Agro - advisory Services in India for farmers point of view

Preparation and dissemination of Agro- advisory services in india .

1. Dr. Sachin G MUNDHE Assist. Prof. ( Agril . Meteorology) Department of Agricultural Meteorology College of Agriculture, Pune

2. Minor climatic variations can have a major impact on agricultural output. Long-term agricultural productivity and food security is affected by ongoing climate variability. Over next 30 years food production needs to be doubled when climate change is looming. Dissemination of climatic information and weather forecast along with farm management options in the form of advisories. Access to dynamic technological development & its weather sensitivity improves decision making ability. Ability of farmers to take decision on farm operations to be enhanced with the updated information on weather & climate related issues.

3. F a r m er s W e at h e r B u l le t in (1945 ) Recommendation of National C o m m i ss i o n o n A g ric u l t u r e ( NCA ) in 197 1 fo r AAS I s su a nc e o f AAS b u lle t i n s a t State level by IMD from Madras ( C h e nn a i ) i n J u l y , 1977 Iss u a nce o f AAS b u lle t i n s b y NCMRWF at agro-climatic zone level (1991) I nt e g r a t e d A g r o met Ad v i s o ry s er v ice s ( I AAS) a t district level (2008) Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) E x periment a l AAS a t Block Level (2018) A pr i l 2007 History of Agro-Advisory services in India

4. AAS Evolution 1932 : 1945 : 1976 : 1991 : 2007 : • 2008 : 2011 : Division of ag. Meteorology Farmer’s weather bulletin Agro-met advisory service (state level) Medium range forecast based advisories at agro- climatic zone level (127) Integrated AAS at IMD, ministry of earth sciences Launched district level advisories Experimental block level forecast

5. Scope of Agro Advisory Services District level information with Agro Climatic and National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) nomenclature of zone distributions; Dissemination of information on Forecasted Weather by IMD; Agro-Met Advisory (Maharashtra Model of Customized SMS based advisories to be adopted); District Level advisories available at present to be used for dissemination; A strong Feedback mechanism/ Help Desk to be developed so as to capture the observations of the farmers and improve upon the Advisories accordingly; T o contac t o r g anizat i ons ha v i n g e x pertise i n con v ersions o f R o m an t o V ernacular T e x t. II T Kanp u r ha s done considerable work for language conversions. CDAC may also be contacted. Technology for SMS dissemination to be explored keeping in mind how to send text in 160 characters, text to voice conversions etc.; IMD and related sources to transfer advisories and related information to NIC to be ported on portal; Advisory Bulletins to farmers and stakeholders regarding weather sensitive agricultural operations to mitigate weather based risk on crop cultivation;

6. Advisories on Forecasted Weather, Variety Selection, Field Selection, Sowing Time, Crop Health and Agro-met Advisory to be provided by experts at the State and National Level; SM S Alerts on Weather Forecast Impact on Crop, Impact on livestock Impact on fisheries Grievance management through multiple service delivery channels to the farmers; Study of Existing Automation of Meteorological Bulletin done by NIC Tripura / Pune on for Disseminating the following Forecast based on IMD 5 Day Medium Range data Early Warning System (EWS) on natural calamities Dissemination over SMS/ e-mail/ Web (G2F & G2C) Actual Weather Summary based on Daily Weather Data 14. Disse m ination of A g ro - Met Ad v isories Scope of Agro Advisory Services

7. Weather Forecast spectrum for Agriculture Nowcast for 3 hours (location specific) M e d i u m r a ng e u p to 1 d a y s ( b l o c k /cit y / d i s t r i ct / m e t S u b d i v . ) W ith p ro b abi l i t y Extended range for 4 weeks (met sub-div. / State / Homogeneous regions) Long range for season (homogeneous regions / country) Early warning system on extreme events: cyclone / Hailstorm / thunderstorm / cold & heat wave / drought.

8. Statistical and Dynamical Models Long range forecasts Dynamical Models Extended Range – Coupled ocean-atmospheric models run at IMD Update once in a week up to 4 weeks) (CFS and GFS) Medium and Short range forecasts – Atmospheric General Circulation Models T-1534 Global model (~12 km, 10 days; update twice daily) (GFS –T1534) WRF-ARW Regional Model (27 & 9 km, 3 days) WRF-ARW Sub-regional Model (3 km, 1 day) Nowcast Models Ensemble Forecast (GEFS – T1534; 12 km, 10 days; update once in a day with 21 ensemble members. (GFS –T1534) Operation of I M D F ore c ast i ng S y stem – A sui t e of m ode l s for gen e ra t i n g different forecasts

9. 5 TIER 2 TIER 1 TIER 3 TIER 4 TIER 5 Apex Policy Planning Body Delhi Network of 130 A g r o m e t F i e l d Units National A g ro m et Service HQ Execution Pune Network of AAS units in the country State A g ro m et ‘Centres (28) Coordination/Monitoring Agromet Field Units Agroclimatic Zone Level (130) District Level Extension and Training Input Management Locale & Crop specific Advisory & Farmer Level Outreach Oper a t i onal Agr o - Met e orology

10. Coll a bo r a t ing Agenc i es 1. Ministry Of Earth Sciences India Meteorological Department National Centre For Medium Range Weather Forecasting Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology Indian Council For Agricultural Research Department Of Agriculture & Cooperation State Departments Of Agriculture State Agricultural Universities And Other Universities Ministry of Information Technology Ministry of Science & Technology Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (AIR & TV) Print Media Department Of Space Min. of Rural Development NGOs & Private Agencies

11. 130 AMFUs with SAUs & ICAR 5-days Forecast + weekly outlook District Agromet Advisory Every Tuesday & Friday State & National Composite bulletin Smart Dissemination System Feedback Economic Impact Assessment Monitoring (Review Meetings) AAS awareness & user interaction programs In t eg r a t ed A A S

12. Objectives of GKMS To continuously improve the existing District level Agromet Advisory Services (AAS) and extend them further to Block level. To establish District Agro-Met Units (DAMUs) in close cooperation with ICAR at Krishi Vigyan Kendra’s (KVKs). To expand the existing channels of communication of weather based agro-met advisories to the farmers so as to expand the outreach to cover all farmer households. Promote Research & Excellence in Agro-meteorology in support of targeted improvement to the operational services.

13. Need of forecasts of various scales for Agriculture Seasonal / Monthly Forecast ( Readiness and s t r a t e g i c plannin g ) Fortnightly Forecast ( Preparedness and Tactical decisions ) Nowcast (3 hours) and Medium range Forecast (5-10 days) (Operational farm application) Planning

14. Information Needs of Farmers/Planners Personalized advisory for farmers Locale specific changes & variability in weather & climate Weather forecast Nowcasts, Short & Medium Range Extended range, Seasonal Scale Crop Stresses & Pest/disease conditions and their prognosis Weather/climate based farm management

15. Status of agro advisory services in India Indian meteorological department IMD of the ministry of earth sciences, started issuing weekly weather bulletins for the farming community in collaboration with the state department of agriculture of the respective state governments. IMD launched integrated agro-met advisory services (IAAS) in the country, from the year 2007, in collaboration with different organizations, including state agricultural universities (SAU) and few ICAR institutes. At present, IMD at national, state and district level is issuing Agro-met Advisory Bulletins. Among these, district level bulletins are prepared at the different Agro-Met Field Units (AMFUs) representing different agro- climatic regions Indian Council of Agricultural research (ICAR) has established All India Coordinated Research Project in Agro- Meteorology (AICRPAM), with the Central Research Institute for Dry land Agriculture (CRIDA) as the Nodal agency and about 30 AICRPAM Centers in various SAUs. The IMD has planned to involve institutions (IITs, IISc, NITs, Universities, private organizations etc.) through MOU for strengthening IAAS in the country.

16. 01 02 03 04 Making generate information on weather & climate (observations & forecast) Impact of likely weather on crop impact of likely weather on P&D weather based input management Disseminate information outreach, capacity building, feedback Weather sensitivity of farm operations develop decision making tools: data base crop/soil modeling remote sensing & GIS crop/soil monitoring, drought monitoring etc. Strategies to Empower Farmers for Weather Based Decision

17. IMD Multi-Model Ensemble (MME) based District level Forecasts Parameters: Rainfall Max & Min temperature Total cloud cover Surface Relative Humidity Surface Wind

18. District Level Agro-Met Advisory Service System IMD District level agencies (DAO/KVK/ A TMA/NGOs) 130 ag. Met. Field units FARMERS (Through Media Agencies, IT Service, Personal contact) Preparation of district wise medium range weather forecast by State Met Centre Agro-climatic level Agro-met data Preparation of district specific agro-advisories for concerned agroclimatic Dissemination of district level agro-advisories District-wise Agro-met data

19. Linkages at District Level 130 AMFU (one in ~ 5 Districts) 589 Krishi Vigyan Kendra's (Farmer’s Science Centers) in 640 Districts. Transfer of recommended technologies from NARS Impart skills through orientation programs to rural masses Organize vocational trainings, demonstrate latest technologies and its refinement in farmers’ field conditions Organize demonstrations to generate awareness & feedback Agro Technology Management Agencies (ATMA) District Agriculture/Horticulture Offices Common Service Centers (Village Level) Local Media

20. Three tier Agro-met Advisory System National Agromet Advisory Bulletins are prepared by National Agromet Advisory Service Centre, IMD, Pune . AMFUs issue district level advisories. State Level Composite AAS Bulletins are prepared by State Meteorological Centre.

21. Agro-met Advisory Bulletins at National, State & District level

22. District Agromet Advisory Bulletin More than 550 districts are covered Bulletin is targeted for the farmers. This contains advisories for all the weather sensitive agricultural operations form sowing to harvest. It includes advisories for horticultural crops and livestock also.

23. State level composite Bulletin This bulletin is prepared for the State level CWWG meeting. This is also meant for other users like Fertilizer industry, Pesticide industry, Irrigation Department, Seed Corporation, Transport and other organizations which provide inputs in agriculture.

24. National Agro m et Ad v iso r y B u l l et i n The bulletin is primarily prepared for the Ministry of Agriculture for taking important decision in Crop Weather Watch Group (CWWG) meeting. Besides the same is also communicated to all the related Ministries (State & Central), Organizations, NGOs for their use.

25. Agromet Information Dissemination 1. Mass Mode of Dissemination: Print Media: Newspaper, magazine article Electronic media: Radio, Television 2. Select User Group Dissemination; Internet: Internet posting, e-Mail Mobile Phones: SMS, IVRS 3. H u m an f a c e f or A d v i sory Dissemination Extension Awareness Program, Farmer’s Fare

26. St rategies to Empower Farm ers for Wea ther Based D ecision making. Generate information on Weather & Climate (Observations & Forecast) Impact of likely weather on crop Impact of likely weather on P&D Weather based input management Weather sensitivity of farm operations Develop decision making Tools: Data base Crop/Soil/P&D Modeling Remote Sensing & GIS Crop/Soil Monitoring, Drought Monitoring etc. Disseminate information Outreach, capacity building, Feedback

27. In Use Spatial distribution of weather parameters (Daily, Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly, Seasonal) Soil Moisture maps Crop weather calendar Pest weather calendar Weekly products: SPI & SPEI, both realized and forecast Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) Vegetation Condition Index (VCI) Temperature Condition Index (TCI) I n pi l ot m ode f or AAS Reference evapotranspiration (daily) Insolation on daily scale Soil Temperatures at different depth (Daily, Weekly) Vegetation Health Index (VHI )

28. Current State Agromet Bulletins

29. Max . T em p Min. T e m p Max. RH Min . RH Clou d cover W ind speed Agromet products on weather parameters.

30. M i n Hum. M a x Hum.

31. w ind Cloud cover

32. M i n t e m p . M a x t e m p .

33. Rainfall

34. Monthly SPI (district) SPI Weekly Outlook (ERF)

35. Monthly SPI (district) SPI Weekly Outlook (ERF)

36. Advisory prepared by DAMU- Kannuj (UP) Issued On: 04.09.2020 valid for next 5 days

37. Weather Forecast : Skillful, Quantitative, Locale Specific, Seamless Agriculture : Crop/Livestock/P&D conditions assessment • Diagnose Weather Related Stress Weather Sensitivity of Crops & Management. Practices Decision Support Tools for Translating Weather Forecast into Advisor i es Advisory Disse m i n ati on, Outreach & Feedback Synergistic Collaboration among Participating agencies. Challenges

38. What we Conclude ? Farmers need both weather and climate services for better crop production. Agromet Advisory services are the provision of accurate and locally-appropriate climate and weather information play a vital on risk mitigation in agriculture. At the district level, AAS is underway to extend up to sub-district/block level with dissemination up to village level to meet the end user’s requirements in both the irrigated and rainfed systems. Establishment of 660 DAMUs in each district of India at KVK is under pipeline which includes 130 existing AMFUs till 2019 for the weather forecast. So that small and marginal farmers will be benefitted by these services.