Heavy rain continued to slash Mysuru on Saturday evening, and the India Meteorological Department said that through April, the city has got 81.4 mm rainfall as against the normal of 61.8 mm; and it received 28.9 mm as against the normal 12.8 mm rainfall during March.
Joint Director of Agriculture M. Mahanteshappa said that pre-monsoon showers are not untimely but are normal. On an average, Mysuru district has received 3.2 mm on March 1, 3.3 mm on March 5, 13.5 mm on 7, 2.8 mm on 15, 4.1 on April 1, 3.9 on 2, 3 mm on 4, 3.2 mm on 11, 7.2 mm on 13, 4.7 mm on 14, 3.3 on 15, 3.7 mm on 17, 10.6 on 24, 6.8 mm on 25, 7.1 mm on 27, 6.1 on April 30.
All the seven taluks in the district have received good rainfall during summer, Mr. Mahanteshappa said. The pre-monsoon rains has had no adverse affect on any crops, particularly paddy, in the district, he said and noted that paddy transplanted quite late in some parts are in flowering stage and rain would not affect it. In fact, the official said that the pre-monsoon showers would help the farmers to prepare fields for sowing. Pre-monsoon showers in March, April and May are quite common, particularly in Mysuru district, and there is no damage to agriculture or horticulture crops.
Pre-monsoon showers have in fact brought cheer among farmers who have already started preparing the fields for sowing. Agricultural activities are in full swing all over the district following good rainfall, and according to the official concerned sowing had completed in over 7,884 hectares. Farmers in most parts of the district are engaged in sowing seeds to cultivate green gram, black gram, hybrid jowar and maize.
Mysuru received
81.4 mm rainfall as against the normal 61.8 mm in April