The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Tiruchi News : Moderate showers cheer farmers

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Thursday, Nov 20, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

Moderate showers cheer farmers

Staff Reporter

Monsoon onset expected to control pest attack

Photo:M. Moorthy

WET SPELL: Two-wheeler riders trying their best to take cover from sudden rain in Tiruchi on Wednesday. —

TIRUCHI: Tiruchi city and surrounding villages experienced moderate showers on Wednesday, bringing cheers to farmers, particularly paddy-growers who had raised ‘samba.’

Agriculture Department officials hope that the onset of the North-East monsoon would be of much benefit to the paddy-cultivators, as it would help control the incidence of pest attack. Leaf-roller and stem borer are the common pest attack, occurring in the absence of showers for a prolonged period. The onset of the monsoon would help reduce the attack, Assistant Director of Seed Certification R. Rajasekaran said.

Also, the showers would control the incidence of leaf blight, a major damage to the paddy crop usually caused in the absence of showers, he said.

The moderate showers also exposed the poor drainage facility at thoroughfares in parts of the city. With stagnant water posing a great hurdle to the passengers in alighting from or boarding buses, it was a tough time for the police personnel in regulating the traffic at the Central bus stand for several hours in the day.

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