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Agromet Advisory for South India: August 2025

By creativekamal | August 15, 2025

Introduction

This agromet advisory is based on the National Agromet Advisory Service Bulletin dated 14 August 2025, issued by the Agricultural Meteorology Division, India Meteorological Department, Pune. It provides tailored guidance for farmers in South India, covering Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala, to optimize agricultural practices under prevailing weather conditions.

Weather Overview

Significant rainfall has occurred across most districts of Kerala, except Idukki, Kollam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram, and Wayanad. In Tamil Nadu, rainfall was recorded in districts such as Ariyalur, Cuddalore, Dharmapuri, Kallakuruchi, Kanchipuram, Karaikal, Krishnagiri, Madurai, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Namakkal, Perambalur, Pudukottai, Ranipet, Salem, Theni, Tirupathur, Tiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, Tiruvarur, Trichy, Vellore, and Villupuram. All districts of Andhra Pradesh, except B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagram, West Godavari, and Yanam, received significant rainfall. All districts in Telangana and Karnataka, except Belgavi, Chamarajanagar, Hassan, Kodagu, Mysuru, and Ramanagara, also experienced notable rainfall.

General Agricultural Advisories

Rain or thundershowers are expected at many places over Coastal Karnataka, North Interior Karnataka, Kerala, Mahe, and Lakshadweep during the next four to five days, Coastal Andhra Pradesh on 14th, 15th, 17th, and 18th August, South Interior Karnataka on 14th, 17th, and 18th, and Rayalaseema on 14th and 18th. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in Coastal Andhra Pradesh within the next 24 hours, Telangana over the next three days, and Coastal Karnataka on 14th, 17th, and 18th. Heavy rainfall is also expected in Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala, Mahe, Interior Karnataka, and Coastal Andhra Pradesh on specified dates. Farmers should postpone irrigation, intercultural operations, and the application of plant protection measures and fertilizers to standing crops. Ensure adequate drainage in crop fields to prevent waterlogging. Thundersqualls with wind speeds of 50-60 kmph are likely in North Interior Karnataka within the next 24 hours and Coastal Andhra Pradesh over the next five days. Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph are expected in Telangana and Rayalaseema, and winds of 30-40 kmph in South Interior Karnataka and Coastal Karnataka. Provide mechanical support to banana and papaya plantations, stake young plants and vegetables, and prop sugarcane to mitigate wind damage.

Crop-Specific Advisories for Kerala

Central Zone

To protect banana plants from heavy rain and wind, provide propping support. Open the basin of coconut palms to retain rainwater.

Southern Zone

For potassium deficiency in paddy, apply Sulphate of Potash as a foliar spray at 10 grams per liter during morning hours.

High Altitude Zone

Provide mechanical support to banana plants due to the likelihood of high wind speeds in the coming days.

Problem Area Zone

In flooded paddy fields, apply lime after draining water. For paddy fields with plants less than 45 days old after transplanting, apply fertilizer one week after drainage.

Northern Zone

Prevent water stagnation in the planted pits of arecanut and banana by providing bunds around them. After heavy rainfall subsides, spray 1% Bordeaux Mixture with a sticking agent on the leaves and growing buds.

Crop-Specific Advisories for Karnataka

Coastal Zone

Plant new arecanut saplings in higher or hilly areas. Sow vegetable seeds in upland areas. For paddy at 15-20 days post-transplanting, apply Bispyriback Sodium 10% SC at 0.4 ml per liter when weeds are at the 2-4 leaf stage for effective control.

Hill Zone

Ensure proper drainage in arecanut and ginger fields during paddy transplanting. Drain excess water and apply fertilizer after rainfall subsides.

North Transition Zone

Perform intercultural operations in sugarcane at 50, 65, 80, and 95 days after planting, and earthing up at 120 days. In groundnut, apply 200 kg of gypsum per acre at 35-40 days old. Spray 2% urea at 30 and 60 days after sowing. In cotton, spray 2% urea or 1% 19:19:19 at 60-70 days after sowing due to continuous rainfall. To control fall armyworm in maize, spray Imamectin Benzoate 5% SG or Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC at 0.3 grams per liter. For pod borer in green gram, spray Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC at 0.3 ml or Cyhalothrin + Chlorantraniliprole at 0.5 ml per liter.

North East Dry Zone

Drain excess water from low-lying areas. For rice transplanting, apply 10 kg nitrogen as top dressing at the third and sixth weeks after transplanting and during panicle initiation. Dip chilli seedlings in Trichoderma and Pseudomonas solution before transplanting. To manage color rot or stem rot in groundnut, ensure proper drainage and maintain organic matter with Trichoderma. For early-sown sorghum and maize, provide protective irrigation based on soil moisture.

North Dry Zone

In pigeon pea, perform nipping 45-50 days after sowing. In soybean, conduct one intercultural operation to remove weeds and maintain soil moisture. For severe fall armyworm infestation in maize, spray Spinetoram 11.7% SC at 0.5 ml per liter, Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC at 0.3 ml per liter, or Thiamethoxam 12.6% + Lambda Cyhalothrin 9.5% ZC at 0.25 ml per liter.

North East Transition Zone

Transplant brinjal and tomato. Spray pulse magic at 5 grams per liter in black gram and green gram at flowering and pod formation stages. Manage pod borer in green gram by spraying Chlorantraniliprole at 0.2 grams, Emamectin Benzoate at 0.2 grams, or Spinosad at 0.1 ml per liter.

Eastern Dry Zone

Sow finger millet, black gram, and cowpea. Perform intercultural operations in red gram, maize, groundnut, sunflower, tomato, and chilli. Conduct earthing up to improve soil moisture availability. Thin crops to optimize soil moisture for reduced plant populations.

Central Dry Zone

Monitor rice nurseries for blast due to high humidity and cloudy weather. If symptoms appear, apply Tricyclazole or Pseudomonas Fluorescens in clear, calm mornings, avoiding spraying during rain or wind. Maintain drainage in ragi fields and avoid sowing until rainfall reduces. Apply Trichoderma in early clear mornings. Monitor soybean for anthracnose and spray Pseudomonas Fluorescens if symptoms appear. Mulch crop bases with residues to suppress weeds and conserve moisture.

Southern Dry Zone

Avoid transplanting paddy during gusty winds and secure young seedlings. Maintain a 2-3 cm water level in paddy fields and apply basal fertilizer post-transplanting. Provide staking or support to maize and banana against gusty winds. Perform earthing-up in sugarcane and ensure proper drainage in all crops.

South Transition Zone

Avoid agricultural operations, spraying chemicals, or applying fertilizers during heavy rain. Carefully transplant paddy and remove weeds from bunds and drainage channels to reduce pest risks. Provide stakes or support to banana and tomato to prevent lodging. Drain excess water from maize and ginger fields.

Crop-Specific Advisories for Andhra Pradesh

North Coastal Zone

Harvest mature fruits and drain excess water from maize, cotton, sugarcane, paddy, mesta, red gram, green gram, black gram, and groundnut fields.

High Altitude Tribal Zone

Drain excess water from standing crop and vegetable fields. Postpone land preparation and sowing of maize, rice, and vegetables. Provide mechanical support to horticultural crops and stake vegetables to prevent lodging. Avoid applying fertilizers during active rainfall and apply after drainage.

Scarce Rainfall Zone of Rayalaseema

Transplant paddy and sow groundnut, red gram, and castor at optimal soil moisture conditions.

Southern Zone

Harvest mature fruits and vegetables and provide mechanical support to banana plantations. Proceed with paddy transplanting.

Krishna Godavari Zone

Drain excess water from maize, paddy, sesame, cotton, and pigeon pea fields.

Crop-Specific Advisories for Telangana

Northern Telangana

Provide drainage channels in rice, maize, cotton, soybean, and pigeon pea fields to manage excess water during heavy rains.

Southern Telangana

Drain excess water from submerged rice nurseries and recently transplanted paddy, as well as from cotton, maize, red gram, soybean, sugarcane, and vegetable fields. If time is insufficient to raise a nursery, opt for direct seeding of short-duration rice varieties (120-125 days) under puddled conditions. After rains subside, drench cotton fields with Copper-Oxy-Chloride at 3 grams per liter twice at weekly intervals and spray Multi-K (13:0:45) or urea at 10 grams per liter twice weekly.

Crop-Specific Advisories for Tamil Nadu

North Eastern Zone

Continue rice transplanting using expected rainfall. Detrash and prop five-month-old sugarcane crops. Ensure proper drainage in paddy nursery and groundnut fields.

Western Zone

Sow irrigated maize, prepare land and sow irrigated cotton, and sow gourds such as snake gourd, bitter gourd, and other cucurbits.

Coastal Zone

To manage tobacco cutworm in brinjal, spray Bacillus Thuringiensis at 2 grams per liter, Novaluron 10% EC at 1 ml per liter, or Flubendiamide at 0.2-0.3 ml per liter.

Cauvery Delta Zone

At the active tillering stage of Kuruvai paddy, apply top dressing with 35 kg urea and 10 kg MOP per acre, maintaining a thin film of water in the field.

High Rainfall Zone

Provide mechanical support to banana crops to prevent lodging. Spray Chlorpyriphos 20% EC at 1.25 liters per hectare to control stem borer in rice during clear weather.

High Altitude Hilly Zone

To manage shoot borer in ginger, spray Dimethoate 30 EC at 2 ml per liter or Phosphamidon 40 SL at 2 ml per liter.

Southern Zone

Prepare for maize sowing. Apply micronutrients to banana plantations by spraying Plantozyme at 2 ml per liter during rain-free periods.

North Western Zone

Apply foliar spraying of Groundnut Rich at 2 kg per acre in 200 liters of water with a sticking agent during flowering and pod formation to enhance groundnut yield.

Animal Husbandry Advisories

Kerala

Store cattle feed in dry places to prevent moisture-related food poisoning. Keep livestock sheds and premises clean by properly disposing of food waste to avoid leptospirosis.

Tamil Nadu

Clean the udder of milch animals with 1% potassium permanganate before and after milking to prevent pathogen-related issues.

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