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Source: This post on Agro-Meteorological Advisories has been created based on the article “The role of district agro-met offices in supporting farmers”, published in The Hindu on 10th Sep 2024.
What is the news?
Recently, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced plans to revive District Agro-Meteorology Units (DAMUs) under the Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme.
About Agro-Meteorological Advisories
1. Agro-meteorological advisories provide farmers with weather-based guidance to help them make better decisions for farming.
2. This is done through District Agro-Meteorology Units (DAMUs) which are specialized units established to provide localized weather-based agricultural advisories to farmers.
2. DAMUs uses weather data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), such as rainfall, temperature, and wind speeds.
3. Based on IMD data, they help farmers decide when to sow, harvest, apply fertilizers and pesticides, and plan irrigation. They also warn early about extreme weather like droughts or heavy rainfall.
4. Advisories are sent to millions of farmers across the country in local languages. These were distributed free-of-cost twice a week.
5. The advisories were shared via text messages, WhatsApp groups, newspapers, and in-person communication by DAMU staff and KVK officers.
About District Agro-Meteorology Units (DAMUs)
1. DAMUs were set up under the Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in 2018. DAMUs were located at Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and staffed by experts in meteorology and agriculture.
2. They provided local weather data and advice to farmers at the district and block levels.
3. They sent free advisories to farmers through SMS, WhatsApp, newspapers, and face-to-face communication. These advisories helped farmers plan farming activities and avoid losses due to bad weather.
Impact of Agro-Met Schemes
1. DAMUs helped improve the adaptability of farmers to climatic variations, resulting in higher yields and better incomes.
2. By providing localized and easily accessible advisories, the agro-met offices played a critical role in ensuring farmers were better prepared for climate change impacts.
Challenges associated with DAMU
1. Shutdown of DAMUs: In March 2024, DAMUs were shut down by the IMD. NITI Aayog suggested using automated systems and privatizing the service, raising concerns as private services are often too expensive for small farmers.
2. Concerns with Private Services: Private companies provide similar services but at high costs (up to ₹80,000 per year). This makes them unaffordable for many farmers. There’s also concern about possible bias in promoting certain brands of fertilizers and pesticides.
Read more: Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme.
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