Summer rain brings relief to Palakkad

With unexpected summer rain, farmers can take up cultivation of paddy fields soon. A scene from a paddy field at Mundoor, near Palakkad, on Thursday. —Photo: K. K. Mustafah

After two months of oppressive heat, drought-prone Palakkad district received widespread rain in the last four days, bringing much needed relief to the people and cheer to farmers who prepare to begin the first paddy cultivation of the season.

The mercury-level dipped considerably after heavy rain lashed most parts of Palakkad. Rivers and waterbodies including the Bharathapuzha are now full of water, a rarity compared to the same time in previous years.

After sparse winter rains in January and February, the mercury shot up sharply as the district remained dry in March and April.

“The climate has turned unpredictable in the district in recent days. It is yet to ascertain the advanced rainy season would cause reduction in the contribution of South West Monsoon which begins in June,” says V.G. Gopinathan, a climate expert with Integrated Rural Technology Centre (IRCTC) of Kerala Sasthra Sahitya Parishad at Mundur here.

As per data available with IRTC, the district received an average rainfall of 39.6 mm on Thursday while it was 92.6 mm was on Wednesday.

In the previous year, the maximum rainfall received in the same period in Palakkad was 31.5 mm, which was on May 8, while the district received sparse winter rains only on six days.

Heavy rain

But the district witnessed heavy rain on nine days since May 1 this year.

The trend is all likely to continue and Palakkad would not sweat out under a scorching Sun till May-end like in the previous years, says experts.

On Thursday, several parts of the district received intermittent rain, heavy at times and a couple of spells lasting for more than an hour.

Sources in the Agriculture and Horticulture departments said the rains would be beneficial to farmers who had cultivated vegetables apart from preparing to cultivate paddy.

Also there would not be a major drinking water scarcity this time. Utilising the rain, farmers could take up summer ploughing and start cultivation with the beginning of South west monsoon.

“As climate is unpredictable, water harvesting is the need of the hour. Roof harvesting must be undertaken in each household,” says Mr Gopinathan. Digging of rain pits in farm lands would also help balance the situation, he said.