The drizzle in Tuticorin on Thursday chilled the atmosphere and residents were jubilant over the prevailing weather. The sky remained overcast for most of the day. The farmers were delighted as well since the early onset of Northeast monsoon in the district helped increase in agricultural productivity. The monsoon rains played a significant role in ensuring a good yield. With good amount of rainfall this year, pulses cultivation exceeded its average coverage of 66,000 hectares in the district. At the fag end of last month, the area under cultivation of pulses crossed 73,000 ha and it is expected to increase to 75,000 ha, Joint Director of Agriculture, N.K. Dhakshinamoorthy told The Hindu .
Moreover, paddy transplantation was also going on in full swing depending upon the water sources available in the wake of rains. Paddy cultivation is expected to touch 18,000 ha in the district.
The rainfall had surpassed expectations, improving the prospects of good harvest in early 2015. A record rainfall of 717.56 mm so far this year has exceeded the average annual rainfall of 662.2 mm. ‘The average rainfall during the Northeast monsoon in the district is 429.4 mm and it has received above the average level of 509.68 mm of rainfall. During November, the district received 198.74 mm surpassing the average rainfall of 184.7 mm during the month. So far in December, which usually maintains an average of 94 mm, 16.48 mm rainfall has been received. With this favourable situation, the paddy farmers had also been relying on rainfed cultivation in blocks of Kovilpatti, Kayathar and Ottapidaram. As for millets, the area of cultivation stood at 45,000 ha, so far while its average cultivation area was 60,000 ha. But, cotton cultivation had increased this year on over 6,400 ha against its average cultivation area of 4,000 ha. Anticipating more rains in the coming days, cotton cultivation is expected to go up to 7,000 ha, Mr. Dhakshinamoorthy said.
Nagercoil
Intermittent drizzle continues across Kanyakumari district since Wednesday. Occasional drizzle was reported in Colachel, Mullanginavilai, Eranial, Anaikkidangu and Mayiladi, Kottaram, Kanyakumari, Suchindram and Nagercoil town resulting in chilly weather persisting on Wednesday night.
A total of 18 mm rainfall was recorded in Mullanginavilai. The water level in Pechiparai dam continues to be at 45 feet and in Perunchani Dam it was 75.09 feet.