ACTIVITIES OF THE VICE- PRESIDENT LS Rathore

Role of vice-president One of the roles of the CAgM vice-president, is to liaise with the Working Groups (WG) for Agricultural Meteorology of the Regional Associations (RAs). This role is to improve communication and collaboration between the CAgM programme and the WGs in the RAs. However, only two WGs were able to meet in the intersession period of the RAs.

Collaboration with International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) On request of IFAP to WMO, participated in Asian Climate Change Seminar Workshop held in Kathmandu, Nepal on 5-6 October 2009.The purpose of the seminar was to enhance the level of understanding of farmer leaders in Asia on climate change and the on-going negotiations, what governments are doing or planning to do, and what mitigation and adaptation strategies are offered by the research and science community to benefit the farmers. Farmers solutions were also shared. The VP also delivered a talk on Weather patterns and the potential effects in Asia during the seminar.

World Climate Conference 3 The vice-president participated in the World Climate Conference-3 (WCC-3) which was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 31 August to 4 September In addition, he represented the Commission as a member of the International Organizing Committee for WCC-3 (WIOC). There is a summary of WCC-3 in CAgM-XV/INF 5.

Collaborating with Indian Meteorological Society for Conference The Vice-President attended and assisted in the organization of the International Conference on the Challenges and Opportunities in Agrometeorology which was held in New Delhi, India from Feb 2009.

Work Shop Participation Attended International Workshop on the Content, Communication and Use of Weather and Climate Products and Services for Sustainable Agriculture, Held at Toowoomba, Australia during MAY 2009 and made presentation onExperience on District Level Agro-Met Services

Expert Mission to Review Agrometeorological Services in the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) Participated in a WMO Expert Mission to Review Agrometeorological Services in the BMD from 14 to 17 December Dr Sivakumar (WMO) and Dr Motha also participated in this mission at the request of the Secretary, of the Ministry of Defense of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. The goal of the mission was to review the existing Agrometeorological Services in the BMD and help improve these services. The programme for the expert mission mainly comprised of presentations from BMD staff, internal meetings with staff, review by the expert panel and discussions along the different terms of reference of the expert mission. The Expert Panel prepared a detailed questionnaire and sent it to BMD ahead of their visit. Responses to the questionnaire were prepared and presented by the BMD staff. The Expert Panel sought clarifications on a number of answers provided by the BMD staff.

Contd….. A one-day workshop on "Agrometeorology in the Service of Agriculture in Bangladesh" was held at BMD attended by over 70 participants drawn from all stakeholder organizations and senior government officials in Bangladesh including representatives of the ministries of Agriculture, Defense and various agricultural research institutes such as the BARI, BRRI, universities, NGOs etc., A session on Target Oriented Project Planning was held at which a series of questions were given to the participants. Answers from the participants were analyzed and a number of recommendations to strengthen linkages with the user community and obtain their constant feedback were drawn up. These draft recommendations were deliberated and approved during the workshop. The recommendations of the Expert Panel have been categorized into six major heads: organizational issues; agrometeorological observation system; agrometeorological data management; weather forecasts and agrometeorological products; agrometeorological advisory services; information communication; human resource development and capacity building; policy issues and miscellaneous. These recommendations were submitted for consideration by the Government of the Bangladesh to improve agrometeorological services.

Participation in WAMIS Attended Expert Meeting on Potential Information Technologies and Tools for Future WAMIS Applications, held at Seoul, South Korea during April The meeting; Reviewed the current status and capabilities of WAMIS Surveyed current state-of-the-art information technologies and internet tools (i.e., GIS, RS, downscaling, advanced monitoring, NWP based forecasting) that have application to agromet; Evaluated and identify technologies and tools on their usefulness to global or regional agrometeorological communities and their potential to be hosted on WAMIS; Made recommendations on potential new WAMIS applications including the development of draft project proposals.

Indias Inputs to WAMIS District Agro-Met Advisories Bulletins ~600 Districts State Level Composite AAS Bulletins ~23 States !~ National Agro-Met Advisory Bulletins

All agencies related to delivery of weather based farm advisory service integrated at IMD. Set up sound agromet observation net work Developed District level weather forecast up to 5 days. Initiated District Specific Agro-Advisories. Set up sound information dissemination mechanism Carry out-reach programs Feed-back mechanism Launching of Integrated Agromet Advisory Services

TIER 1 Apex Policy Planning Body TIER 2 National Agro Met Service HQ (Execution) TIER 3 State Agro Met Centres~23 State Agro Met Centres~23coordination/monitoring TIER 4 AMFUs Agro Climatic Zone Level 130 TIER 5 District Level Extension & Training Input management as advisory Input management as advisory Integrated AAS Drivers of Integration- Need for Crop specific District Level Advisory and Village Level Outreach.

Collaborating Agencies 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 MSSR Foundation & Other NGOs & PP

Weight for each grid of each Model (W) Observed Gridded Field NCEP Step-1 Generation of Multi-Analysis Weights JMA ECMWF NCMRWF UKMO Multimodel Super Ensemble Technique

Step-2 Forecast (F)= W i F i + D D= Value addition NCEP JMA ECMWF NCMRWF UKMO Generation of Multi-model Forecasts

IMD 130 AG.MET. FIELD UNITS DISTRICT LEVEL AGENCIES (DAO/KVK/ATMA/NGOs) PREPARATION OF DISTRICT WISE MEDIUM RANGE WEATHER FORECAST BY STATE MET CENTRE PREPARATION OF DISTRICT SPECIFIC AGRO-ADVISORIES FOR CONCERNED AGRO-CLIMATIC DISSEMINATION OF DISTRICT LEVEL AGRO-ADVISORIES FARMERS (THROUGH MEDIA AGENCIES, IT SERVICE, PERSONAL CONTACT) District-wise Agro-met data Agro-climate level agro-met data Feedback analysis District Level Agro-Met Advisory Service System

Three Tier Agro-met Advisory System District Agro-Met Advisories Bulletins: Issued by AMFUs & contains crop specific advisories for a given district State Level Composite AAS Bulletins: Issued by State Meteorological Centre & contains district wise advisories National Agro-Met Advisory Bulletins: Issued by National Agro-Met Advisory Service Centre, IMD, Pune & contains state wise advisories

Remote Sensing for AAS Make in-season assessment of crop acreage, health and stresses Core Variables : NDVI, Albedo, LST Derived variables: PET, AET, Soil Moisture Crop Yield Forecast at District level using Crop Simulation Model Collaborative Efforts (with SAC, ICAR, & DoAC) to generate crop and soil information at smaller scales for use in AAS.

Crop Weather Models for AAS Calibrate & validate crop simulation models for major crop in different districts Use such models in weather based decision making Multi-disciplinary task teams (25) are set up Final aim is to develop Expert Systems for farm level decision making

1.Mass Mode of Dissemination - All India radio - Television - Print Media 2. Outreach at Village level - Ministry of IT Internet based Village Connectivity - Web Pages: IMD, SAUs, ICAR Web Pages - Mobile Phone (SMS & IVRS) 3. Human face for advisory dissemination - KVK (ICAR): Training + interaction - DAO (SDA): Coordinate Farm inputs with Line Function Dept. in rhythm of weather forecast - NGOs & other intermediary groups - Awareness Programme

Dissemination through Mobile Phones SMS are being sent by the following four agencies. 1. Reuter Market Light 2. Handygo 3. State Department (Govt. of Maharashtra) 4. Vritti Solutions. The companies which are in the pipeline for dissemination through SMS to the farmers are: 1. NOKIA 2. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) 3. NABARD's Farmer School 4. Common Service Centre (CSC), DIT 5. Food and Agribusiness Strategic Advisory and Research, Yes Bank 6. Telvent (Austrellia) 7. Coromandal International Limited. (Formerly Coromandal Fertilizer Limited).

State wise SMS service through different dissemination agencies Maharashtra Reuter Market Light , Handygo 500, MahaAgri 26000, Vritti Solutions 2300, Total Punjab Reuter Market Light 43334, Handygo 750, Total Haryana Reuter Market Light 20556, Handygo 700, Total West Bengal Reuter Market Light 104, Handygo 700, Total 804 Gujarat: Reuter Market Light 16144, Handygo 400, Total Reuter Market Light is having presence in other 8 states also. Madhya Pradesh 7471 Karnataka 7784 Tamilnadu 4114 Andhra Pradesh Rajasthan Uttar Pradesh Himachal Pradesh 365 Uttarkhand 113 Total 73971

Outreach Set up linkage with Agri-extension system Prepare Farmers to Combat Climate Variability & Weather Extremes through use of Agromet Information Experience sharing on AAS with AMFUs as well as user communities. Involve extension stake holders Farmers Awareness Program

Linkages at District Level 130 AMFU (one in ~ 5 Districts) 567 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in 605 Districts Impart skill through oriented 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 Centres (Village Level) Local Media

Feed back Through Personal Contact Through Internet Through Media Agencies Prepare Questionnaire Surveys Farmers Meeting/Kisan Mela