Sullia: A progressive farmer has rainfall records of last four decades and his initially hobby has turned out as a vital input for farmers in the region to plan their agricultural activities when the clouds are playing hide and seek in the recent years.
Pataje Govindaiah Sathyanaryana Prasad displaying records of rainfall
Pataje Govindaiah Sathyanaryana Prasad from Balila Village in Sullia Taluk, in short PGSN Prasad inherited the hobby from his father and gradually his interests increased with fluctuations in the data over the years. His hobby also helped him to plan his agricultural activities accordingly. What is amazing is that he has records of rainfall in the region for almost four decades and in his absence his wife and son keep the tab. He started collecting the rainfall data in 1976 and later in 1982 he started recording the rainfall daily.
Brief preview of rainfall statistics:
Average rainfall during last 34 years – 4354mm
In the year 2005 it was below average – 3868mm
This year till Yesterday, June19th – 541mm
In the year 2004 – 4450mm
Normally July receives heavy rainfall during the year. July statistics for few years are as follows:
1994 – 1784 mm
2002 – 696 mm
2003 – 1153mm
2005 – 989mm
2009 – 1761mm
In the year 1992 monsoon started on May 20th where as it was delayed in 1983. This year it entered his region on 16th of June.
During 48 hours between August 1 to 3, the rainfall was 510mm the highest for a 2 day period in 34 years.
Years 1991, 94, 98 and 99 received more than 5000mm of rain fall where as in 1987 and 98 it was below 3000mm. Between 2001-03 and in the year 2011 it was above 4000mm.
Measurement of Rainfall
The measurement of rain fall is done using a gauge. A cylindrical glass jar is kept in the open area where the rain water gets collected. The measure is taken every day at 8 AM and the details are recorded in the book. In his absence his wife Malini and son Vijetha Krishna collect the data and record it.
Most standard rain gauges (using inch measure) have a wide funnel leading into the cylinder and are calibrated so that one-tenth of an inch of rain measures one inch when it collects inside. The funnel is 10 times the cross-sectional area of the tube.
Family’s role
Prasad continued in his father’s footstep that had the habit of recording the rain fall. Though rainfall varies in different locations he says it almost tallies with the Taluk rainfall statistics for a particular period. He goes through the cloud data given in the web and makes his own assessment accordingly. Though he knows to measure the humidity in the air he has not kept the record of the same.
The progressive farmer provides the data to all the farmers in his village whenever they approach him and feels the hobby worth emulating. Prasad, the district secretary of BJP concludes by saying any one can take the measure as the procedure is simple, easy and useful.
