Weather forecasting for crop management

Weather forecasts is an integral part of modern farming. Application of remote sensing and other modern technologies has enabled the Meteorology department to issue more accurate forecasts that help farmers to improve planning for farming activities as well as crop management. Dissemination of information on hyperlocal weather and crop data to the farmers at the grassroots to improve productivity and farming activities remunerative is possible. Weather forecasting help farmers to plan when to prepare the field and sow seeds. In a state like Assam with many farmers still dependent on seasonal rains for farming, weather forecasting proves highly beneficial. It helps them take informed decision on preparing the field for a particular crop by examining soil moisture and soil temperature and how the weather condition is going to impact them. Timely forecasting helps the farmer decide timing of the application of pesticides, fertiliser, irrigating the field. If the weather forecast of rain or storm does not reach the farmer in time, then he or she would not be able to prevent fertiliser of pesticides being swept away in rain and desired results will not be achieved. Deciding the timing of farming activities can prevent crop damage in heavy rain and extreme weather condition. The Ministry of Earth Sciences has initiated the 'Integrated Meteorological Services for the North-East (NE) region' to enhance weather and climate services in the region. It is an initiative under the Central sector scheme called Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modeling Observing Systems & Services (ACROSS). This includes setting of observational network required for meeting aviation and other requirements through commissioning of Automated Weather Observing System/Heliport Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS/HAWOS), setting up/upgradation of Meteorological Centres (MCs) and other facilities over the region. Augmentation of the observational network will help fill the data gap areas in the region, leading to better accuracy of forecasts and consequent precision in climate monitoring, analysis and climate prediction, the Central government informed the Parliament. Under this initiative 86 Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) in the region including 27 stations in Assam and 16 stations in Arunachal Pradesh have been built. Each AWS records hourly data on rainfall, wind speed, wind direction, atmospheric pressure, relative humidity, temperature, and duration of sunshine. According to North East Space Application Centre (NESAC) the data from these AWS are being extensively used by some state government departments including the Agriculture departments, water resource departments and forms "back bone of flood forecasting and drought estimates, being carried out by NESAC." Assam has a net sown area of 28.27 lakh hectares, and about 1.75 lakh hectares are fallow land in the state. More than 67 per cent of the farmers have marginal land holding of less than one hectare, and about 18 per cent farmers have small land holding of one to two hectares. Crop damage due to extreme weather condition and natural disasters like flood leave majority of the farmers in distress and often turn their agriculture activities non-remunerative. Distress in rural farm families coupled with lack of avenues for alternative livelihood have led to many households withdrawing from farming and rural youth migrating outside their villages and also outside the state in search of livelihood. Dissemination of accurate weather information can help such farmers improve farming activities by proper planning including timing and choices of crop depending on sustainability of a particular variety in specific weather and soil condition. Flood and water resilient Bau rice cultivation by flood-ravaged farm families of Dhemaji is a success story scripted by farmers with the help of agriculture and weather scientists of the region. Community radio services can help effective dissemination of the weather bulletins and other weather information and advice from experts for the benefit of farmers. The community radio provides an interactive platform for the farmers to share experiences with experts and broadcast of such radio programmes can augment use of hyperlocal weather data by farmers in a cluster of villages as the community radio has coverage area of 5-10 km radius. Setting up more such community radio stations by non-governmental organizations which work for the welfare of farmers in the region will go long way filling the gap. Digital editions of the public broadcaster All India Radio and the community radios have now made it possible to disseminate the programmes through social media networks for the benefit of people outside the coverage area. Uncertainty in weather-condition in Assam and other north-eastern states is a huge challenge for the traditional farmers. Modern technologies have improved weather forecasting which is gradually changing the situation. Difficult terrain and poor connectivity pose hurdles before Meteorology department and weather scientists to deliver their desired services. Adequate funding by the Central and the State governments to support the weather authorities and scientists will bring rich dividends on such public spending as it will help the farmers to improve crop management practices.