NASHIK :
Some parts in the state including Nashik are receiving rains due to the effect of the cyclone. This is temporary rainfall. Farmers should remain alert and do not rush for kharip sowing, urged weather expert Prof Kirankumar Johre.
He talked to Deshdoot on the backdrop of current rainfall due to storm. There is a difference between rainfall due to storm and seasonal rains. Seasonal rains have not arrived yet in the state. As per an estimate by the weather department, if 2.5 mm rainfall is recorded at eight centres in Kerala, it is considered that monsoon is arrived. If 2.5 mm rainfall or additional rainfall is registered after May 10 every year for two consecutive days at eight places out of Minicoy, Amini, Thiruvananthapuram, Poonalur, Kollam, Kannur, Kottayam, Kochi, Trissur, Kozikode, Thalaseri, Kudulu and Mangalore, it is declared that monsoon arrives in Kerala, he informed.
If farmers do kharip sowing considering pre-monsoon showers as seasonal rain, they can have to make sowing for the second time and can suffer financially. Farmers should be alert. In 2018, the weather department had hurriedly announced that monsoon arrived earlier as Kerala had lashed by pre-monsoon showers due to effect of Sagar and Mekunu cyclones. It is making the same mistake again in 2020, opined Prof. Johre.
Farmer is a real warrior for Atmanirbhar India. They should use indigenous seeds, multiple crop system and use of organic fertilisers. Farmers should enhance the durability and quality of their agriculture produce and sell it directly to farmers at their own rates. Give priority to cultivate pulses, cereals, oilseeds, wheat, rice, spices, turmeric and medicinal plants seeing soil quality, weather and season. They also give serious attention while cultivating cotton crop considering low demand for it at the international market.
– Prof Kirankumar Johre, weather expert
