Use of ICT for Dissemination of Weather Forecast and Agromet Advisory to Farmers of Palghar District Under GKMS–Damu Project

Abstract

India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi collectively started District Agromet Unit (DAMU) under Gramin Krishi Mausam Seva (GKMS) project at Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) to minimize the farm losses due to extreme weather events. District & block wise Agromet Advisory Bulletine (AAB) were prepared & disseminated through different Information Communication Tools (ICT). The impact of agromet advisory services of DAMU was analyzed in end of the kharif season 2022 by conducting a feedback survey through google form shared in block level what’s app groups created by DAMU. 300 farmers have given response through google form. It results that majority of the farmers responded belongs to age group of 21-40 years (43%) followed by 41-60 years (38.60), 61-80 years (16.2%). About 63% of the farmers said that these weather-based agro advisories were useful in all practices of crop cultivation, followed by 14.7% of the farmers said that the advisories were play major role while taking decision at harvesting stage of crop, 11.3% of the farmers used forecast and advisory during sowing and transplanting stage. 51% of the farmers said that they were highly satisfied with AAS, followed by 36.7% of farmers satisfied with the AAS. MEGHDOOT and DAMINI application also became an effective tool for farmer’s and 59 % of farmers using these applications in their mobile. It is concluded from the study that weather forecast, agromet advisories & extreme event alerts were disseminated through these simple communications tools play major role in effective crop management and enhanced yield of crops and farmers income too.