Agrometeorological Advisory Services

under Gramin Krishi Mausam Seva (GKMS), District Agrometeorological Unit

Agromet Advisory Services is a new step towards the farming community. It is the single window solutions for all the queries related to fluctuating weather conditions and management of crops, livestock, and fishery. The losses in the crop can be reduced by doing proper crop management in time by accurate weather forecasts. How to minimize the crop losses through weather forecast of different extreme events (like Cyclones, flood and hailstorm) during the crop growing season, India Meteorological Department (IMD) is rendering district level weather-based agrometeorological advisory service named as "Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa" since 2008 in the country to cope up with weather and climatic risks and uncertainties. Preparation of agromet advisory bulletin and dissemination is the main objective of Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS). Now, the GKMS is extended to block-level to address the weather needs of farmers at the micro-level. The main task of District Agromet Unit (DAMU) or SMS (Agromet) is required to prepare the Agromet Advisory Services Bulletins (AASB) after receiving the weather forecast from the India Meteorological Department. AAS bulletin is prepared by using the DSS (Decision Support System). The Agromet Advisory Service (AAS) bulletins are prepared by the Agro Advisory Board, consisting of scientists belonging to various disciplines of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) and Agricultural Officers of the District. Such AAS bulletins are being prepared and issued in English as well as local languages. The AAS bulletins are prepared twice in a week i.e. Tuesday and Friday. Dissemination of AAS bulletins in time to the beneficiaries is very important. The predicted weather forecast and advisories are given to the progressive farmers, NGO and other stakeholders over phone and through SMS. Once the farmers received the forecast and agro advisory, they can plan their agricultural operations and take decisions accordingly. In addition, agro advisory bulletins have also been disseminated through print media (newspapers), All India Radio and television programs (local or regional cable, TV, Doordarshan, etc.).

About MEGHDOOT and DAMINI App

      The Ministries of Earth Sciences, along with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) have launched MEGHDOOT app to the Indian farming community. This app provides location, and crop and livestock-specific weather-based agro advisories to farmers in local languages. The Agromet Field Units (AMFU) and District Agrometeorological Unit (DAMU) have been preparing the Agromet Advisory Bulletin through DSS (Decision Support System) software in every Tuesday and Friday. After preparation of Agromet Advisory Bulletin, it is disseminate through different ICT modes like News paper, Whats app group, All India Radio and television programs (local or regional cable, TV, Doordarshan, etc.) also both forecast (for 5 days) and prepared advisories shows in MEGHDOOT app. This app allows farmers and interested users to access these advisories in a user friendly manner. The advisories are also issued in vernacular wherever available. If the farmers download and install this app they will get all the information on weather forecast for coming 5 days, ongoing agricultural operation, horticulture, livestock, fishery and poultry etc. And farmers will be benefitted from this app. The information would be updated twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays. By using this app (MEGHDOOT) farmers will take decision based on predicted weather and accordingly they can plan for agricultural operations. Already, DAMU, KVK Cachar has been providing advisory on this app through Agromet Advisory Bulletin to the farming community. This app may download and install from Google Play Store and App Store.

      Damini Lightning app is developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune and Earth System Science Organization (ESSO), New Delhi. The app is monitoring all lightning activity which is happening in specifically for all India. And alert you if lightning is happening near you by GPS notification. By using this app we can save human lives, animal lives from thunderstorm. This app may download and install from Google Play Store and App Store.