The Department of Environmental Science, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan organized a farmer awareness programme at Sanora Panchayat in Sirmour on the theme Weather-based agro-advisory services and their utilization in crop management. The camp was sponsored by Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), New Delhi.
The main objective of the programme was to make farmers aware about the weather forecast and to enhance their capacity to use this and to regulate their farming practices as per advisory. Dr. MS Jangra, the coordinator of the programme, briefed the farmers on the importance of weather-based agro-advisory services. He informed the farmers that the weather forecast and Agromet advisory bulletin for the next five days are being prepared and issued by the University twice a week.
These advisories are being disseminated through SMS and various media platforms. He apprised that about 2 lakh farmers from three districts (Solan, Shimla, and Sirmour) are receiving the SMS through the Mkisan portal. Dr. Jangra added that the effective use of Agromet advisory services can play a crucial role in minimizing the cost of cultivation of farming and improving and strengthening the socio-economic status of the farmers. Dr. Purnima Mehta explained in detail the newly launched ‘MEGHDOOT’ mobile application to the farmers and demonstrated its use among the farmers. She explained the benefits of this app developed by IMD and requested that the farmers must utilize it for their benefit. The mobile application was also installed on the phones of the participants.
The university team thanked the participants and panchayat representatives, Vidyanand and Vikram, Pradhan and Uppradhan and assured them that such programmes will be organized to improve the dissemination mechanism and the development of feedback mechanisms for further improvement. The farmers were also provided literature and a seed kit of summer vegetables.
