Agriculture is the art and science

1. AGRICULTURE WEATHER
INFORMATION SYSTEM
FOR FARMERS

3. OBJECTIVE
To develop web and mobile phone based agriculture
weather advisory tools that incorporate climate
information and best agriculture management
recommendations for the farmers.
These tools will help farmers to plan and manage
weather risks, maximize productivity, and minimize
the environmental impacts of farming practices.

4.  Soil fertility problems
 Highly variable and unpredictable weather
 Limited access to productive resources (inputs, infrastructure)
 Lack of (timely) information about weather, seasonal risks,
market prices, available varieties, , methods of pest and diseases
control, credit and insurance services, etc
LITERATURE

5. LITERATURE
 Smallholder economy is informational. There is a need to consider how
farmers receive information and share feedback
 Physical isolation of smallholders imposes high information costs that
compound the high transport and transaction costs of obtaining inputs and
marketing outputs.
 Incremental adaptation entails how farmers use information, what
information is provided and how that information is provided.
 Improved access to timely, cost-effective and relevant weather and market-
related information is essential to making smallholder agriculture more
productive, in addition to access to productive resources.

6. IDEA
 Started with a generic tool that helps translate the effects of climate
variability.
 A decision aid tool to adjust planting dates, to select most appropriate
crops and varieties, and to adjust fertilization levels.
 The crop model is process based crop simulation model DSSAT to
generate the appropriate climate-smart agro-advisory.
 DSSAT(Decision Support System For Agriculture Crop Growth ) is a
software used over 100 countries.

7. METHODOLOGY
Even with improved agricultural technology and improved level of farm
inputs the agricultural sector operate below their potential level owing to the
challenges imposed by the marked weather and climate variability.
There is a need of
A formal system that integrates data from different sources such as
agricultural research institutes, meteorological stations, agricultural advisory
agencies and the actual ecological requirements.
Ways to better translate raw information into actionable climate
knowledge that are understandable and relevant to decision-making

8.  An innovative decision support system comprising of ‘Agriculture-
Weather Tool’
can facilitate producers and extension personnel to better
understand climate variability by increasing relevant knowledge and
collaborative efforts to develop on-farm adaptation strategies that can
reduce potential impacts of climate variability and change in agriculture.
It will address a range of climate-sensitive decisions for the best
agronomic management practices.
METHODOLOGY

10. Information on
forecasted weather
and
Climate-smart crop
advisior
MOBILE
CUSTOMER
CARE
INTERNET
INTERACTIVE VOICE
RESPONSE SYSTEM(IVRS)
FARMERS CUSTOMER
CARE CENTER
DISTRICT CALL CENTER
ONLINE WEB SERVER
FARMERS TRAINING
CENTER
ADVERTISEMENTS
Improved the
effectiveness
of the
extension
service
50000
farmers
LANGUAGES
ENGLISH TAMIL HINDI
Delivery
channel

11. OUTCOME
1.Agricultureweatheradvisories enabled farmers to take appropriate decisions on
choice of varieties
2.Agricultureweatheradvisories complemented recommendations on agriculture-
input use
3.Improved quality of extension services for targeted crops
4.Agricultureweatheradvisories benefits spilled over to the entire farming
community (stimulated interest amongst livestock keepers, dairy producers, and
across the agriculture value chain)
5.Working with farmer organizations was highly instrumental in faster and higher
adoption.