Rohtas and Saran districts of Bihar, East Singbhum and Giridih districts of

Jharkhand, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Khurda, Mayurbhanj districts of Orissa, most of the districts of Gangetic West Bengal except Murshidabad, Purulia and 24 Parganas (S) and all the districts of Sub Himalayan West Bengal except Dinajpur (S) and also all the districts of Sikkim received good rainfall during last week, postpone irrigation to the crops in these districts. Apply irrigation to the standing crops in remaining districts of the region as there is less possibility of rainfall during coming days.

Apply irrigation in mango and litchi trees in Bihar to save from fruit dropping and cracking. Taking the advantage of mainly dry weather likely to prevail during next few days, harvest already

matured maize crop in Bihar, summer rice, maize, green gram, black gram and groundnut in Orissa, summer rice, sesame and green gram in West Bengal.

Take precaution for the harvested and threshed crops and remove the harvested produce from the fields to a safer place in view of thunder squall over the region during next 48 hours.

Utilizing recent rainfall, provide deep summer ploughing in fields of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Orissa after harvesting of crops to suppress the weeds, insect-pest & diseases and also to increase the water holding capacity of field.

Sowing operation for direct sown aus rice must be completed at the earliest utilizing the residual soil moisture due to last week’s rainfall in West Bengal.

Utilising recent rainfall, also prepare the land for nursery bed for transplanted aus rice in West Bengal. One and half katha of nursery bed is required for transplanting of one Bigha of land. At the time of last ploughing, apply 3 Kg SSP and 3 Kg MOP in the nursery bed.

Under prevailing weather there is chance of infestation of red mite in litchi in Jharkhand. Apply Dicofol @ 2 ml / litre of water at an interval of 15 days.

Under prevalent weather situation, there is chance of attack of leaf miner, mites and other leaf-eating pests in jute in New Alluvial zone of West Bengal. Keep monitoring.

Under the current weather situation, attack of stem rot may be increased in pointed gourd in New Alluvial zone of West Bengal. Apply Bavistin or Benlate (1 g per litre of water) to control the disease. Due to increase of temperature, mite attack may be dominant in chilli in this region. Apply Dicofol or Kelthane @ 2 ml per litre of water to control the attack.

NORTHEAST INDIA [ARUNACHAL PRADESH, NMM & T, ASSAM, MEGHALAYA] • Realised Rainfall: Rainfall occurred in most of the districts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh during last

week. • Rainfall Forecast: Rainfall is likely to occur at many places in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam & Meghalaya

and at a few places in Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura during the period. Thunder squalls would occur at some places over this region during next 48 hours. Isolated heavy to very heavy rain / thundershowers would occur over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya during next 48 hours.

• Major Crops: • Vegetables (vegetative / flowering / fruiting / harvesting), ahu rice (sowing / seedling / transplanting /

tillering), sugarcane (vegetative), maize, jute, mesta (early vegetative / vegetative) in Assam. Rice, pulses and vegetables (sowing) and maize (sowing / vegetative) in Arunachal Pradesh.

• Advisory: As there was rainfall during last couple of weeks in most of the districts of this region and there is also

possibility of rain / thundershower over the region for next three days, postpone irrigation to the standing crops. In view of rainfall to be likely at many places along with isolated thunder squall and

8 isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, also arrange for draining out

excess water from the fields to avoid water stagnation in these two States. As there is possibility of rainfall at many places in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh during the period,

farmers are also advised to postpone intercultural operation, application of fertilizers and plant protection measures to the crops.

To protect the maize crop from water logging due to recent rain and also rain likely to occur, arrange for proper drainage system.

Also postpone topdressing in ahu rice, jute and sugarcane in Assam taking consideration of prevailing weather.

Taking the advantage of recent rain in Assam, plough the fallow land where sali rice will be raised. This will control the intensity of stem borer in the crop in due course.

Farmers should provide proper support to the fruit crops like papaya and banana in Assam to reduce the probable damage due to high wind velocity.

Utilizing recent rain, complete sowing of normal direct seeded ahu rice seeds within 15th of May. Drain out excess water from green gram and black gram crop fields immediately to protect the emerging

seedlings from stagnant water. Farmers are also advised to drain out excess water from the root zone of all the cucurbitaceous crops to

avoid fungal diseases likely to occur in these prevailing rainy days. Release of fish prawn in the ponds may be carried out as there was sufficient rainfall during previous

fortnight. Protection of the poultry birds against attack of coccidiosis disease should be prioritized in present

weather conditions. Anti coccidia drugs viz. Cocci Plus, Amprolium, etc. should be added in plain clean water and feed and given. Only medicated water should be given to the birds during this period.

SOUTH INDIA [TN, AP, KERALA, KARNATAKA, LAKSHADWEEP, ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS] • Realised Rainfall: Dakshin Kannada in Coastal Karnataka, Chikmagalur, Hassan and Kodagu in South

Interior Karnataka, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad and Pathanamthitta in Kerala and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu received rainfall during last week.

• Rainfall Forecast: Rain is likely to occur at a few places over Coastal and South Interior Karnataka and Kerala during the period. Isolated rain will occur over remaining parts of the region.

• Major Crops: • Vegetable crops (flowering / fruiting) in Andhra Pradesh. • Pigeon pea and sunflower (maturity / harvesting), summer groundnut (pod maturity / harvesting) and

vegetables (flowering / fruiting / harvesting) in Karnataka. • Rice (nursery sowing for first crop), Vegetables (flowering / fruiting / harvesting) and plantation

crops (coconut, arecanut, pepper and cashew) in Kerala. • Rice (grain development), pulses (pod maturity) and cotton (picking) in Tamil Nadu.

Advisories: As there was no sufficient rainfall during last week in the region except in Dakshin Kannada in Coastal

Karnataka, Chikmagalur, Hassan and Kodagu in South Interior Karnataka, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad and Pathanamthitta in Kerala and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, apply irrigation to the standing crops in these regions. Postpone irrigation and undertake summer ploughing to conserve realized rainfall in the above mentioned districts.

Undertake nursery sowing of first crop of rice in Kannur, Mallapuram, Kozhikode, Kasaragod (Northern Zone) and Vellayani (southern Zone) as chances of rain are there. Select among Athira, Aiswarya, Jyothi and Harsha for Northern zone.

Farmers in Southern zone of Kerala are advised to undertake sowing of bhendi, chilli and brinjal immediately after receipt of rainfall.

Dry weather conditions prevailed over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema region in Andhra Pradesh. Due to high temperature, farmers are advised to undertake harvesting of rice to avoid shattering of grains.

9 After receipt of good rainfall, farmers in Southern Dry zone of Karnataka are advised to take up sowing of

jowar, maize and pulse crops Prevailing weather conditions in Southern Telangana zone in Andhra Pradesh are congenial for whitefly and

the incidence of tomato leaf curl virus transmitted by whitefly in fruits and vegetables. To control the vector, spray Triazophos or Profenophos @ 2 ml and neem oil @ 5 ml.

Prevailing weather conditions in Krishna Godavari zone in Andhra Pradesh are congenial for the incidence and spread of yellow and red spider mites. To control, spray Wettable Sulphur @ 3 g per litre of water to cover the under surface of the leaves.

Due to high humidity, pollu beetle and thrips in pepper and leaf rust in coffee in High Altitude zone and Sigatoka leaf spot in banana in Southern zone in Kerala may occur. Undertake plant protection measures to control the pest and diseases.

Plant protection measures may be undertaken on a non rainy day over Coastal and South Interior Karnataka and Kerala.

Poultry: To minimize the summer effect, the following management practices need to be adopted • Arrange fans and foggers in sheds • Cover the sheds with paddy straw and arrange sprinklers • Feed poultry birds with wet mash to increase the feed intake • Provide cool water for drinking

Animal Husbandry: Undertake vaccination of animals before monsoon season for Black Quarter and Foot and Mouth Disease in

Kerala and Karnataka. Also undertake ET vaccination in sheeps and goats. Keep animals under cool conditions and provide drinking water frequently to overcome summer effect.

WEST INDIA [GOA, MAHARASHTRA, GUJARAT] • Realised Rainfall: No significant rain occurred in most of the districts of the States of this region. • Rainfall Forecast: Either isolated rain will occur or mainly dry weather will prevail over the States of this

region during the period. • Major Crops:

Maharashtra: Vegetables (vegetative / flowering / fruiting / harvesting) and summer rice (grain maturity / harvesting in North Konkan and grain formation / maturity in East Vidarbha), summer groundnut (pod maturity / harvesting in North Konkan, Kolhapur & Latur division and pod development / pod maturity in other regions), summer sunflower (seed maturity / harvesting in Latur division & head formation in other divisions), summer maize (cob maturity / harvesting in Latur division & cob initiation / grain maturity in other divisions), summer bajra (grain maturity / harvesting).

Gujarat: Green gram (pod maturity / harvesting), summer groundnut (pegging / pod development), sugarcane (vegetative) and vegetables (vegetative / flowering / fruiting / harvesting).

• Advisory: As mainly dry weather is prevailing for last few weeks and also likely to prevail during next five days

along with persistent high temperature, apply irrigation to groundnut, sugarcane etc. in Gujarat. As there was no significant rain during last week in most of the districts of Maharashtra and no

significant rain is likely to occur during next five days, apply protective irrigation to the standing crops. As heat wave conditions are prevailing over parts of Vidarbha and Marathwada, farmers are advised to apply light and frequent irrigation over these regions.

To control water loss through evaporation from soil from sugarcane fields in Gujarat, spread dry leaves of sugarcane in between tow rows of sugarcane.

Taking the advantage of dry weather, undertake harvesting of already matured summer rice, groundnut, maize, sunflower & summer bajra in Maharashtra and also undertake harvesting of matured crops of green gram, maize etc. in Gujarat.

10 Prepare shades from south side and arrange mulching with grass or paddy straw to protect newly

planted grafts of coconut and areca nut in Maharashtra from bright sunlight. Arrange staking for banana and propping for sugarcane in Gujarat to counteract the effect of high wind

speed. Undertake deep ploughing in the fields for soil solarization to kill fungal spores and other pathogens

taking the advantage of dry condition. In view of high temperature, make arrangement of shade for milch animals in Gujarat and provide

fresh drinking water. Put curtains on west direction in poultry house to protect the birds against hot winds and spray water on them during noon hours to avoid heat stress.

Due to cloudy weather cucumber, water melon, musk melon and bottle gourd are likely to be infested by downy mildew in Maharashtra, spray Metalaxyl MZ 72 @ 25 g or Fosetil@ 20g + Mancozeb @20 g in 10 liters of water at 10 days interval.

Due to high temperature vegetables are likely to be infested by viral diseases through sucking pests in Maharashtra, for the control spray 5% Neemark.

Due to cloudy conditions, there may be attack of fruit fly in mango in Maharashtra, farmers are advised to use Rakshak fruit fly traps @ 4 traps per hectare on mature mango trees.

CENTRAL INDIA [M.P., CHHATTISGARH] • Realised Rainfall: No significant rainfall occurred over the States during the period. • Rainfall Forecast: Either isolated rain will occur or mainly dry / dry weather will prevail over the region. • Major Crops:

• Summer urd, mung and sunflower (flowering / seed / head formation), sugarcane (cane development) and vegetable crops (vegetative / flowering / fruiting) in Madhya Pradesh.

• Boro rice (grain formation / early maturity / maturity), sesame (pod formation / seed formation / early maturity) in Chhattisgarh.

• Advisory: Dry weather condition prevails during last few weeks and also likely during next five days along with

persisting high temperature over Madhya Pradesh. Farmers are advised to apply light and frequent irrigation to different forage crops like maize, sorghum, jowar, cowpea, etc to meet the excess evaporative demands to the tune of 12-13 mm/day.

Evaporation rates are presently higher due to higher temperature and it is being recorded around 10 mm / day in Chhattishgarh, which has increased the water requirements of summer crops like vegetables, green gram, etc. Farmers are advised to reduce the interval between two irrigations.

Presently the maximum temperature is more than 40ºC and due to hot and dry winds banana and papaya fruits may be damaged because of sun scorching in Chhattisgargh. Hence, farmers are advised to cover the fruits by using leaves or Jute bags to protect the fruits from sun scorching. It is also advised to provide wind breaks in west / north-west direction.

Farmers are advised to undertake deep plouging after harvesting of rabi crops so that disease pathogens and insect’s larvae and eggs will come in contact with solar radiation and may get killed.

• Animal Husbandry As high temperature conditions prevail during these days, avoid grazing of animals under direct sun.

Farmers are advised to provide clean drinking water to cattle 3 – 4 times a day. Also protect young calves from scorching sun. Cover the windows and doors with gunny bags of poultry sheds and wet it regularly to minimize the effect of the dry wind.

11Annexure I

Contour maps o for the week ending 12.05.10

Actual Mean Maximum temperature ranged between 420C and above over most parts of East Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Marathwada, Vidarbha, Telangana, some parts of West Rajasthan, Saurashtra, Madhya Maharashtra, North Interior Karnataka, Rayalaseema, Chattisgarh, 38 to 420C over most parts of North India (except Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand), West India, Central India, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, North Interior Karnataka, some parts of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, South Interior Karnataka, 26 to 380C over remaining parts of the country.

Actual Mean Maximum temperature anomaly ranged between 20C and above over most parts of Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep Islands, some parts of Rajasthan, Saurashtra & Kutch, Marathwada, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, 0 to 20C over most parts of Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, West India (except Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra), Central India, parts of South India, -4 to 00C over remaining parts of the country..

Actual Mean Minimum Temperature ranged between 280C and above over most parts of Lakshdweep, some parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Madhya Pradesh, Marathwada, Vidarbha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu 24 to 280C over most parts of Country (except Northeast India, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim), 12 to 240C over remaining parts of the country.

Minimum Temperature anomaly ranged 20C and above over most parts of Rajasthan, Madhya Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andaman & Nicobar Island, some parts of Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Marathwada, Saurashtra & Kutch. 0 to 20C over most parts of the country except some parts of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, -2 to 00 C over remaining parts of the country.

12

Relative humidity between 80% and above over most parts of North East India, Sikkim, some parts of West Bengal, Orissa Andaman & Nicobar, 60 to 80% over most parts Andaman Nicobar, Lakshadweep Islands, West Bengal, Coastal Orissa, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Coastal Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Coastal Karnataka, some parts of Assam, Mizoram, Tripura, South Interior Karnataka, Konkan & Goa, Saurashtra & Kutch, Telangan, Rayalaseema, 20 to 60% over remaining parts of the country.

Cloud amount 6 okta and above over most parts of North East India (except Mizoram,Tripura), some parts of Lakshdweep Islands. 4 to 6 okta over most parts of Mizoram Tripura, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, South India (Except Andhra Pradesh, North Interior Karnataka), some parts of Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Orissa, Raylaseema, North Interior Karnataka, 0 to 4 okta over remaining parts of the country.

Wind speed ranged between 6 knots and above over some parts of Saurashtra, West Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, North Coastal Andhra Pradesh, 0 to 6 knots over remaining parts of the country.