This is the usual time to begin farming activities such as land preparation for sowing rice in Wayanad, a hill district known for its microclimate. But most of the farmers here are yet to start the activities owing to erratic rainfall caused by climate change.
The southwest monsoon rainfall started in the State by May 29, two days earlier than the normal date of the onset but the district was yet to get the average rainfall, said P. Shajeesh Jan, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Meteorology, Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS) under the Kerala Agricultural University at Ambalavayal.
According to the data available with RARS, a total monsoon rainfall of 68 mm was recorded in the station till Friday against a long period average of 165 mm (in the past 60 years), a deficit of 60%.
