1. Overview of India’s Integrated Agromet-Advisory Service (AAS) Programby
Dr. N.Chattopadhyay
Head
Agricultural Meteorology Division
India Meteorological Department
Ministry of Earth Sciences
Government of India

2. Outline……. Present day need of weather service to Indian Agriculture
Addressing the need of the service by the Indian Government
Observation
Forecast
Agromet Advisory Services system in India
District level Agromet Advisories
Communication/dissemination
Feedback
Challenges
Preparedness to face the future challenges

3. Weather & Challenges facing Agriculture in India
Agriculture is highly dependent on weather and subject to its variability.
Possible impacts of climate change.
Sustainability of intensive agriculture using current technologies the context of the global climate change.
Long-term changes and the increasing frequency of extreme weather.
Changes in hydrological regimes.
Therefore, the problem is being addressed collectively by scientists, administrators, planners and society.

4. Components of Variability in Weather & Climate in India
Heat/Cold Wave
More variable R/F
Increased Extremes Weather Events
Erratic Onset, advance and retrieval of Monsoon
Shift in Active/break cycles
Intensity and frequency of Monsoon lows/depressions

5. Extreme Weather and Damages to Crops
Banana trees damaged by heavy rain and uprooted by high winds in
Tamilnadu and Kerala, April 2011
Coconut palms are vulnerable to the effects of heavy rain
and lightning, October 2011
Extreme Weather and Damages to Crops

6. Weather Service to Agriculture
There is need to manage agriculture in the face of such challenges and to provide ‘weatherproofing’ for farm production.
India Meteorological Department (IMD), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, is operating an Integrated Agro-Meteorological Advisory Service (IAAS) at district level in India.
Under the Agromet Advisory Services (AAS), the needs of farming communities were established through feedback from end-user groups.
This showed that the primary need of the farmer is a location specific and quantified weather forecast, which led to the creation of the IAAS project.

7. Role of Weather Information in Farm Management
Cultivars  Selection
Choosing windows for Sowing/harvesting operations
Irrigation scheduling – optimal water use
Mitigation from adverse weather events such as frost, low temperature, heavy rainfall – at critical crop stages
Fertilizer application
Pesticide/fungicide spraying schedules
Feed, Health and Shelter Management for Livestock [Optimal temperature for dairy/ hatchery etc.]

8. AAS in India & United Nations Global Framework for Climates Services (GFCS)
Ensuring greater availability of, access to, and use of climate services
Addressing three geographic domains: district, regional and national
Ensuring operational climate services are the core element of the activities
Ensuring climate information is primarily provided by governments, which have central role in its management through the GFCS
Promoting the free and open exchange of climate relevant observational data while respecting national and international data policies
Establishing the role of the AAS activities so that they facilitate and strengthen, rather than duplicating
Building AAS activities through user-provider partnerships that include all stakeholders

9. Objectives & Components of Agromet Service
Efficient outreach system
Right information/right time through extension and disseminating agencies
Location specific weather forecast and Agromet Advisories.
Components of AAS
Crop Yield Forecasting
Network for AAS
Dissemination
Weather Forecast & Advisory
Awareness Programme
Feedback Mechanism
Economic Benefit
Training

10. Salient features of Weather Based Farm Advisory Service
IMD, Ministry of Earth Sciences, is operating an Integrated Agro-Meteorological Advisory Service (IAAS) in close collaboration with ICAR, SAUs, IITs etc. with following key elements:
Quantitative 5 day weather forecast at district level
Weather based crop/livestock Advisories in vernacular languages
Strong Dissemination & extension Mechanism
Coordinated review and monitoring mechanism
Significant economic impact
Good feedback from end-user groups

11. Collaborating Agencies
Multi-Disciplinary & Multi-Institutional
Indian Council For Agricultural Research
Department Of Agriculture & Cooperation
State Departments Of Agriculture
State Agricultural Universities And Other Universities
Department Of Space
Ministry of Information Technology
Ministry Of Earth Sciences
India Meteorological Department
National Centre For Medium Range Weather Forecasting
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology
National Informatics Centre
Ministry of Science & Technology
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (AIR & TV)
Print Media
Min. of Rural Development
MSSR Foundation & Other NGOs & PP

12. Operational Agrometeorology
The Agromet services provide a very special kind of inputs to the farmer as advisories that can make a tremendous difference to the agriculture production by taking in time actions against extreme weather events.
This has a potential to change the face of India in terms of food security and poverty alleviation.
TIER 1
Apex Policy Planning Body, Delhi
TIER 2
National Agromet Service HQ
Execution, Pune
TIER 3
State Agromet Centres (28)
Coordination/Monitoring
TIER 4
Agromet Field Units
Agroclimatic Zone Level (130)
TIER 5
District Level Extension and Training
Input Management as advisory~612
Network of 130 Agromet Field Units
Network of AAS units in the country

13. Network of AAS units in the country Network of 130 Agromet Field Units
Network of Agromet Advisory Services
Two Ways of Communication System
Network of AAS units in the country
Network of 130 Agromet Field Units

14. Network of surface observatories

15. Agromet Observatories
The Division of Agricultural Meteorology maintains and provides technical support to a wide range of Agromet Observatories from where different kinds of data on agromet parameters are generated.
Agromet Observations from different observatories are recorded daily and the same was received and archived in Agrimet Division.
Agromet observatories supply meteorological data to I. M. D., and are located mostly at the premises of the State Agriculture and irrigation Departments, Agricultural Institutes / Universities and Research farms.
Type of observatory
Number
Agromet
264
Evaporation
219
Evapotranspiration 42
Soil Moisture 43
Dewfall 76

17. Conducted Brainstorming Session on Standardisation and Integration of Automatic Weather Stations Under National Umbrella
Meeting was done to establish a denser network of automatic weather stations across the country under the joint venture of concerned organisations involved in installation, maintenance of AWS and those desire to use the data from AWS for different services in the country.
The objective of the meeting was to develop a national consortium by all the concerned organizations to integrate the existing AWS network and install new ones with the required sensors, maintenance, reception of quality controlled and uninterrupted data, data sharing mechanism etc.

18. District Level Five days Weather Forecast
Parameters:
Rainfall
Max and Min temperature
Total cloud cover
Surface Relative humidity
Surface Wind
Implemented from 1 June 2008
Rainfall: MME based
Members: ECMWF, UKMO, JMA,NCEP and IMD GFS T584

19. DISTRICT LEVEL FORECAST
Generation of district level weather forecast (DLWF)
Currently these cover
640 districts of the country
DISTRICT LEVEL FORECAST

20. Preparation of medium range forecast at district level
NWP products
State Met Centre
(SAMC)
Value addition
Advisory Bulletin
(AMFUs)
Dissemination of
Agromet Advisory
through Multi-Channel Dissemination System
Parameters
Rainfall, Wind speed and direction, Maximum temperature, Relative humidity, Minimum temperature, Cloud cover
Agromet
Advisory
Feedback
Economic Benefit: Example: AMFU Sonitpur: Save potato crop (which was at maturity stage in the field) of value of Rs.3,00, (rupees three lakh) from the damage due in time forecast of heavy rainfall
Assessment: At present only10 to 15 percent of the farmers are benefitting from the SMS services and about 24% farmers are aware about Agromet services (NCAER, 2011)

21. National Level Bulletin
State Level Bulletin
District Level Bulletin
for Chennai

22. Forecast from IMD, New Delhi Agromet Advisory Bulletin by AMFUs
Operational communication linkage between Agromet Advisory Service Unit and end-users (farmers) for effective communication
Forecast from IMD, New Delhi
State Met Centres
Agromet Advisory Bulletin by AMFUs
State Agril. Dept.
SMS on mobile
Personal Contact
Postal Contact
Farmer
KVK
Television
News Papers
Radio

25. Accurate Plant Disease forecast and minimize the spray of pesticides
Internet Cloud
Mobile service
provider
Query
Response
Farmer with
mobile-phone
Parameter
Update
Mobile phone Application for
Parameters/Queries/ Symptoms update
Wireless Sensor Networks *1 *2
Alert/
Advice
Model Generated Disease risk
Expert Console
mKRISHI Server
mKRISHI
Weather Station
Farms

26. Proposed dissemination projects
Disseminated Agromet Advisory to 3.4 million farmers through PPP mode (Reuter Market Light, Handygo,, IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Limited (IKSL), Nokia and State Govt. of Maharashtra
Current dissemination projects
Proposed dissemination projects

27. Impacts of SMS
communicated that he was about to sow carrot seeds, but upon receiving an SMS that heavy rains were coming, he postponed the sowing. Had he not received the message and gone ahead with sowing, he would have lost 25,000 rupees and his efforts would have gone to waste
Vikas, a farmer in Nizampur village near Delhi
had decided to irrigate his paddy crop, but on receiving an SMS that it would rain in the next couple of days, he postponed irrigating, saving on costs, including electricity
In Palla village, near Delhi, farmer Surendra
was planning to spray fertilizer during September. An SMS text that there would be rains within the next two days convinced him the time was not right. If he had ignored the message, rain would have washed away all the fertilizer
A farmer in Nekpur village in Bulandshah in the state of Uttar Pradesh
Ways in which farmers have saved money as a result of AAS include the following:

28. Summer Placement Course
Trainings
Agromet Core Course
Basic Agromet Course
Meteorologists
Grade II
Foreign Training
Summer Placement Course
Refresher Course 
Agromet Observers’ Course
Training course on ‘Agrometeorology towards better advisories for serving end users requirement’
Two weeks foreign training for personnel from Africa, Asia including North Korea would be organized from 28th January to 9th February 2013

29. Popularization Mechanism
Done Field visit at Sakurde, Boregaon and Baramati in Maharashtra
By the end of January 2012 Farmer Awareness Programme at 79 AMFUs
State level Consortium on AAS at 3 States involving KVK, ATMA, NGO and other Stake holders
Hindi
English
Brochures in 14 different languages prepared

30. to produce location-specific agromet advisories
Farmer Awareness Programme
By getting involved in the observation of weather data, farmers can help
to produce location-specific agromet advisories
Farmers are provided with rain gauges by the programme

31. Development of Feedback Mechanism
Quality of Forecast
Farmer should contact Whom & How?
Answering questions of common interest through bulletins
Accessibility to information via internet, ICT
Accessibility to Experts & video Conferencing
Problem solving through interactive mode
Quality & relevance of Advisories

32. Feedback from Service Providers
A number of IKSL and Reuters subscribers reported that they had successfully averted potential losses by reacting quickly to weather and disease information, while others have reported improved yields by adopting new seed varieties and cultivation practices, according to questionnaires and direct contact with farmers.
Those acting on cultivation information state that they gained by replacing traditional ‘commonsense’ practices with modern cultivation techniques. Weather information has helped to prevent seed and crop loss too, with farmers in Maharashtra using the forecasts to adjust irrigation levels.

33. Need Assessment Survey

34. The following table shows how the farmers are getting benifitted because of the advise given by expert in the agromet filed unit at Coimbatore, Tamilnadu state
Weather forecast
Advise given
Economic benefits
Light to moderate rainfall - nursery sowing time
Irrigating the nursery during evening hours and keeping standing water during night time so that displacement of germinating seeds will be avoided
Rs. 2,500/ha
Continuous rain for five days – vegetative stage
Postpone of nitrogenous fertilizer application to rice
Rs. 750/ha
Light rainfall for the next two days - maturity stage of rice
Postponement of paddy harvest
Rs. 2500/ha
Cloud cover, low temp. and higher RH- flowering period
Infestation of false smut is expected. Prophylactic spraying of fungicides Probiconozole (or) Carbendazim 0.1% at the time of booting and milky stages is effective against false smut.
Rs. 3000/ha
Rainfall
Delay the potato sowing
Rs. 10,000/ha
Continuous rain and RH
Prophylactic sprays for blister blight control in Tea
Rs.1000/ha

35. Participated in “A Dialogue for Climate Services Users and Providers: Towards Implementation of the GFCS
on October, 2012 at Geneva
Dr. L. S. Rahtore, DGM, New Delhi presented posters on
1. Delivering advisory services by mobile phone
2. Reaching farming communities in India through Farmer Awareness Programmes
Case Study I: Dissemination of Agromet Advisory Services on Mobile Phone through Public Private Partnership Programme.
Case Study II: Reaching Farming community in India through Farmer Awareness Programmes.
Accepted for publication of GFCS document to WMO, Geneva and the same was well appreciated by WMO.

36. Credential of AAS in India
The agromet advisory services provided by IMD through various channels have resulted in significant increases in farm productivity, resulting in increased availability of food and higher income generation.
At present only10 to 15 percent of the farmers are benefitting from the SMS services and about 24% farmers are aware about Agromet services.
The economic benefit of these services which has been estimated by NCAER at Rs.50,000 crores per year is extrapolated to rise to Rs.211,000 crores if the entire farming community in the country were to apply Agromet information to their agricultural activity.
Still no doubt there is a long way to go in not only increasing production but raising the income of farmers and reducing their losses and ultimately distress. It is challenging task for government, IMD as well as the other stake holders to achieve this.

37. Meeting of WMO and SAARC
Objective of the meeting
To share the ideas and understanding of agromet advisories services among the agrometeorologist from SAARC and non-SAARC countries in the RA-II which will ultimate boost the agriculturist activities and also benefit both the group of countries.
To effectively integrate the skills of operational, experimental theoretical aspects of agricultural meteorology and their possible development for the purpose of making the agriculture production system in the country in general more robust

38. Assistance to AFRICAN Countries in AAS
Training course on “ operational Agrometeorology for countries in Africa and the Caribbean under the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS).
It is proposed to set up “Medium Range Weather Forecasting Centre” in Africa by the Government of India under the bi-lateral cooperation.
It is also proposed to support to start Agromet Advisory Services taking the successful stories of AAS in India..

39. Personalised Farmer-oriented AAS
Precise and accurate weather forecasts at block level
Agromet advisories for new sector
Mechanism through the Internet, telephone or video conferencing
Tie-up with the existing crop growers’ associations
Dissemination of advisories using multichannel systems
Provision of appropriate training to the farmers through capsule courses

40. Project Design for XIIth Five Year Plan
Establishment of District Agromet Units
Preparation of high resolution forecast
Research & Development
Economic assessment
Dissemination
Manpower
Creation of Centre for Research and Excellence in Agrometeorology (CREAM)
Creation of National Agromet Data Centre
On line reception of agromet data
Reorientation of Agromet Observatories & Establishment of Agro-AWS
Advisories for New Sectors
Use of satellite data in Agromet Advisory Services
Modernization of Agrimet Website
Capacity Building

41. Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa under XIIth FYP
Gramin Krishi Seva
To deliver crop and location specific AAS to farmers at block level with village level advisory
To establish District Agromet Units
To communicate weather based agromet advisory on line to the farmers in block / taluka / village level.
To establish agromet data centre
Creation of Centre for Research and Excellence in Agrometeorology (CREAM) to support AAS and R & D in agrometeorology in operational agrometeorological services
Research and Development support

42. Establishment of DAMU Six tier AAS Units DAMUs under KVK AMFU
Under the existing IAAS in the country AMFUs have already been established in different agroclimatic zones in collaboration with State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Indian Institute of Technologies (IITs). As it will not be possible for these centres alone to address the objectives of the project at block level, there is a need to set up District Agromet Units (DAMUs) in the country in KVK.
Six tier
AAS Units
DAMUs under KVK
AMFU

43. Development and establishment of DAMUs
To receive and disseminate meteorological information and forecasts for the concerned Districts.
To serve as an effective link between IMD and the District authorities and the general public in matters concerning weather forecasts, early warnings and climatological information pertaining to the relevant District.
To act as a nodal center to coordinate internal functions of IMD in the District viz. to provide support to maintenance teams visiting the District for rain gauges, Automatic Weather stations and other meteorological equipment and to themselves carry out preventive maintenance.
Identify climatic risk for the specified locations based on past weather data.
Review the feedback from the stakeholders.
DAMUs under KVK
Functions of DAMUs
Weather based agromet advisory on line to the farmers in block/ taluka/village level
510 District Agromet Units (DAMUs) at KVKs
MoU has been made between IMD and ICAR for establishment of DAMUs

44. Generation of WRF-ARW Forecast with WRFDA Assimilation
00Z
12Z
Time
Model State
Forecast
Global
Model
WRFDA
Observations
BE Model
Obs. Error
WRF -ARW
2-Nest (27,9 km)
Run
Analysis
Nestdown
Up to
3 km
Forecasts
27 and 9 km
WRF-ARW
1-Nest (3km)
ICs & BCs (3km)
RMCs/MCs
Model State
Forecast
Global
Model
WRFDA
Observations
BE Model
Obs. Error
WRF-ARW
2-Nest (27,9 km)
Run
Analysis
Nestdown
Up to
3 km
WRF -ARW
1-Nest (3km)
ICs & BCs (3km)
RMCs/MCs

45. WRF hourly Rainfall Forecast: Based on 00 UTC 15-08-2011
WRF at 9 km and 3 km
Rapid Updates of model run: Three hourly cycle
GIS and DWR based Nowcast and mesoscacle forecast system for major cities/airports of India
Thrust areas: (a) Assimilation of new observations (b) Land Surface Process with Indian conditions, (c ) GIS applications, (d) Block Level Forecast

46. Extended Range Weather Forecast in AAS
Objectives
Timing of farm operations e.g., land preparation, tillage, planting, transplanting, thinning, weeding, irrigation, harvesting, application of insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and fertilizers.
Type of tillage, depth of planting, density of planting
choice of crops and crop varieties.
Whether or not to adopt water conserving practices and which type to adopt;
how much water to store and use for irrigation; and
mode of irrigation (flooding or sprinkler);
Mode of application of the various inputs;
how much fertilizer, pesticide, herbicide, and fungicide to apply;
whether or not to use fertilizer, herbicides, or pesticides;
Choice of site, e.g., cultivation of fadama (poorly drained) soils during years of drought and deep loamy soils during years of heavy rainfall;
Choice of farming systems, e.g., single or multi cropping or inter cropping;
Transport facility
How much credit to secure;
and
proportion of production to store or sell.
With the above objectives, the work of validation has been carried out for southwest monsoon of and it is observed that the forecast of rainfall given for Central and Northwest region of the country is matching well with the actual rainfall but failed for NE region. So in order to operationalize the extended range weather forecast in AAS following points should be taken in finer details.
Credibility is primarily determined by the level of skill. It is also a function the difference between what was promised by the forecasts and what was realized. At the best, forecasts are probabilistic. Considerable efforts, therefore, need to be put into how the forecasts are interpreted before they are transmitted.
Second, the forecasts must be presented in simple, easily understandable language.
Third, the department should also bear the responsibility to issue forecasts early enough to be useful in planning the following season’s operations.
Fourth, the forecasts must include information that could cause decisions based on tradition or climate-based timing of the farm operational schedule of activities to be altered.

47. Realized Rainfall for previous week
Forecasted Rainfall
Realized Rainfall for previous week
Ensemble forecast rainfall (mm/day) based on 12th July valid for 14th Jul – 20th Jul
Ensemble forecast rainfall (mm/day) based on 12th July valid for 21st Jul – 27th Jul
MME1 Rainfall Anomaly (mm/day) Week 1
MME1 Rainfall Anomaly (mm/day) Week 3
Homogeneous Regions
Northwest India
West Central India
Central Northeast India
Northeast India
Peninsular India
Hills Region
Mostly all districts in the region received significant rain during last week. It is forecasted that some parts of Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada, Vidarbha and Madhya Pradesh receive insufficient (1-5 mm) rainfall in first week but improvement(10-20 mm) in monsoon in second week is predicted. In NIK due to moisture stress condition, as contingent plan, farmers are advised to undertake sowing of other crops.
Arrangement for irrigation is advised.
As heavy rainfall (>30 mm) is forecasted in some parts of the region farmers are advised to arrange drainage to remove excess water from the fields immediately, wherever possible. Farmers are advised to postpone irrigation, intercultural operation and application
of fertilizers and plant protection measures.
Transport of goods for next few days is not advised.
Significant rainfall occurred in most of the districts of the States of the region during last week. Some parts of the will receive less rainfall (1-5 mm) in first week but there will be improvement in rainfall (5-10 m) in the second week.
Farmers are advised to prepare for sowing of kharif crops with available irrigation facilities.
In last week sufficient amount of rainfall is received in most of districts of the region and in next week 1-10 mm rainfall is expected over most parts of the region. But in second week there is forecast of insignificant rainfall. Farmers are advised for re-sowing with available irrigation facilities.
Significant rainfall occurred in most of the districts of the States of the region during last week. As compared to the first week there will decrease in rainfall in the second week .
In some parts as heavy rainfall is forecasted farmers are advised to arrange for drainage. In other parts farmers are advised to continue transplanting of rice. Transportation should be taken care of in parts of heavy rainfall.
Significant rainfall occurred in Jharkhand, Bihar and Orissa, E.UP and W.UP in last week and mm rainfall is expected during next two weeks nursery sowing of rice, transplanting and also sowing of fodder crops and pulses can be continued in the region.

48. Pre-Pilot Block Level AgroMet Advisories
Understanding variability in Agrometeorological parameters (time and space).
Monitoring spatial and temporal resolution at block level.
Generating suitable agromet products.
Generate block level weather forecast.
Develop mechanism for preparation & dissemination of advisories.
Monitoring crop/soil/weather Monitoring for Agromet Advisory at Block Level.

49. Pre-Pilot 1: Watershed Organization Trust
IMD has started providing local specific medium range weather predictions for Sangamner and Akole clusters (WOTR’s operational area) of Ahmednagar district from April 2012.
The weather predictions are used by WOTR to prepare agro advisories. WOTR’s agriculture team prepares agro advisory according to the conditions of the major crops standing in the field. The advisory is in the form of wall paper. WOTR’s field agronomists share it with the farming community at 5-6 locations in every village.
Station N
DAY1
DAY2
DAY3
R/F
Max.
Min.
Akole
0.3
37.6
22.3
0.6
37.7
21.3
0.0
19.3
Sangamner
0.1
38.2
21.9
0.5
38.6
21.6
38.8
20.2
International Water Management Institution (IWMI) for establishing

50. Pre-pilot 2: CCAFS & IKSL
Established climate smart villages in pilot districts of punjab and bihar in collaboration with Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and IKSL to evaluate its effectiveness.
In its initial phase villages selected for the project in two states are:
Bihar - Vaishali dist.
Raja Pakar, Block Raja Pakar
Bali Bathna, Block Mahua
Lal Pokhar, Block Hazipur
Punjab – Sangrur dist.
Kheri, Block Sangrur
Gaggarpur, Block Sangrur
Chaneri, Block Bhawanigarh

51. Pre-Pilot 3: Collaboration with NABARD
Need-based agro-meteorological advisory services to the farmers at the right time based on local context and culture.
To bring together experts and grassroots level communities in a two-way communication with the objective of making knowledge accessible to village of the country.
Dissemination of Agro-Advisory and feedback from farmers through the involvement of Farmers’ clubs, Joint Liability Groups, Village watershed Committees.
collaborative project with NABARD in Maharashtra involving Six AMFUs ( Akola, Mulde, Parbhani, Pune, Rahuri and Sindewahi) and 10 KVKs ( Amaravati, Wasim, Yawatmal, Sindhudurg, Hingoli, Jalna, Baramati, Ahmednagar, Bhandara and Gadchiroli) 51

52. Advisories for new sectors
Livestock
Understanding the weather sensitivity of animal shelter, health, feed and productivity and to prepare the advisory.
Horticulture crops
By linking the programme with the existing projects of the Ministry of Rural Development and Ministry of Environment & Forest advisory will be prepared.
Post Harvest and Storage
Suitable agro-met advisory may be evolved to protect the crop from the inclement weather after the harvest of the crops.
Wasteland and forest fires
To involve a number of crop grower associations dealing in crops like tea, coffee, apple, mango, sugarcane, cotton, grapes etc. to develop suitable products and mechanism to disseminate the information to the targeted grow
Mushroom culture
Apiculture
Piggery and duckery

53. Dissemination
A DAMU would have its own communication system which will connect it to the overall IMD network.
The information to be generated under this project will be communicated to the farmers at village level by mass media, SMS, Internet, Farmers Club, disseminating agencies, etc.
Linkages will also be made with Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies to disseminate the agromet advisories to the famers in each village in the country through different stake holders and private firms.

54. Research & Development
Research on agrometeorological aspects of management in agriculture
Increasing efficiency of weather-based use and management of resources, including the whole production environment: soil, water, nutrients, germplasm and biomass
Validation and application of crop models
Research methods and approaches at the eco-regional level, including the assessment of socio-economic effects of weather/climate variability on food production
Determination of the impact of climate change/variability and matters of climate forecasting and prediction
Crop pest/disease/climate dynamics, animal and climate relationships
Assessment of economic impact

55. Capacity Building
1. Periodic training programmes for scientists, extension workers, media persons and farmers at appropriate levels will be organized to sharpen the service. Skill improvement of Technical Officers / Nodal Officers in the area for understanding the weather processes and their impact on crops / animals should form the integral part of HRD process.
2. Training to observers for recording, maintenance of agromet observatories.
3.Training to extension workers as well as farmers along with climate awareness programmes.
Trained staff posted at these sites would interpret the information to concerned officials.

56. Use of RS the Cutting Edge Technology in Agro-Met
To gather information about
Crop Micro-climate (Canopy information)
Soil (moisture, temperature)
Vegetation/Crops (Vigor, Stress Type)
Pest & Diseases (Outbreak, Infestation Level-density & spread, Migration)
Water
Information compatibility to ICT, GIS and GPS
Area of RS Applications in AgroMet
Soil (Moisture, temp., Nutrient, Erosion)
Crop (Coverage, vigor, yield assessment)
Crop sowing/Harvesting Time
Forest Status Monitoring & Forest Fire
Bio-diversity Assessment
Mapping Of Ag. & Land Resources
Biotic & Abiotic Stresses On Crops
Pest Disease Surveillance
We need to develop RS based products which can assist in selecting sowing/harvesting time, scheduling irrigation, nutrient management, P&D management, intercultural operations, beside defining the initial condition of the atmosphere for NWP models.

57. Possible roadmap linking satellite, weather forecast and agro-advisories
Historical agriculture knowledge and data
Translation/interpretation of weather forecast & agromet indicators with reference to agricultural risks
In-season crop info from point source
Agro -
Advisory
Services
Medium range Weather forecast
NWP/Synoptic weather forecast models
In-season near-real time spatial land-atmosphere & agromet products from satellites

58. Mission of CREAM (Creation of Centre for Research and Excellence in Agrometeorology
Objectives:
Becoming world class Centre supporting operational agrometeorological advisory services in national and international level.
To explore, create and develop knowledge through applied and conceptual research in agricultural technology and management areas.
To become leading Multi- disciplinary research & operational centre in agricultural meteorology.
To bring agricultural fraternity both at national and international level under single umbrella for exchange of ideas and implementation.
To become an excellent platform to achieve precisely the above mentioned objective by imparting multi-disciplinary activities.
To make world class training facilities affordable to other organizations/ individuals.
To hold exhibitions / conferences / international seminars in agriculture.

59. Conclusions
Integration of all stake holders of the country in the field of agriculture under one roof for block/taluka level advisories
More precise and accurate weather forecast and advisory as per the need of farmer in the country.
Incorporation of all modern technologies in generation of agromet advisories and improvement in crop and location specific weather forecast and agro advisories .
Intensive advisories for live stock, fisheries, poultry etc.

60. One rain gauge for One village
Thank you 60