Lok Sabha Question No. 5575 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-06
Subject: Agricultural Weather Forecast
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Janardan Singh Sigriwal

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5575 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 6 TH  APRIL, 2022

## AGRICULTURAL WEATHER FORECAST

## 5575.   SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  strengthen  the  Agricultural  Weather Forecast in the country to address the risk in agriculture sector and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether action has been taken by the Government for modernisation and development of devices  and  equipment  for  publicity  of  accurate  and  region  specific  agricultural  weather information at district level; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) IMD,  Ministry  of  Earth  Sciences  (MoES)  in  collaboration  with  Indian  Council  of Agriculture  Research  (ICAR)  and  State  Agriculture  Universities  (SAUs)  and  other institutions is rendering District/Block level Agrometeorological Advisory Services (AAS) for  the  benefits  of  farmers  in  the  country  under  the  scheme  'GraminKrishiMausamSewa (GKMS)'.The main emphasis of AAS is to collect and organize climate/weather, soil and crop information, and to amalgamate them with weather forecast to assist farmers to take decisions  on  day-to-day  farm  operations,  which  can  further  optimize  the  application  of input resources at farm level during deficient rainfall situation and extreme weather events to reduce monetary loss and to maximize crop yield.

The  various  developments  in  the  field  of  Agrometeorological  Advisory  Service  are summarized below.

##  District and Block level AAS Bulletins:

5-day medium range weather forecast at district and block level is generated and based on  the  forecast,  location-specific  block  and  district  level  agromet  advisories  are presently  prepared  by  the  130  Agromet  Field  Units  (AMFUs)  located  in  State Agricultural Universities, ICAR Institutes, IITs etc. and 199 District Agromet Units (DAMUs) at KrishiVigyanKendras (KVKs) under ICAR network and communicated to the farmers on every Tuesday and Friday. Presently agromet advisories are being prepared for around 3100 blocks. However, the daily weather forecast valid for next five days for all the Blocks of the country is being provided by IMD since 2021.Along with the biweekly bulletins, daily weather forecast and nowcast information are also disseminated to the farmers by Regional and State Meteorological centers of IMD.

##  Establishment of DAMUs:

After  successful  implementation  of  District  level  AAS  through  the  network  of  130 AMFUs, Organizational setup of GKMS network is being augmented by establishing DAMUs  in  the  premises  of  KVKs  jointly  by  IMD  and  ICARto  prepare  subdistrict/block  level advisory and to enhance the outreach of services. Two additional manpower, viz. one  Subject  Matter  Specialist  (Agrometeorology)  and  one  Agromet Observer, are recruited at each KVK to take care of activities of DAMU. Expert panel is  constituted  at  each  DAMUs  consisting  of  experts  of  KVK  and  district  level agriculture officer to prepare the weather based advisory for the farmers, utilizing the past,  present  and  forecast  weather  information;  location  specific  knowledge;  and satellite-based information. As on date, 199 DAMUs have been established and block AAS have been rolled out to the farmers at micro-level.

##  Installation of Agro-AWS:

One  Agro-AWS  is  being  installed  at  each  newly  established  DAMU  to  record  the changes  in  weather  parameters.  200  of  these  Agro-AWSs  are  under  the  process  of installation at present (198 Agro-AWSshave already been installed); and the process for another set of 330 Agro-AWSs is in  an advance stage of procurement. The AgroAWSs also have soil moisture and soil temperature sensors up to one meter depth, as these parameters are very important for decision making in farm level risk management. It will fulfill the requirement of the country to have a benchmark district network of soil moisture and soil temperature observations in the country.

##  Generation of Agromet Products:

Generation  of  Agromet  advisories  based  on  realized  and  forecast  weather  and  crop state  and  stage  is  always  difficult.  In  view  of  enhancing  the  analytical  ability  of  the scientists  /  experts,  it  is  required  to  develop  /  generate  and  use  various  agromet products utilizing different weather, crop and satellite data available on real time basis.

In view of above, the agromet products like spatial distribution of weather parameters, maps  on  Normalised  Difference  Vegetation  Index  (NDVI),  Vegetation  Condition Index  (VCI),  Temperature  Condition  Index  (TCI),  Standardized  Precipitation  Index (SPI) etc. are generated on daily and weekly basis and communicated to AMFUs and DAMUs to facilitate preparation of more appropriate Agromet advisories.

##  Agromet Decision Support System ( https://agromet.imd.gov.in ):

A  dedicated  portal  'Agromet  DSS'  has  been  developed  to  make  seamless  data  & information  exchange  among  concerned  organizations  in  a  more  objective,  timely, transparent  and  effective  manner  leading  to  improvement  in  the  quality  of  services. Agromet-DSS facilitates the scientists / institutions with customised tools to integrate weather  and  crop  information  to  prepare  agromet  advisories  at  finer  scales  in  short time to serve farming community at micro level.

##  Real-time monitoring dashboard ( https://imdagrimet.gov.in/ ):

IMD  has  also  developed  'Real  Time  Monitoring  Dashboard'  for  monitoring  the preparation  of  Agromet  advisory  Bulletins  at  district  and  block  level  and  also  the Farmers Awareness Programmes (FAPs) conducted by each DAMU.

##  Inception of new techniques and tools:

-  Nowcast (up to 3 hours), medium range forecast (up to 5 days) and extended range forecast based advisory with a lead period of 15 days are provided to farmers and planners at central and state level.
-  Introduced very short range forecast for severe weather event like thunderstorm, lightning etc.; special advisories are disseminated through mKisan portal and other social media.
-  Enhanced  National  collaboration  for  research  &  development  and  outreach  of agromet advisories.
-  Introduction of Satellite based products as additional tools for decision making by the Agromet Experts.
-  Development  of  dynamic  feedback  -  real  time  weekly  /  fortnightly  and  end-ofseason.
-  Online  reception  of  weather  data  from  manual  agromet  observatory  in  near  real time.

##  Outreach and Dissemination:

Agromet Advisories are disseminated to the farmers through multichannel dissemination  system  like  print  and  electronic  media,  Door  Darshan,  radio,  internet etc. including SMS using mobile phones through Kisan Portal and also through private companies under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. SMS to the farmers through private companies is continued.

Apart  from issuing district  and  block level  agromet  advisories,  Impact  Based Forecasts (IBF) for extreme weather events detrimental to crops along with possible measures are being issued for various districts in different states as and when situation arises.  The  weather  warnings  for  heavy  rainfall,  hail  storm,  cold  wave,  frost,  heat wave, high wind etc. at district level are issued by the concerned RMCs and MCs of the respective states and accordingly the appropriate farm operations to save the crops are prepared by AMFUs and DAMUs. The consolidated IBF is prepared by the RMCs and MCs of IMD and disseminated to the district collectors and Agricultural officers of the concerned districts.

Social  media is also used for quicker dissemination of forecast and advisories to the farmers.  At  present  farmers  of  1,164,27  villages  in  3505  Blocks  have  been  covered through  15240  WhatsApp  groups.  State  Agriculture  Department officials  of  District and Block level are also included in these WhatsApp groups. Agromet advisories are also  communicated  through  YouTube  Channel  by  AMFUs  and  DAMUs  across  the country.  Farmers  feedback  are  also  being  collected  and  uploaded  in  YouTube Channel.  In  addition,  advisories  are  also  being  circulated  through  a  number  of Facebook  pages  created  by  AMFUs  and  DAMUs.  Initiative  on  collaboration  with State Government has been taken up for integration of weather forecast and Agromet advisories with state government mobile apps and websites. The integration has been completed  for  Bihar,  Chhattisgarh,  Gujarat,  Haryana,  Madhya  Pradesh,  Nagaland, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu states and about 6.2 million  farmers of above-mentioned states are getting benefitted from weather forecast and agromet advisories.

With  the  advancement  of  ICT,  Farmers  access  the  weather  information  including alerts and related agromet advisories specific to their districts through the mobile App viz., 'Meghdoot' launched by Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India. These weather details are also accessible by  farmers through another App 'KisanSuvidha', launched  by Ministry of Agriculture &  Farmers  Welfare. Also, a few  AMFUs  have developed mobile Apps to facilitate quick dissemination of agromet advisories to the farmers of their region.

IMD  is  taking  continuous  efforts  to  popularize  the  services  among  the  farming community by organising  Farmers'  Awareness Programmes (FAPs)  in  collaboration with AMFUs and DAMUs in various parts of the country. IMD along with the experts from AMFUs and DAMUs also participate in KisanMelas, Farmers' Day etc. to create awareness about the services, so that more farmers get benefitted.

- (b)-(c) For  modernization,  expansion  and  improvement in  Weather  &  Climate  services,  various plans are underway in IMD under the umbrella Central Sector Scheme ACROSS. There are 4  sub-schemes  of  IMD  under  ACROSS  namely,  Atmospheric  Observation  Network (AON), Upgradation of Forecast System (UFS), Weather & Climate Services (WCS) and Commissioning of Polarimetric Doppler Weather Radars (DWR). Main activities of these sub-schemes are as follows:

## Atmospheric Observations Network (AON)

-  Sustenance  and Augmentation  of  observational networks  comprising  of  Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs), Automatic Rain Gauges (ARGs), Automatic Weather Stations (AWSs), Upper Air, Surface and Environmental Observatories etc. . Improve upon the spatial  and  temporal  density  of  Radar  observational  network,  particularly  over  the regions with large data gaps in the country.
-  To  improve  and  upgrade  weather  and  climate  services  over  north-eastern  region  by establishing  additional  state  of  art  surface  and  upper  air  observatories  for  real  time observations.
-  Sustenance  &  Establishment  of  Multi  processing,  computing  and  communication facilities for Satellite Meteorological Applications.

## Upgradation of Forecast System (UFS)

-  Upgradation and sustenance of Communication Systems for Data and Product transmission.
-  Development  of  an  advanced  Operational  Forecast  System,  Delivery  System  for Forecast and other services.
-  Conduct of special campaign for improving Cyclone, Thunderstorm and Fog forecasting through provision of additional observations.
-  Integrated Himalayan Meteorological Programme for Western & Central Himalayas.
-  Capacity  Building,  Outreach,  Planning  and  sustenance  of  specific  process  related observing systems over India.

## Weather & Climate Services (WCS)

-  Setting up of District Agro-Met Units (DAMUs) at all the districts complimentarily with existing AMFUs in the country for extension of Agromet Advisory Services (AAS).
-  Major upgradation of Meteorological facilities at all airports through commissioning of State-of-art  Integrated  Aviation  Weather  Observing  Systems  (AWOS),  HAWOS, Microwave Radiometers, Doppler LIDARs, Wind Profilers etc to support Aeronautical MET Services.
-  Establishment  of  a  state-of  the-art  Climate  Data  Centre  with  integrated  advanced Climate Data Services portal for rendering national and regional climate services.
-  To  upgrade  the  training  infrastructure  and  facilities  to  enhance  the  capacity  of  the training establishment.

## Commissioning of Polarimetric Doppler Weather Radars (PDWR)

The scheme 'Commissioning of Polarimetric Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs)'  is aimed at augmenting the DWR network over the country to facilitate plugging the existing gaps in the meteorological  observational  network  of  radars  for  most  parts  of  the  country,  through installation of eleven C-Band dual polarized DWRs.

Major progress already made under this scheme with respect to Agricultural Weather Services follow:

-  About  198  Agro-AWS  have  been  installed  at  District  Agromet  Units  (DAMUs)  in KrishiVigyanKendras  (KVKs)  premises  which  have  soil  moisture  and  soil  temperature sensors additionally.
-  Experimental  block  level  agromet  advisories  are  issued  for  ~3000  blocks  covering  ~355 districts of the country at present. Issuance of Block level weather forecast and Agromet Advisory  Service  Bulletins  is  expected  to  increase  to  5000  blocks  in  2022  and  upto panchayat level by 2024.

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