About 56% of India’s farms depend on rain. Farmers wait for the monsoon every year for good crop production. Important farming decisions like choosing crops, sowing seeds, and using fertilizers depend on weather conditions. So farmers need weather updates at the right time.
Present forecasting system
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) gives three types of forecasts:
Short-term forecast (up to 8 days)
Medium-term forecast (up to 3 weeks)
Seasonal forecast (before monsoon)
But these forecasts are not always fully accurate for farmers. Weather systems like El Niño and Indian Ocean Dipole make prediction difficult.
Heatwave forecasts are mostly available only for short periods.
Ways to improve
Forecasts can improve by:
Using better weather models
Using AI and machine learning for faster predictions
Sending updates directly to farmers through SMS
In recent years, weather alerts sent through mobile messages helped many farmers prepare better.
Climate change effect
Climate change is making weather harder to predict.
Rainfall patterns are changing
Heatwaves are becoming stronger
Farmers may face crop losses
What is needed
Weather forecasting should become a strong public service. Farmers should get simple and timely information through mobile phones and local networks. Better teamwork between scientists, government, and farmers will help improve farming decisions.