Poor monsoon in Nilgiris, but farmers not worried

Udhagamandalam: The southwest showers in the Nilgiris were very poor so far this year. After a delayed start, the hills received only intermittent rain, which was also low in intensity. Yet, the monsoon has been beneficial to the farmers, who have taken up vegetable cultivation, as well small tea growers, said horticulture department officials.
The southwest monsoon usually sets in the Nilgiris by June 1.But, this year it was delayed by a week. "The amount of rain received in the past one month is comparatively less. The monsoon this season is uncertain and it rains only on and off," said N Mani, joint director of horticulture department. "However, the rain received till now is very beneficial to farmers taken up vegetable cultivation and tea growers," he added.
Around 2,176 hectares of farming land in the hills have standing crops like carrot, potato and cabbage. The rain will benefit the crops as they are in the final stages of cultivation. Moreover, it would be easier for the farmers to prepare for the autumn season, begining August," Mani said.
Pointing out that now the soil was wet, officials said it was the right time to apply manure to the tea gardens. "When the field is wet, the soil could easily absorb the strength of the manure," they added.
L Sankar, an Ooty-based farmer agrees. "It isn't raining continuously this season, but the wet weather condition itself is a boost to the standing crops. We hope more rain in the coming weeks," he said.
Sankar is waiting to harvest potato and carrot that he cultivated in around three acres of land in the first week of August. The Nilgiris has registered between 6mm and 35mm rain in every 24 hours in different places in the past one week. The trend is expected to continue.