Relief as southern Tamil Nadu gets good showers, farmers told to be careful

Farmers who have livestock have been advised to allow them to graze during the day
Relief as southern Tamil Nadu gets good showers, farmers told to be careful
Relief as southern Tamil Nadu gets good showers, farmers told to be careful
As news reports claiming that heavy rains are set to lash the state of Tamil Nadu make the rounds, IMD officials clarified to The News Minute that the showers will be restricted to the southern part of the state. 
 
Officials forecast heavy rains in Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli on Saturday, while the capital city Chennai will experience witness minimal showers.
 
While Tamil Nadu weatherman Pradeep John has gone on to list out the amount of rainfall witnessed by different parts of the state on Friday, the IMD website does not carry details beyond the 25th of January. The IMD list however shows that the state has witnessed over 8 times the rainfall normally received in the month of January.
 
In the list provided by the IMD, only Karaikal has seen the actual rainfall exceed 100 mm. In the Tamil Nadu weatherman's post however, he has claimed Kurinjipadi, Kothavachari and Neyveli have got 116mm, 113mm and 104mm of rainfall respectively.
 
"The forecast of heavy rain is only for today," says Dr.Balachandran, Director of ACMC. "Showers are not expected to continue till Sunday even. Chennai will experience light showers, nothing more than that. Southern parts of the state will experience more rain but even that is only on Saturday," he adds. 
 
As for the claim that it is 'historic', the IMD says there is nothing unusual about 'reasonable rainfall' in Tamil Nadu in the month of January.
 
According to reports, a trough of low pressure over the Southwest Bay of Bengal and extending to the southwest bay off north Tamil Nadu is reportedly responsible for the showers. Under the influence of these 'easterly waves', officials claim, there will be rainfall in south Tamil Nadu and a few northern parts of the state. 
 
The Agricultural Meteorological division is however already prepared for any eventuality and have already sent out an advisory to farmers. "We have given the forecast to the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, who will pass it on to the farmers," says S.Stella, Director, AMS.
 
The advisory has been issued to farmers in Ariyalur, Karur, Perambalur, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Thanjavur. "We have told them that they need to drain any excess water that accumulates on their fields, to safeguard the crop. In addition to this, farmers must regulate the amount of pesticide they use as well," says the AMS Director. 
 
Farmers who have livestock have been advised to allow them to graze during the day and also to de-worm them. A special warning has been given to poultry farmers in regard to the quantity of feed consumed by the birds. 

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