National Agromet Advisory Bulletin Friday, 1st March, 2013 (For the period 1st to 5th March, 2013) Significant weather and realized rainfall Central India during last week: Major crops  Significant rainfall occurred in most of the  Wheat (ear head emergence/flowering), autumn sugarcane districts of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & (vegetative), yellow sarson, mustard (flowering / capsule Kashmir, many districts of Punjab, few formation) districts of Uttarakhand, Haryana, one or two districts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Mainly dry weather prevailed over rest parts of the country. Major Feature of Weather Forecast up to 0830 hours IST of 4th March, 2013  Farmers are advised to apply irrigation to the standing crops.  Rain/snow would occur at one or two places over Jammu & Kashmir on 1st March and East India mainly dry weather thereafter. Major crops  Rain/thundershowers would occur at a few  Gram, lentil (pod formation/maturity), Wheat (flowering / places over Andaman & Nicobar Islands. milking / dough stage) and potato ( vegetative / tuber  Slight fall in temperatures would occur over formation). northwest India and central India during  Farmers are advised to apply irrigation to the standing crops. next 48 hours and increase thereafter.  Mainly dry weather would prevail over rest Northeast India parts of the country. Major crops  Boro rice (tillering / active tillering), early ahu rice (nursery Regionwise Salient Advisory raising / sowing), wheat (ear head emergence / flowering), rapeseed, mustard (capsule maturity / harvesting) potato Northwest India (tuber maturity / harvesting.) Major crops  Farmers are advised to apply irrigation to the standing crops.  Wheat (ear head emergence / flowering / milking),Mustard (flowering / capsule West India formation) Major crops  new suru sugarcane ( late planting / early sprouting), summer groundnut (early vegetative / vegetative / flowering), summer bajra (germination / early vegetative), summer groundnut (sowing / germination / seedling / vegetative), wheat (milk / dough stage).  As dry or mainly dry weather is expected during next 5 days,  Postpone irrigation to standing crops in farmers in Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha most of the districts of Himachal Pradesh, are advised to apply irrigation to summer bajra (Pune and Jammu & Kashmir, many districts of Nasik region), summer groundnut, sugarcane and vegetables. Punjab, few districts of Uttarakhand,  Under low humidity, high temperature and prevailing dry Haryana, one or two districts of Uttar condition, apply irrigation to wheat, castor and orchards in Pradesh and Rajasthan. As mainly dry North Gujarat and North West Gujarat; vegetables and mango weather will prevail over the region, apply in South Gujarat Zone and also to garlic in South Gujarat irrigation to the standing crops in the Heavy Rainfall Zone to meet evaporative demand of the crops. remaining parts of the region where no significant rainfall occurred. (Detailed South India regionwise summery is given in page no.2) Major crops  Sunflower (flowering / seed formation), rice fallow pulses (vegetative), puncha rice (tillering stage), sugarcane (vegetative / rationing).  Farmers are advised to apply irrigation to the standing crops. Issued by National Agrometeorological Advisory Service Centre, Agricultural Meteorology Division, India Meteorological Department, Shivajinagar, Pune. The bulletin is also displayed in the website (http://www.imdagrimet.gov.in) of the Division 1 Executive Summary Northwest India  As significant rainfall occurred in most of the districts in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir except Kargil and Ladakh (Leh) districts, Saharanpur district of West Uttar Pradesh, Almora, Bageshwar, Dehradun, Garhwal Tehri, Nainital districts of Uttarakhand, many districts of Punjab, Ambala, Bhiwani, Chandigarh, Jind, Panchkkula, Panipat, Sonepat, Yamunanagar districts of Haryana and Hanumangarh district of West Rajasthan during last week, farmers are advised to postpone irrigation to the standing crops. As mainly dry weather will prevail over the region, apply irrigation to the standing crops in the remaining districts where no significant rainfall occurred.  In Himachal Pradesh, farmers are advised to prune and mend snow damaged plants and apply protective paste like Blitox on parts exposed due to injury to prevent fungal and bacterial infections. Apply Bordeaux or Chaubatia paste on the pruning cuts of apple and stone fruits.  In Himachal Pradesh, farmers are advised to drain out excess water from the crop fields.  In Eastern Plain Zone of Uttar Pradesh, weather conditions are favourable for the occurrence of pod borer in gram, farmers are advised to spray Endosulphan @ 1.25 litres / ha in 800-1000 litres of water to control. Central India  As mainly dry weather prevailed over the States of the region during last week and no significant rain is likely to occur during the period, farmers are advised to apply irrigation to the standing crops.  As dry weather is prevailing in Satpura Plateau Zone of Madhya Pradesh, farmers are advised to undertake harvesting of matured green peas, onion and potato.  In Central Narmada Valley zone of Madhya Pradesh, present weather conditions are congenial for the incidence of leaf curl in tomato and chilly crops. Farmers are advised to spray Methyl dematon 25 E.C. @ 2.0 ml. or Emidachloprid @ 0.5 ml/l of water for the control of disease.  Due to favourrable weather conditions in Bastar Plateau Zone of Chhattisgarh, there are chances of purple blotch in onion and powdery mildew in mustard. Farmers are advised to monitor the crops for the diseases and undertake plant protection measures East India  As mainly dry / dry weather prevailed over the region and is likely to prevail over the States of this region during the period, farmers are advised to apply irrigation to the standing crops.  Due to present weather condition in Laterite and Red Soil Zone of West Bengal, there is chance of attack of rust and blight diseases in wheat. Apply Mancozeb @ 2.5 to 3 g per litre to control the attack.  Due to prevailing weather condition, there is chance of tikka disease in groundnut in Western Undulating Zone of Odisha. To control tikka disease, spray Bavistin 1.5g/litre of water. The current weather may favour the infestation of saw fly in mustard. To control saw fly, spray 400 ml Chloropyriphos or Triazophos/acre.  In East and South Eastern Coastal Plain Zone of Odisha, increase in temperature may favour increase in stem borer in the main rice field. Place 4 pheromone traps/acre, collect the adults and destroy them. Increase in difference between daily maximum and minimum temperature favours the infestation of blast in rice. Spray Beam @ 1 g / litre of water. Northeast India  As there was no significant rain over the States of the region during last week and no significant rain is likely to occur during the period, farmers are advised to apply irrigation to the standing crops.  As reduced moisture is favourable for cracking in banana, farmers in Mild Tropical Hill Zone of Mizoram are advised for proper mulching and nutrient management especially application of boron to minimize cracking. In tomato, reduced soil moisture hinders availability of calcium; farmers are advised to ensure weekly irrigation for optimum fruit setting.  As prevailing weather is favourable for development of blossom end rot in tomato in Mild Tropical Hill Zone of Nagaland, farmers are advised for mulching in tomato to conserve soil moisture.  Weather is favourable for incidence of blight and fruit borer in tomato and chilli crops and also fruit borer in cabbage in Mild Tropical Hill Zone of Mizoram. Farmers are advised to spray Mencozeb @ 1 g per litre of water for blight and 5% neem seed kenel extract or NPV @ 250-500 LE with 100 ml teepol / ha for fruit borer and use 5 % neem extract or spray Endosulphan (35%) @ 12 ml or Dimethoate (30%) @ 10 ml in 10 litres of water for cabbage borer.  In Temperate Sub Alpine Zone of Meghalaya, due to congenial weather, there is chance of attack of aphids in pea and lentil; farmers are advised to apply Dimethoate @ 2 ml per litre of water or Malathion 50 EC @ 1.5 ml per litre of water, if incidence is noticed. 2 West India  As dry or mainly dry weather is expected during next 5 days, farmers in Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha are advised to apply irrigation to summer bajra (Pune and Nasik region), summer groundnut, sugarcane and vegetables.  Prevailing minimum temperature (around 18OC) in Vidarbha is favourable for germination of summer green gram; farmers are advised to sow recommended variety.  Considering the rise in temperature (34-36 OC) in Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada, farmers are advised to carry out mulching with crop residues and other plant waste products in the orchards to reduce the rate of evaporation.  As mango is at pea / marble stage and considering the rise in maximum temperature in Konkan and Madhya Maharashtra, apply 150 to 200 litres of water per mango tree at 15 days interval to avoid fruit dropping.  In Gujarat, under low humidity, high temperature and prevailing dry condition, apply irrigation to wheat, castor and orchards in North Gujarat and North West Zone of Gujarat, vegetables and mango in South Gujarat Zone and also to garlic in South Gujarat Heavy Rainfall Zone to meet evaporative demand of the crops.  Due to prevailing cloudy weather, there may be incidence of thrips on pea size mango fruit in South Konkan. On the incidence of the pest, spray Spinosad 45 % @ 2.5 ml in 10 litres of water on the whole tree.  Under prevailing conditions (rise in minimum temperature) in Western Maharashtra Scarcity Zone, there may be increase in infestation of thrips on onion; spray Cypermethrin 25 % @ 5 ml or Fipronil @ 15 ml in 10 litres of water at 10-15 days interval. South India  As mainly dry / dry weather prevailed over most parts of the region during last week and likely to continue, apply irrigation to the standing crops.  In Problem areas Zone of Kerala, mulching with dried leaves is advised in coconut, nutmeg and banana crops for reducing evapotranspiration loss. It is the better time for cultivating cabbage and cauliflower.  In Problem Area Zone of Kerala, weather is congenial for bud rot disease in coconut, where young palms are more susceptible. In the early stages, farmers are advised to cut and remove the affected tissues of the crown and burn them and spray Bordeaux mixture 1% on spindle leaves and crown of disease affected as well as neighbouring palms.  Powdery mildew infestation is likely to be more due to warm and cloudy weather in the North Transition Zone of Karnataka. Farmers are advised to spray fungicide in three stages: First immediately after the initiation of flower, second after flowering and third after fruit set and spray water soluble Sulphur (80%) @ 3 gm. / Tridomorph @ 1 ml / Hexaconozol @ 1 ml / Carbendazim @ 3gm per liter of water to control powdery mildew.  Warm and humid weather is congenial for incidence of stem borer, hispa and leaf folder in rice in high altitude zone of Andhra Pradesh. Farmers are advised to take appropriate plant protection measures.  Weather is congenial for incidence of stem borer and leaf folder in rice in Northen Telangana Zone of Andhra Pradesh. Farmers are advised to spray Monocrotophos 36 SL @ 1.6 ml / lit (or) Chlorpyriphos 20EC @ 2.5 ml / litire of water. 3 Contour maps for Mean Maximum and Minimum Temperature and their anomaly for the week ending on 27.02.2013 Actual Mean Maximum temperature ranged between 32 to Mean Maximum temperature anomaly ranged between 4 to 60C 360C over many parts of Orissa, Gujarat, South India(except over many parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, some parts of Andaman & Nicobar Islands), some parts ofSaurashtra & Assam & Meghalaya, Manipur, 2 to 40C over many parts of Kutch, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, 12 to 160C over some Assam, Mizoram, Tripura, some parts of Sub-Himalayan West parts of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, 16 to 200C Bengal & Sikkim, Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, 0 over many parts of Jammu & Kashmir, some parts of to 20C over many parts of Himachal Pradesh, West India, South Himachal Pradesh, 20 to 24 over many parts of Uttarakhand, India, Orissa, some parts of Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Punjab, some parts of Himachal Pradesh, West Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, East Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Bihar, 24 to 320C over remaining parts of the country. Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, -4 to -20C over some parts of Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, -2 to 20C over rest of the country. Actual Mean Minimum Temperature ranged between 24 to Minimum Temperature anomaly ranged between 2 to 40C over 280C over many parts of Lakshadweep, some parts of many parts of West Rajasthan, some parts of Andaman & Andaman & Nicobar Islands, 20 to 240C over many parts of Nicobar Islands, -4 to -20C over some parts of Telangana, Kerala, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, some parts of Andhra Coastal Andhra Pradesh, South Interior Karnataka, -2 to 20C Pradesh, South Interior Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, 8 to 120C over rest of the country. over many parts of Uttarakhand, some parts of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, East Uttar Pradesh, 4 to 80C over many parts of Jammu & Kashmir, some parts of Himachal Pradesh, 12 to 200C over remaining parts of the country. 4 Significant weather and realized rainfall during last week:  Significant rainfall occurred in most of the districts of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir except Kargil and Ladakh (Leh) districts, Saharanpur district of West Uttar Pradesh, Almora, Bageshwar, Dehradun, Garhwal Tehri, Nainital districts of Uttarakhand, many districts of Punjab, Ambala, Bhiwani, Chandigarh, Jind, Panchkula, Panipat, Sonepat, Yamunanagar districts of Haryana and Hanumangarh district of West Rajasthan. Mainly dry weather prevailed over rest parts of the country. Distribution of rainfall of the country during week ending on 27.02.2013 Actual Kurukshetra 14.5 272 Ghaziabad 12.7 338 State/Districts % Dep. (mm) Mahendragarh 8.5 325 Hamirpur 11.8 808 Himachal Pradesh Mewat 13.0 442 Jalaun 4.7 133 Bilaspur 33.0 128 Palwal 13.7 427 Jhansi 5.3 275 Chamba 68.7 168 Panchkkula 22.8 217 Jotirba Phule Nagar 1.5 -32 Hamirpur 41.7 251 Panipat 35.3 1161 Kanshiramnagar 13.0 400 Kangra 48.7 136 Rewari 0.0 -100 Lalitpur 0.0 -100 Kinnaur 28.0 29 Rohtak 0.0 -100 Mahamaya Kullu 66.6 148 Sirsa 4.0 33 Nagar 4.0 135 Lahaul and Spiti 25.5 -31 Sonepat 23.8 782 Mahoba 0.0 -100 Mandi 29.1 97 Yamunanagar 26.0 247 Mainpuri 3.2 52 Shimla 45.5 169 Delhi 11.0 198 Mathura 10.0 317 Sirmaur 28.5 164 Jammu & Kashmir Meerut 5.9 90 Solan 46.3 273 Anantnag 106.6 318 Moradabad 5.6 47 Una 40.9 360 Badgam 61.1 204 Muzzaffarnagar 12.9 279 Punjab Bandipore ** ** Pilibhit 5.3 43 Amritsar 40.2 379 Baramula 81.3 21 Rampur 16.9 260 Barnala 1.0 -83 Doda 173.8 291 Saharanpur 25.7 594 Bhatinda 19.0 313 Ganderwal 56.0 268 Shahjahanpur 13.8 377 Faridkot 34.0 1114 Jammu 70.7 324 Uttarakhand Fatehgarh Saheb 31.5 916 Kargil 0.0 -100 Almora 23.6 252 Ferozpur 2.0 -29 Kathua 70.5 325 Bageshwar 20.1 200 Gurdaspur 56.4 355 **Kistwar ** ** Chamoli 18.5 -3 Hoshiarpur 38.9 342 Kulgam 108.9 327 Champawat 11.0 55 Jalandhar 40.2 458 Kupwara 100.4 196 Dehradun 24.2 206 Kapurthala 44.7 1214 Ladakh(Leh) 0.3 -73 Garhwal Pauri 13.6 126 Ludhiana 30.2 503 Poonch 182.0 747 Garhwal Tehri 26.4 204 Mansa 5.8 45 Pulwama 66.3 357 Haridwar 18.4 159 Moga 1.0 -68 Rajouri 57.6 513 Nainital 29.1 288 Muktesar 10.0 127 Ramban 165.5 273 Pithorgarh 18.2 26 Nawashahar 35.2 450 Reasi 102.8 237 Rudraprayag 18.0 37 Patiala 32.4 458 Samba 55.4 232 Udham Sing Ropar 29.3 257 Shopian 98.0 576 Nagar 13.7 327 Sangrur 30.8 650 Srinagar 65.0 328 Uttarkashi 19.1 73 Mohali ** ** Udhampur 50.2 65 West Rajasthan TarnTaran 3.0 -46 West Uttar Pradesh Barmer 3.4 1042 Haryana Agra 1.2 -47 Bikaner 9.5 694 Ambala 24.4 201 Aligarh 5.3 90 Churu 11.3 772 Bhiwani 24.0 861 Auraiya 2.0 -26 Hanumangarh 28.0 2054 Chandigarh 42.4 821 Badaun 13.4 294 Jaisalmer 0.3 -32 Faridabad 1.0 -74 Baghpat 6.9 188 Jalore 0.0 -100 Fatehabad 14.7 407 Bareilly 11.4 244 Jodhpur 0.1 -84 Gurgaon 4.0 122 Bijnor 9.9 93 Nagaur 0.2 -88 Hissar 6.9 146 Bulandsahar 13 364 Pali 0.0 -100 Jhajar 0.0 -100 Etah 4.7 103 Sri Ganganagar 12.6 741 Jind 59.2 796 Etawah 0.0 -100 Katihal 18.2 526 Firozabad 0.8 -44 Karnal 9.5 107 GBNagar 18.0 521 Legends (20% or more) excess rainfall (-60 to -99 %) scanty rainfall (-19 to +19%) normal rainfall (-100%) no rainfall (-20 to -59%) deficient rainfall ** Data not available 5 Satellite image 0600 UTC dated 1st March, 2013, 20 13 Weather Forecast (Valid upto 0830 hours of 4th March, 2013) 6 Major Feature of Weather Forecast up to 0830 hours IST of 4th March, 2013  Rain/snow would occur at one or two places over Jammu & Kashmir on 1st March and mainly dry weather thereafter.  Rain/thundershowers would occur at a few places over Andaman & Nicobar Islands.  Slight fall in temperatures would occur over northwest India and central India during next 48 hours and increase thereafter.  Mainly dry weather would prevail over rest parts of the country. Weather Warning during next 3 days Nil Weather Outlook for subsequent 4 days from 4th to 8th March, 2013  Rain/thundershowers would occur at a few places over Andaman & Nicobar Islands till 4th March and decrease thereafter.  Rain/thundershowers would occur at one or two places over extreme south peninsular India on 4th March and at a few places thereafter.  A fresh feeble western disturbance may affect north Jammu & Kashmir from 4th March onwards.  Mainly dry weather would prevail over rest parts of the country. 7 Zonewise Agromet Advisories NORTHWEST INDIA [JAMMU & KASHMIR, HIMACHAL PRADESH, UTTARAKHAND, PUNJAB, HARYANA, DELHI, UTTAR PRADESH & RAJASTHAN]  Realised Rainfall: Significant rainfall occurred in most of the districts of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir except Kargil and Ladakh (Leh) districts, Saharanpur district of West Uttar Pradesh, Almora, Bageshwar, Dehradun, Garhwal Tehri, Nainital districts of Uttarakhand, many districts of Punjab, Ambala, Bhiwani, Chandigarh, Jind, Panchkula, Panipat, Sonepat, Yamunanagar districts of Haryana and Hanumangarh district of West Rajasthan during last week. Mainly dry weather prevailed over remaining parts of the region.  Weather Forecast: Rain/snow would occur at one or two places over Jammu & Kashmir on 1st March and mainly dry weather thereafter. Mainly dry weather would prevail over rest parts of the region. Slight fall in temperature would occur over northwest India during next 48 hours and increase thereafter.  Advisory:  As significant rainfall occurred in most of the districts in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir except Kargil and Ladakh (Leh) districts, Saharanpur district of West Uttar Pradesh, Almora, Bageshwar, Dehradun, Garhwal Tehri, Nainital districts of Uttarakhand, many districts of Punjab, Ambala, Bhiwani, Chandigarh, Jind, Panchkkula, Panipat, Sonepat, Yamunanagar districts of Haryana and Hanumangarh district of West Rajasthan during last week, farmers are advised to postpone irrigation to the standing crops. As mainly dry weather will prevail over the region, apply irrigation to the standing crops in the remaining districts where no significant rainfall occurred.  In Himachal Pradesh, farmers are advised to prune and mend snow damaged plants and apply protective paste like Blitox on parts exposed due to injury to prevent fungal and bacterial infections. Apply Bordeaux or Chaubatia paste on the pruning cuts of apple and stone fruits.  In Himachal Pradesh, farmers are advised to drain out excess water from the crop fields.  In Bhabar and Tarai Zone of Uttarakhand, under the expected dry weather conditions, there are more chances of rodents to damage the wheat crop at milk stage. If heaps of soil is visible in the field, then farmers are advised immediately to follow combined common efforts for effective control. Put one tablet of Aluminum Phosphide in each hole and close the hole with soil immediately.  In Eastern Plain Zone of Uttar Pradesh, weather conditions are favourable for the occurrence of pod borer in gram, farmers are advised to spray Endosulphan @ 1.25 litres / ha in 800-1000 litres of water to control.  Other advisories are mentioned in Annexure I.  Stages of major crops are mentioned in Annexure II.  Suitable varieties of crops are mentioned in Annexure III. EAST INDIA [JHARKHAND, BIHAR, ORISSA, WEST BENGAL & SIKKIM]  Realised Rainfall: Mainly dry / dry weather prevailed over the region.  Weather Forecast: Mainly dry / dry weather would prevail over the region.  Advisories:  As mainly dry / dry weather prevailed over the region and is likely to prevail over the States of the region during the period, farmers are advised to apply irrigation to the standing crops.  As dry weather is prevailing, farmers in Jharkhand are advised to irrigate the mango and litchi orchard in 15 days interval as this is time of bearing flowers. Spray insecticide like Lamda syhalothrin @ 1 ml/2 litre of water and Bavistin @ 1gm/litre of water as a preventive measure against various diseases and insect pests.  Prevailing weather conditions are favourable for incidence of pod borer in pigeon pea. Farmers in Jharkhand are advised to undertake spraying of Endoxcarb and Monocrotophos @ 2 ml/litre of water at 15 days interval to control pod borer in pigeon pea.  Due to present weather condition in Laterite and Red Soil Zone of West Bengal, there is chance of attack of rust and blight diseases in wheat. Apply Mancozeb @ 2.5 to 3 g per litre of water to control the attack.  In the prevailing weather condition in New Alluvial Zone of West Bengal, there is chance of powdery mildew in sunflower and mango hopper in mango. To control powdery mildew disease, apply sulphex or 2 g Krilaxyl per litre of water and to control the attack of mango hopper spray 1.5 ml Monocrotophos per litre of water.  In Old Alluvial Zone of West Bengal, due to present weather conditions there may be chance of aphid attack in mustard at flowering stage, spray Imidachlorpid @1ml/5litre of water or Dimethoate @ 2ml/litre of water at 10- 15 days interval.  Due to prevailing weather condition, there is chance of tikka disease in groundnut in Western Undulating Zone of Odisha. To control tikka disease, spray Bavistin 1.5g/litre of water. The current weather may favour the infestation of saw fly in mustard. To control saw fly, spray 400 ml Chloropyriphos or Triazophos/acre.  In East and South Eastern Coastal Plain Zone of Odisha, increase in temperature may favour increase in stem borer in the main rice field. Place 4 Pheromone traps/acre, collect the adults and destroy them. Increase in difference between daily maximum and minimum temperature favours the infestation of blast in rice main field. Spray 1 g Beam/ litre of water.  Other crop advisories are mentioned in Annexure I. 8  Stages of major crops are mentioned in Annexure II.  List of Varieties are mentioned in Annexure III.  Pisiculture  Rise in temperature is favourable for growth of fishes in Western Plateau Zone and South Eastern Plateau Zone of Jharkhand. Farmers are advised to add cow dung and lime in the pond as natural foods for them and alternative feeds may also be used like rice bran and mustard cake (each of 5 kg per day per acre area of pond).  Animal husbandry:  As temperature is increasing, provide balanced diet containing roughages, fats and protein to animals in Mid Central Table Land Zone of Odisha, Regular deworming is also suggested. Due to rise in temperature, give poultry birds drinking water 2-3 times per day. CENTRAL INDIA [M.P., CHHATTISGARH]  Realised Rainfall: Mainly dry weather prevailed over the region.  Weather forecast: Dry weather would prevail over the region. Slight fall in temperature would occur over Central India during next 48 hours and increase thereafter.  Advisories:  As mainly dry weather prevailed over the States of the region during last week and no significant rain is likely to occur during the period, farmers are advised to apply irrigation to the standing crops.  In Central Narmada Valley zone of Madhya Pradesh, present weather conditions are congenial for the incidence of leaf curl in tomato and chilly crops. Farmers are advised to spray Methyl dematon 25 E.C. @ 2.0 ml. or Emidachloprid @ 0.5 ml/l of water for the control of disease.  Due to favourrable weather conditions in Bastar Plateau Zone of Chhattisgarh, there are chances of purple blotch in onion and powdery mildew in mustard. Farmers are advised to monitor the crops for the diseases and undertake plant protection measures.  Other advisories are mentioned in Annexure – I.  Stages of major crops are mentioned in Annexure II.  Animal Husbandary  Farmers in Satpura Plateau Zone of Madhya Pradesh are advised to keep cattle in shades due to increase in temperature. NORTHEAST INDIA [ARUNACHAL PRADESH, NMM&T, ASSAM, MEGHALAYA]  Realised Rainfall: Mainly dry weather prevailed over the States of the region during last week.  Weather Forecast: Mainly dry weather would prevail over the States of the region.  Advisories:  As there was no significant rain over the States of the region during last week and no significant rain is likely to occur during the period, farmers are advised to apply irrigation to the standing crops.  As reduced moisture is favourable for cracking in banana, farmers in Mild Tropical Hill Zone of Mizoram are advised for proper mulching and nutrient management especially application of boron to minimize cracking. In tomato, reduced soil moisture hinders availability of calcium; farmers are advised to ensure weekly irrigation for optimum fruit setting.  As prevailing weather is favourable for development of blossom end rot in tomato in Mild Tropical Hill Zone of Nagaland, farmers are advised for mulching in tomato to conserve soil moisture.  As mainly dry weather is prevailing, farmers in Sub Tropical Plain Zone of Manipur are advised to apply irrigation in rapeseed, field pea, maize and onion.  Due to favourable weather conditions, there is chance of attack of late blight in potato in North Bank Plain Zone of Assam. To control the attack, farmers are advised to spray Mancozeb @ 2.5 g / litre of water.  Weather is favourable for incidence of blight and fruit borer in tomato and chilli crops and also for cabbage borer in Mild Tropical Hill Zone of Mizoram. Farmers are advised to spray Mencozeb @ 1 g per litre of water for blight and 5% neem seed kenel extract or NPV @ 250-500 LE with 100 ml teepol / ha for fruit borer and use 5 % neem extract or spray Endosulphan (35%) @ 12 ml or Dimethoate (30%) @ 10 ml in 10 litres of water for cabbage borer.  In Temperate Sub Alpine Zone of Meghalaya, due to congenial weather, there is chance of attack of aphids in toria, pea and lentil; farmers are advised to apply Dimethoate @ 2 ml per litre of water or Malathion 50 EC @ 1.5 ml per litre of water, if incidence is noticed.  Other advisories are mentioned in Annexure - I  Stages of major crops are mentioned in Annexure II.  Suitable varieties of crops are mentioned in Annexure III.  Animal Husbandry  In Mild Tropical Hill Zone of Nagaland and Sub-Tropical Hill Zone of Arunachal Pradesh, farmers are advised to provide good shelter by additional bulbs in poultry, heating system to cattle shed or tie gunny bag on the back of animals to protect from cool temperature. 9  In Mild Tropical Plain Zone of Tripura, farmers are advised to feed / graze cattle during cooler hours and feed them fresh green fodder as temperature is rising. WEST INDIA [GOA, MAHARASHTRA, GUJARAT]  Realised Rainfall: Rain occurred at a few places over Vidarbha on 24th February and at isolated places over South Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada on 23rd and 24th February. Weather was mainly dry over Konkan and North Madhya Maharashtra. Mainly dry weather prevailed over Gujarat State.  Rainfall Forecast: Dry or mainly dry weather would prevail over the States in the region.  Advisories:  As dry or mainly dry weather is expected during next 5 days, farmers in Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha are advised to apply irrigation to summer bajra (Pune and Nasik region), summer groundnut, sugarcane and vegetables. Farmers in Konkan, East Vidarbha and Nasik (Ghat region) are advised to maintain water level upto 5 cm in main rice field at tillering stage.  Prevailing minimum temperature (around 18OC) in Vidarbha is favourable for germination of summer green gram; farmers are advised to sow recommended variety.  Considering the rise in temperature (34-36OC) in the Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada, farmers are advised to carry out mulching with crop residues and other plant waste products in the orchards to reduce the rate of evaporation.  As day temperature is rising, farmers in Marathwada region are advised to spray 8 % Kaolin in banana orchards to reduce excessive evaporation.  As dry weather is expected, farmers in Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha are advised to complete harvesting of already matured rabi jowar, safflower, gram, maize and continue harvesting of wheat.  As mango is at pea / marble stage and considering the rise in maximum temperature in Konkan and Madhya Maharashtra, apply 150 to 200 litres of water per mango tree at 15 days interval to avoid fruit dropping.  Under low humidity and high temperature (32-35OC) condition in North Gujarat and North West Zone of Gujarat, apply irrigation to wheat crop which is at milk / dough stage. Also apply irrigation in castor (reproductive stage) and orchards, to meet evaporative demand of the crops. As sky will remain clear, harvest the crops at proper maturity and carry out land preparation / sowing of summer crops like groundnut, pearl millet, green gram and cow pea under assured irrigation.  As there is increase in temperature in South Gujarat Zone, farmers are advised to irrigate vegetables at an interval of 3-4 days and in matured mango tree at an interval of 15 days. As dry weather prevailed during last few weeks and is also likely to prevail and garlic is at bulb development stage in South Gujarat Heavy Rainfall Zone, apply irrigation in garlic.  As temperatures are increasing in Middle Gujarat Zone and mainly dry weather is likely to prevail, apply irrigation in summer groundnut and late sown wheat crop.  In North Saurashtra Zone of Gujarat, as there is increase in temperature which is suitable for sowing, carry out sowing of summer vegetables like lady’s finger, cluster bean, bottle gourd, sponge gourd, ridge gourd, bitter gourd, water melon and transplanting of tomato and brinjal.  Taking the advantage of clear weather, carry out hand weeding and inter-cultural operations in castor in North West Zone of Gujarat.  Due to prevailing cloudy weather, there may be incidence of thrips on pea size mango fruit in South Konkan. On the incidence of the pest, spray Spinosad 45 % @ 2.5 ml in 10 litres of water on the whole tree.  Under prevailing conditions (rise in minimum temperature) in Western Maharashtra Scarcity Zone, there may be increase in infestation of thrips on onion; spray Cypermethrin 25 % @ 5 ml or Fipronil @ 15 ml in 10 litres of water at 10-15 days interval.  Due to high temperature and cloudy weather in North Gujarat, North West Zone and South Gujarat Heavy Rainfall Zone of Gujarat, there are chances of infestation of sucking pests in standing vegetables and fenugreek; spray Dimethoate 30 EC 0.1% to manage sucking pests in the crop.  Other advisories are mentioned in Annexure I.  Stages of the crops are mentioned in Annexure II.  Varieties of the crops are mentioned in Annexure III. SOUTH INDIA [TN, AP, KERALA, KARNATAKA, LAKSHADWEEP, ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS]  Realised Rainfall: Mainly dry weather prevailed over most parts of the region during last week.  Rainfall Forecast: Mainly dry / dry weather would prevail over the region.  Advisories:  As mainly dry / dry weather prevailed over most parts of the region during last week and likely to continue, apply irrigation to the standing crops.  In Problem areas Zone of Kerala, mulching with dried leaves is advised in coconut, nutmeg and banana crops for reducing evapotranspiration loss. It is the better time for cultivating cabbage and cauliflower. 10