Question : Agriculture related Weather Forecasting

(a) whether weather forecasting is the key function of Indian Meteorology Department (IMD);

(b) if so, the manner in which the department is helping the poor farmers who are totally dependent on weather for their crops;

(c) whether the Government has taken any steps to strengthen the agriculture related weather forecasting services with a view to using advanced information technology to address the risks in agriculture sector and provide early information to farmer;

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the capacity of IMD to deal with these challenges; and

(e) the action taken by the Government for modernisation and development of machines and equipments for dissemination of accurate and region specific information regarding weather with respect to agriculture at district level?

THE MINISTER FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
AND EARTH SCIENCES
(Dr. HARSH VARDHAN)

(a) Yes sir. Weather forecasting in different spatial and temporal scales is one of the major services of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

(b)-(d)IMD provides an operational Agro Meteorological Advisory Service (AAS) under theGramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme for the benefit of farming community in the country. Under GKMS, medium range weather forecasts (up to 5 days) at district level are issued. Based on these forecasts, Agromet Advisories are prepared and communicated by the 130 Agro Meteorological Field Units (AMFUs) located at State Agricultural Universities, Institutes of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Indian Institute of Technologies (IITs) etc. to the farmers on every Tuesday and Friday to take decision on day-to-day agricultural operations. AAS rendered by IMD is a step towards weather-based crop and livestock management strategies and operations dedicated to enhancing crop production and food security besides reducing crop damage and loss due to unusual weather.

IMD in collaboration with ICAR is venturing into implementation of block level AAS in the country. District Agro Meteorological Units (DAMUs) are being established in the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) under the ICAR network. Implementation of block level AAS would address micro-level variation in weather and climate and hence, more number of farmers will be benefitted.

(e) Agromet Advisories are communicated to the farmers through multichannel dissemination system like print and electronic media, Doordarshan, radio, internet etc. as well as by SMS using mobile phones through Kisan Portal launched by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and through private companies under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. At present, 42 million farmers in the country are receiving the Agromet Advisories through SMS directly. Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) of ICAR have also given link to the respective district level advisory in their web portal. A new mobile App viz., ‘Meghdoot’ has been launched by Ministry of Earth Sciences recently to help the farmers to get the weather information and related agromet advisories specific to their districts.