Agricultural Meteorology Division India Meteorological Department Ministry of Earth Sciences ामीण क ृ षि मौसम सेवा GKMS-News Quarterly Newsletter Volume -2, Number-4, October-December-2014 In this issue International activities Appreciation by Honorable Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan VIII th Annual Review Meeting Best AMFU Award-2014 State Level Annual Review Meeting Visit of Hon’ble minister of Agriculture, Government of Telangana Workshop on use of “Application of Satellite information in operational Agromet Advisory Services” Participation in Agriculture Expo, “6 th Agro Vision 2014” Status of preparation of District Level AAS bulletins & its dissemination Participation of AMFU in the Celebration 2014 as Agricultural Development Year in Gujarat Awareness Programme Capacity Building Meetings Lectures Upcoming events Visitors
Transcript
Agricultural Meteorology Division India Meteorological Department
Ministry of Earth Sciences
ग्रामीण कृषि मौसम सेवा GKMS-News Quarterly Newsletter
Volume -2, Number-4, October-December-2014
In this issue International activities Appreciation by Honorable Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan VIIIth Annual Review Meeting Best AMFU Award-2014 State Level Annual Review Meeting Visit of Hon’ble minister of Agriculture, Government of Telangana Workshop on use of “Application of Satellite information in operational Agromet Advisory Services” Participation in Agriculture Expo, “6th Agro Vision 2014” Status of preparation of District Level AAS bulletins & its dissemination Participation of AMFU in the Celebration 2014 as Agricultural Development Year in Gujarat Awareness Programme Capacity Building Meetings Lectures Upcoming events Visitors
International activities Conference for Regional Association-II of World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Sixth Session of Regional Conference on “Management of National Meteorological & Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in Regional Association” was organized in Doha, Qatar during 2_4 December, 2014. Indian delegates namely Dr. Shailesh Nayak, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, New Delhi, Dr. L. S. Rathore, Director General of Meteorology, India Meteorological Department (IMD), New Delhi, Dr. S. D. Attri, Deputy Director General of Meteorology (Organisation),
IMD, New Delhi and Dr. N. Chattopadhyay, Deputy Director General of Meteorology (Agrimet), IMD, Pune participated in the conference. As Co-coordinator of Expert Group of Agrometeorology, Dr. N. Chattopadhyay attended the Management Group Meeting of Regional Association II of WMO.
IMD and Birsa Agricultural University (BAU), Ranchi, Jharkhand jointly organized the Eighth Annual Review Meeting (ARM) on Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) in Ranchi from 10-12 November 2014. A number of high level dignitaries like Dr. George John, Vice Chancellor, BAU, Ranchi, Jharkhand, Dr. D. K. Singh Dron, Dean, Director Research, BAU, Dr. N. Chattopadhyay, Deputy Director General of Meteorology (Agrimet),
Agricultural Meteorology Division, IMD, Pune, Shri. S. C. Bhan, Scientist-E, IMD, New Delhi, Dr. V.U.M. Rao, Project Co-ordinator, AICRPAM, CRIDA, Hyderabad, number of Scientists / Officers from IMD, Principal Nodal Officers, Nodal Officers and Technical Officers of Agrometeorological Field Units (AMFUs) under the project GKMS in the country, NGOs and private firms especially engaged in dissemination of Agromet Advisories have participated in the meeting. The main objectives of the ARM were to review the implementation of the GKMS scheme in respect of quality of the Agromet Advisories, outreach and dissemination to the farmers, capacity building at different levels, accuracy of medium range district level weather forecast which are used in the preparation of District Level Agromet Advisory Bulletins including recent initiative on block level weather forecast and Agromet Advisories. Details of the meeting is available in the following links. http://www.imdagrimet.gov.in/sites/default/files/Proceedings%20of%20%208th%20ARM-2014m.pdf and http://www.imdagrimet.gov.in/sites/default/files/ARM-Presentations_Mo.doc
Appreciation by Honorable Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shri Shivraj Singh
Dr. G. Sreenivas, Director & Principal Nodal Officer, AMFU-Hyderabad, Telangana has attended international workshop on “Mitigating Negative Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture” during 30th September –3rd October, 2014 at Bali, Indonesia.
VIIIth Annual Review Meeting
Honorable Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan appreciated Meteorological Centre (M.C.), Bhopal for efficient functioning which has helped the State Government’s machinery take preventive measures and save crops and human lives. It was also mentioned that M.C. Bhopal is playing a major role in averting crises and the trusted Agro-meteorological Advisories offered by the Centre have proved a boon in many ways.
AMFU-Basar, Arunachal Pradesh was awarded ‘Best AMFU Award-2014’ for outstanding performance in dissemination of Agromet Advisory at VIIIth ARM of GKMS held at BAU, Ranchi, Jharkhand. Shri S. Rolling Anal, Technical Officer was awarded the Certificate of Excellence in this regard by Dr. George John, Vice Chancellor, BAU, Ranchi.
Meteorological Centre, IMD, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh organised “State Level Annual Review Meeting (SARM) 2014 for Madhya Pradesh under GKMS at Auditorium Hall, Academy of Administration, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh on 19th November, 2014. Dr. Rajesh Rajora, Principal Secretary (Agriculture), Government of Madhya Pradesh, Shri R. K. Swai, Agriculture Production Commissioner, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Dr. N. Chattopadhyay, DDGM (Agrimet), Pune and Dr. A. Kashyapi, Director-In-charge, Meteorological Centre, Bhopal attended the meeting. Important recommendations were made to steer the Agromet Services efficiently involving number of stake holders in Madhya Pradesh.
Best AMFU Award-2014
State Level Annual Review Meeting
Workshop on use of “Application of Satellite information in operational Agromet Advisory Services”
Visit of Honorable Minister of Agriculture, Government of Telangana
Agrimet Division, IMD, Pune organised a two day workshop on use of “Application of Satellite information in operational Agromet Advisory Services” at Meteorological Training Institute, Pune during 16-17 December, 2014. The objective of this workshop was to prepare road map for the use of satellite data in generation of accurate weather forecasting, Agromet products and ultimately preparation of Agromet Advisories.
Shri Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Honorable Minister of Agriculture, Government of Telangana, Dr. V. Praveen Rao, Special officer, Professor Jayashankar Telengana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) and Dr. D. Raji Reddy, Director of Research, PJTSAU visited AMFU-Hyderabad, Telangana on 2nd December, 2014 and appreciated the activities going on at Agro Climate Research Centre particularly weather based Agromet Advisories for the benefit of the farming community.
Participation in Agriculture Expo, “6th Agro Vision 2014”
Status of preparation of District Level AAS bulletins & its dissemination
Shri. K. G. Kanade, S.A. and Shri R. A. Pednekar S.A., Agrimet Division, IMD, Pune participated in Central India’s biggest Agriculture Expo, “6thAgro Vision 2014” held at Reshimbag Ground, Nagpur, Maharashtra during 4-7 December, 2014. Different activities under GKMS especially the dissemination services for the farmers were explained by them to the farmers in the exhibition.
Dissemination of weather based Agromet Advisories to farmers under pilot mode through Reliance Foundation Information Services (RFIS) in collaboration with IMD. RFIS is an innovative provider of dynamic and interdisciplinary information related to livelihoods based on both primary and secondary information, after needs assessment. In collaboration with IMD, RFIS is also disseminating Agromet Advisories to farming community. It includes multiple platforms for disseminating agricultural and allied services. Presently Reliance Foundation having setup in 7 States (Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Union Territory of Puducherry). Agromet Advisories are disseminated through different modes i.e. mobile voice massages, text messages, toll free helpline, knowledge on wheels, audio conference, phone-in programme etc. They covered 61 districts in 7 states, 5400 villages and 45 crops and reached to 42,000 farmers directly and broadcasted one million messages. They had also given advisories during cyclones and hailstorm.
At present, 608 District Level Agromet Advisory Bulletins are prepared twice in a week and also disseminated to 7.07million farmers through SMS and IVR technology under Public Private Partnership mode (Reuter Market Light, Handygo, IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Limited (IKSL), Nokia, Mahindra Samriddhi, NABARD, Reliance Foundation, Central Silk Board etc., ) including Kisan Portal across the country.
Participation of AMFU in the Celebration 2014 as Agricultural Development Year in Gujarat
Awareness Programme
Gujarat State celebrated year 2014 as “Agricultural Development Year”. In this regard, Dry Farming Research Station and KrishiVighan Kendra, Junagadh Agricultural University, Targhadia jointly organized a Krishi Seminar and KrishiMela for farmers from 29th to 31st December, 2014 at this centre. During the programme about 2100 farmers and farm women were participated. Shri V.D.Vora, Technical officer, AMFU-Targhadia participated actively in the programme. He highlighted the activities of GKMS project to the farmers of different districts during Krishi Seminar and Krishi Mela. He also provide information on usefulness and importance of weather based forecast and Agromet Advisory in agricultural operations and crop management. All the farmers were impressed for the information given through SMS by Farmers Portal. About 5000 farmers were benefited and are very satisfied due to the services provided by SMS and also problems of the farmers solved through mobile communication.
importance of weather parameters in crop production, critical growth stages of the crop that are sensitive to weather parameters, how to take advantages of prevailing weather for day to day field operations and various pests and diseases of crops related to prevailing weather conditions. Shri. Satish R. Imade, Technical Officer/ RA, explained about Agromet Advisory Services and its importance and the various adaptation measures to be taken by farmers were illustrated. Rain gauges were distributed to five progressive farmers during the farmer awareness programme. Farmers expressed that the FAP helped them to know many new things about climate change & its effect on crop production. They said that they would fine tune their cropping pattern and field operations according to the changing climate scenario. The farmers felt the usefulness of weather based Agromet Advisories. Further, they requested the forecast for season and month at local level in advance, for planning their crops/cropping pattern and also mid season corrections in the event of dry spells/wet spells.
Farmers’ Awareness Programme (FAP)
AMFU-Navsari, Gujarat organized one day FAP on “Weather Information for Sustainable Agriculture in South Gujarat” on 14thOctober, 2014 at N.M.
College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari. Dr. Jayanta Sarkar, Director, Meteorological Centre Ahmedabad, IMD, Gujarat, Scientists of KVKs of the zone, 50 university scientists and about 67 farmers from five districts of South Gujarat Zone i.e. Surat, Vyara, Narmada, Navsari Dangs, participated in the programme. Dr. Sarkar informed the farmers about concept of weather and climate and different elements of weather and climate. He described the different types of forecast given by IMD i.e. long range forecast which is used for seasonal crop planning and short range and medium range weather forecast being issued for farmers and general public which is useful for day to day activities and agricultural operations. Dr. Neeraj Kumar, Principal Nodal Officer explained
AMFU-Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir organised three days FAP during 29-31 December, 2014. About 50 farmers participated in the programme. Farmers were trained about various technologies developed by
Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology, Kashmir. Dr. Sameera Qayoom, Technical Officer from SKUAST-Kashmir advised farmers about the importance of timely operations in relation to weather and made them aware of importance of climate and its effect on agriculture. An interactive session with farmers was conducted regarding the use and importance of Agrometeorology and various queries regarding crop growth and development, disease occurrence and management etc. were attended. Arrangements were also made to visit to meteorological observatory of SKUAST- Kashmir to make the participants aware of the importance of climate and its effect on agriculture. Dr. Sameera Qayoom guided the farmers regarding prevailing effect of low temperature on field crops and the management thereof. Contact numbers were collected from all the farmers for dissemination of warnings ahead of unfavorable and extreme weather.
An experiment was laid in the SKUAST-K campus entitled “Effect of different sowing dates on growth and yield of brown sarson” on 31st December, 2014. The crop is at vegetative stage in field, however the marked difference of sowing dates was demonstrated to the farmers through previous years photographs and they were motivated to adopt Agromet Advisories for better performance of their crops. Experts made farmers aware of how Agromet Advisories can be useful when adopted in time. Farmers were shown the improved practices vs traditional practices to highlight the importance of adoption of Agromet Advisories in time.
FAP was organized by AMFU-Diphu, Assam on 9th December, 2014 to create awareness among farmers about weather specific crop management practices as well as the role of GKMS in this
aspect. It was attended by Dr. U. Borthakur, Principal. Scientist and Nodal Officer, and H. Haque, R. A, AMFU Diphu, 64 farmers including 16 woman farmers from different corners of Karbi Anglong District. Dr. A. K. Deka, Project Coordinator, KVK Karbi Anglong gave lec-ture on climate change and its impact on agriculture. Dr. A. Roy, CS, RARS Diphu & Dr. P. Kakati, Sr. Scientist, RARS Diphu discussed on modern cultivation practices of few important crops with special reference to weather forecast. Farmers-Scientist interaction programme was also organized in which various field problems of the farmers were addressed by the Scientists of RARS and KVK, Karbi Anglong. A field visit at RARS, Diphu Campus to the experimental fields of the Research Station was also arranged as a part of this programme.
AMFU-Kaul, Haryana, CCS Haryana Agricultural University organized one day FAP on “Climate Change” on 24th December, 2014. More than 100 farmers participated in the programme from
different areas of Eastern Zone of Haryana. Dr.Shyam Sunder, Regional Director, Rice Research Station, Kaul explained about the importance of weather and climate, different weather hazards etc. Dr. Chander Shekhar Dagar, Technical Officer discussed about the issues of climate change and how to mitigate the adverse effects on crops by using weather information. He also explained to the farmers about the GKMS services and how to utilize weather forecast and other information to minimize the harmful effects of adverse weather. Farmers were also informed about the Agro Advisory Bulletins and how it can be utilized to take benefits of weather forecasting and advisories. Dr Ram Singh, Principal Nodal Officer delivered a lecture on effect of climate change on agriculture and effects of global warming on crop diseases. Dr Khushi Ram, Senior Plant Breeder informed the farmers about selection of crop varieties according to the climatic conditions of the area. (continued …………..)
A documentary film “Inconvenient Truth” was shown to the farmers to enrich their knowledge about the global warming and climate change issues worldwide. A quiz competition was organized to create awareness on climate change among the farmers and 15 winners were selected and honoured with prizes.
AMFU-Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh organized FAP entitled “Weather, Climate and Farmer” on 26th November, 2014 in Village Jangalmahal, Jargo Dam,
Chunar from district Mirzapur. About 275 farmers and subject experts participated in the programme. Wide discussion was made on the topics viz. extreme weather and climatic events such as severe droughts, floods, or extreme temperatures, role of medium range weather forecast in increasing overall livelihood of farmers, climate variability and climate change, water security and sustainable agriculture. Five rain gauges were distributed to five progressive farmers.
AMFU-Jaipur, Rajasthan organized one day FAP on “Climate Change and Improved Cultural practices” on 17th December, 2014 to apprise farmers about
weather and climate and Agromet. Advisory. 100 farmers from four districts i.e. Ajmer, Dausa, Tonk and Jaipur participated in the programme.
Field visit
AMFU-Kolhapur, Maha-rashtra organised field visit 12th November, 2014 to study effect of different parameters on monsoon. Also discussion on Climate
change impact on Agriculture was carried out.
AMFU-Kharagpur, West Bengal made a field visit on 22nd November, 2014 to select experimental sites in the area. About 20 farmers participated and rain
guages were distributed.
Shri V.D. Vora, Technical officer, AMFU-Targhadia, Gujarat made field visits to following villages: Shivrajgadh village of Gondaltaluka of Rajkot district on 5th October, 2014. Farmers were made aware
regarding management of sucking pest in cotton, groundnut, chilli and in other crops. Ghoghavadr and Shivrajgadh villages of Gondaltaluka of Rajkot district on 12th October. Farmers were made
aware regarding different activities of GKMS project. Discussion with farmers were made on pest and nutrient management in cotton crop.
Pipaliya, Ribada and Biliala villages of Gondaltaluka of Rajkot district on 19thOctober, 2014 .Some remedies were given to the farmers for yellowing of cotton crop due to prolong hot weather..
Devchadi village of Gondaltaluka of Rajkot district on 21st October, 2014.The pest and disease problems like downy mildew and thrips in water melon and leaf curling virus in papaya were solved.
Field visit at Shivrajgadh Village Field visit at Shivrajgadh and Ghoghavadar
Field visit at Pipalia, Ribda, Biliala,Shivrajgadh
AMFU-Majhian, West Bengal organized farmers’ meet in Baram village under Kumarganj block on 10th November, 2014, Harigram village under Balurghat block on 12th November, 2014 and Mataish village under Hilly block of Dakshin Dinajpur district on 20th November, 2014 for creating awareness about AAS, prior to sowing of rabi season crops. The mobile numbers of present farmers were collected and uploaded in Farmers Portal.
Capacity Building
AMFU-Hyderabad, Telangana conducted 2-weeks training programme on “Use of Multiple Crop Models and Decision Support System in Agrometeorological Advisory Services” during 7-18 October, 2014 at Agro Climate Research Centre, Agricultural Research Institute, ANGR Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. Training was imparted to 30 scientists and SRFs of GKMS and FASAL on DSSAT, INFOCROP and APSIM crop simulation models for better delivery of weather based Agro advisories and crop yield forecasting at district level
in different crops across the country.
Farmers’ meet
AMFU-Lembucherra, Tripura participated in live show on Krishi Darshan of DDK, Agartala on Influence of Weather on Potato Cultivation on 28th November, 2014 .
Kisan mela AMFU-Dharwad, Karnataka participated in Kisan mela at University of Horticultural sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka on 13th December, 2014. More than thousand farmers registered their numbers from different districts for sending weather forecast and crop advisories.
Live show in Doordarshan
One day Farmers debate on ‘Weather and Pest/Disease management in Rice' organised jointly by AMFU-Karaikal, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru College of Agriculture and Research Institute, U.T. of Puducherry & RI and Reliance Foundation, Mayiladuthurai on 17th December, 2015. , Dr. A L. Narayanan, Technical Officer briefed the farmers about the role of weather in pest and disease management in Rice . Experts from Karaikal and Sikkal KVK along with the Reliance Regional
coordinator, Group Organiser and twenty five progressive farmers representing each village in and around Mayiladuthurai (Near Karaikal) participated. The farmers got benefitted by the debate to manage the pest and disease in rice with low-cost inputs and to have an Integrated Pest Management so that the nature can be protected with a sustainable motto.
Shri R. Balasubramanian, Scientist D, Agrimet, Pune attended the Agromet Advisory committee meeting on 16th October and Shri. K.G. Kanade, S.A. attended the same meeting on 7th, 21st& 28th October and 5th and 26th November 2014 at Sakhar Sankul, Pune.
Shri. S. Sudevan, Scientist D, Meteorological Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala attended the meeting of State Level Crisis Management Cell convened by Directorate of Agriculture on 6th October, 2014.
Shri. N.T. Niyas, Scientist C, Meteorological Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala attended
The State Level Technical Committee Meeting on Crop Insurance convened by Directorate of Agriculture on 25th October, 2014.
22nd High Level Co-ordination Committee Meeting on Agricultural Statistics convened by Department of Economics & Statistics on 31st October, 2014.
The State Level Core Committee Meeting on Crop Weather Watch Group by Planning& Economic Affairs Department on 27th December, 2014.
Shri R. Balasubramanian, Scientist D delivered a lecture on “Agromet Advisory Services – Technology issues and usage for Agriculture to the benefit of Maharashtra State farmers” in training-cum-workshop on “Application of ICTs in Modified Extension Reforms” at College of Agriculture, Pune organized by National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad on 19th November, 2014.
Shri R. Balasubramanian, Scientist D and Smt. Gracy John, A.M.-I, Agrimet, IMD briefed about “Functioning of Central Agromet Observatory (CAgMO)” and “Agromet Advisory Services given by Agrimet Division in collaboration with Agrometeorological Field Units” respectively to 66 students of Agriculture College, Bijapur, Karnataka on 30th October, 2014.
Prof. M. C. Chopada, Nodal Officer, AMFU-Junagadh, Gujarat delivered a lecture on "Weather information through knowledge network" during the on-campus residence training programme on Agricultural Knowledge Management jointly organised by MANAGE, Hyderabad and SardarSmruti Kendra, JAU, Junagadh during 13-16 October, 2014. He also delivered a lecture on "Importance of Weather Forecasting in Agricultural Crop Production" dated on 14th December 2014 at APMC, Gondal, Rajkot during Rabi Krushi Mahotsav-2014.
AMFU-Targhadia, DFRS, Junagadh Agriculture University, Gujarat and KVK, JAU, Kandhasar jointly organized training programme on “Soil and Water Analysis” for progressive farmers of Rajkot district” during 3-4 December, 2014. Also two days training programme for the farmers of Chotila, Limbadi and Syla talukas of Surendranagar district jointly organized by DFRS, JAU, Targhadia and KVK, Surendranagar during 03-04 December, 2014 . During training
periods Shri V.D.Vora, Technical Officer, GKMS project, Targhadia. Gave lecture on usefulness of Agromet Advisory for farmers and all activities of GKMS project. Farmers were also visited Agromet. Observatory. Detail information was also given on different kinds of bio fertilizers and organic manures and their uses.
12 Foreign participants of WMO course on “Maintenance and Calibration of Instruments” organised by O/o DDGM(SI), Pune visited AWS and Central Agrometeorological Observatory (CAgMO), IMD, Pune on 3rd November, 2014.
Shri Bidyut Bikash Deori, Technical Officer, AMFU-Gossaigaon, Assam, delivered a lecture on ‘Importance of weather forecasting in agriculture and crop production’ during one day farmer training organized by Tribal Sub- plan project (TSP) held at Regional Agricultural Research Station Conference hall during 19th December, 2014.
Shri V. D.V ora, Technical Officer, GKMS project, Targhadia, Gujarat has given lecture on usefulness of Agromet Advisory for farmers and other activities of GKMS project during two days training programme for the farmers of Chotila, Limbadi and Sylatalukas of Surendranagar district jointly organized by DFRS, JAU, Targhadia and KVK, Surendranagar during 03-04 December, 2014. During training periods, farmers were also visited Agromet observatory. The information on importance of integrated nutrient management in sustainable crop production, different kinds of bio fertilizers and organic manures and their uses was also given.
Shri D. Daschaudhuri. Technical Officer, AMFU- Lembucherra, Tripura delivered a lecture on “Importance of Weather Forecast in Agricultural Operations” in Training Programme on Improved Agricultural Practices for mitigation & adaptation of Climate Change organised by ATMA, West Tripura.
Dr. Rani Saxena, Nodal Officer, AMFU-Jaipur, Rajasthan delivered lecture on “Assessment of climate change impact for oilseed brassica using InfoCrop” in ICAR 21 days winter school on “Strategies to enhance oilseed brassica (OSB) production under climate and resource constraint scenario” organized at Bharatpur on 22nd November, 2014.
Dr. G. Sreenivas, Director & PNO, AMFU-Hyderabad, Telangana delivered lecture on “Application of Electronics in Agriculture” at Vasavi College of Engineering, Hyderabad on 29th October, 2014. He also gave presentation on drought management at PRDIS, Hyderabad on 22nd November, 2014.
