District Agro-Meteorology Units

In September 2024, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced that it is set to revive District Agro-Meteorology Units (DAMUs) under the Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme, after having shut them down earlier this year.

Key Points

Support for Small Farmers: Around 80% of India's farmers are small and marginal, practicing rain-fed agriculture, often in regions impacted by climate change.
DAMUs provided critical weather-related advisories to help these farmers plan their agricultural activities.
Changing Climate: As climate change alters monsoon patterns and increases extreme weather events, localized weather forecasts are essential for protecting crops.
The agro-met advisories offered farmers valuable early warnings for events like droughts and heavy rainfall, allowing them to make informed decisions about sowing, irrigation, and fertilizer use.
Collaborative Effort: Established in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in 2018, DAMUs operated within Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and employed trained scientists to prepare agricultural advisories.
Localized Information: Using weather data from the IMD, DAMUs provided farmers with sub-district-level advisories, shared through text messages; WhatsApp, newspapers, and direct communication, helping them plan agricultural activities in advance.
Positive Impact: Many studies have demonstrated the benefits of agro-met advisories, including higher crop yields, better climate resilience, and increased farmer incomes.