North East Monsoon for Coimbatore has begun on a very positive note. Or, so it appears from the data available from the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
The Agro Climate Research Centre has said that in the last 15 days, the district had recorded 61.9 mm rainfall, which was nearly 20 per cent of the average rainfall received for the North East Monsoon period – 328.9 mm.
With more than two months to go for the monsoon to end, the district could get its entire quota, it predicts. The average rainfall for the district was 20 mm between January and February), 150.3 mm between March, and May), 189.8 between July, and September, and 328.9 between October, and December.
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During the South West Monsoon 764 mm, almost three times the average rainfall, was recorded.
But the rainfall does not reflect the reality, says T.N. Balasubramanian, former Head, Agro Climate Research Centre.
The rainfall figure shot up to 764 mm because of heavy showers in Valparai, and areas near the Western Ghats. There are also areas in the district that received scanty rainfall – for instance, Sultanpet.
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Therefore, the spread of the rainfall should also be taken into account before declaring if the rainfall is below average, normal or above average.
More or less supporting Mr. Balasubramanian’s explanation, farmer leader P. Kandasamy says that for Coimbatore farmers South West Monsoon was a failure. But he hastens to add that the North East Monsoon appears to be good. The rain will help sugarcane, banana, maize, and vegetable farmers.
The monsoon will help recharge ground water. Farmers will be able to save on power by not operating pump sets, and they can grow fodder crops, says K. Velayudham, Director, Crop Management, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
Good monsoon also means good cultivation of country vegetables, and that translates to good price for consumers.