Why govt asking Agromet to shut down weather units?

The Union Government has asked the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) to shut down over 150 Agromet units across various states including Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Nagaland, West Bengal, Odisha, and Gujarat. These units have been providing crucial weather advisory services.

Not only does the discontinuation of DAMUs impact employees and their family, but it also potentially impacts the livelihoods of farmers, leading to a reduction in crop production and income with an increase in the cost of cultivation.

What is Agromet?

Agromet units, also known as District Agromet Units (DAMUs), have a significant reach and impact across the country. Farmers have greatly benefited from these services, which provide high-resolution, micro-level weather forecasts. These forecasts are essential for farmers to plan their agricultural activities effectively.

However, financial and administrative issues between the MoES and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAg&FW) have deprived these services. This has raised concerns among the farming community who heavily rely on these weather advisories.

The shutdown of these units could have far-reaching implications on the agricultural sector. As of now, it remains unclear how these services will be replaced or if there are any plans for reinstatement in the future.

Weather services boost Indian agriculture

In 2015, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) initiated a significant service for agriculture, known as Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa. Under this initiative, they began offering Agrometeorological Advisory Services (AAS). These services are designed to provide crucial weather-related information. Specifically, they offer data on rainfall, temperatures, humidity, wind speed and direction, and cloud cover. By doing so, they aim to assist farmers in making informed decisions about their agricultural practices.

A recent study by Rakesh Gomaji Nannewar, Tejal Kanitkar, and R Srikanth from the National Institute of Advanced Studies in Bengaluru found that these services have helped farmers in Raichur and Bidar districts in North Karnataka increase their crop yields during the Kharif season (June-September). The study showed that farmers who used AAS had higher yields of pigeon pea, soybean, and pearl millet.

However, for winter crops like paddy and chickpea, other factors like irrigation and fertilizer use were more important than AAS. This raises the question of how to make AAS useful for winter crops, or what other support farmers need during this season.

Disrupts jobs, hurts farmers' livelihoods

The District Agro-Meteorological Unit (DAMU) in Cuttack has expressed deep concern over the decision to shut down 199 Agromet supported by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). These units, operating under the Rural Agricultural Weather Service Scheme, provide crucial weather forecasts and advisories to farmers from planting to harvest.

A 2020 evaluation by the National Council for Applied Economic Research (NCAER) showed that 80% of farmers reported reduced losses due to the high-resolution weather events information they received. This service has increased the annual income of farmers and families below the poverty line in rainfed areas by an average of Rs 12,500.

Farmers and livestock owners gain an annual economic benefit of Rs 13,331 crore. The estimated additional benefit over the next five years from continuing the DAMU under the Rural Agro-Meteorological Service is around Rs 48,056 crore.

The IMD closed a beneficial farmer's scheme on January 17, 2024, despite approval until March 2026; this action was reported to the Union Agriculture Minister by DAMU in Cuttack.

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