Agromet Advisory Services is a new step towards the farming community. It is the single window solutions for all the queries related to fluctuating weather conditions and management of crops, livestock, and fishery. The losses in the crop can be reduced by doing proper crop management in time by accurate weather forecasts. Preparation of agromet advisory bulletin and dissemination is one of the main objectives of Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS). The Agromet Advisory Service (AAS) bulletins are prepared by the Agro Advisory Board, consisting of scientists related to various disciplines of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK). and Agricultural Officers of the District.
Such AAS bulletins are being prepared and released in English as well as local languages. The AAS bulletins are prepared twice a week on Tuesday and Friday. Dissemination of AAS bulletins in time to the beneficiaries is very important. The predicted weather forecast and advisories are given to the progressive farmers, NGOs and other stakeholders over the phone and through SMS. Once the farmers have received the forecast and agro advisory, they can plan their agricultural operations and take decisions accordingly. In addition, agro advisory bulletins have also been disseminated through print media (newspapers), All India Radio and television programs (local or regional cable, TV, Doordarshan, etc.).
In Cachar district, Gramin Krishi Mausam Seva (GKMS) of DAMU (District Agromet Unit) is working since August 2019. From August 2019, GKMS has reached 10-15% farmers. At present we have created a database of 2000 farmers under this service who are getting SMS via mkisan portal and directly in their mobile. Around 70-80 progressive farmers, 10-15 media persons are getting advisories through phone, whatsapp group etc.
Success story of Agromet Advisory Services at Cachar District of Assam
A significant achievement of Agromet Advisory Services of GKMS, DAMU, KVK Cachar was found during extreme weather events (on 26th October, 2019). Before the extreme weather event (flood), KVK, Cachar has provided the weather forecast as well as Agro-advisory bulletin through SMS (2000 farmers) service (via KMAS, mKisan portal, KVK portal), phone call to the progressive farmers (40) -50). The IMD provided forecast rainfall and recorded rainfall during the period 25th to 29th October, 2019 have mentioned below:
|
Date |
Predicted RF (mm) |
Recorded RF (mm) |
|
25-10-2019 |
6.0 |
1.6 |
|
26-10-2019 |
21.6 |
43.6 |
|
27-10-2019 |
44.5 |
187 |
|
28-10-2019 |
4.2 |
1.4 |
|
29-10-2019 |
0.0 |
0 |
Before the flood our GKMS (DAMU) weather forecast and advisory were:
“Light to heavy rain is forecast till 28th October, 2019. So farmers are advised not to go for any cultivation of rabi crops and vegetables ”. Those farmers who had followed the advisories of Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa of KVK Cachar (DAMU), they could save the rabi crops and vegetables from the flood but those who did not have the farmers they followed suffered huge loss in crop damage subjected to to monitory loss. Around 10 to 15 progressive farmers were followed by our advisory and they could save the crops from the flood. And most of the farmers they face huge losses because of their ignorance.
Farmer’s achievement is mentioned here below:
Case-1
Ali Ahmed Laskar (9954098207):
Ali of Kashipur was partially following our agro-advisory bulletin during extreme events like floods which caused it huge losses. Without the following advisory, he has sown rabi vegetables (Cabbage, Cauliflower, Tomato and Brinjal) in 3 bigha land and he has lost Rs 30000. At the same time he is not sown rabi vegetable by following our agro-advisory bulletin during the flood. In that case, he could save the crops from that extreme event which was costing Rs. 17500 / – per bigha. By following our bulletin, he has sown the rabi vegetable in 2 bigha after flood incidence and earned Rs. 110000 / -. In this case the cost of cultivation was Rs 17,500 / – per bigha and the BC ratio was 3.14.
Horizontal expansion:
After realizing the benefit of the Agromet advisory services, he took initiative in his village and advised all his fellow farmers to adopt service. Consequently, almost all farmers in the village get their mobile number accessed for the agro-met advisory service of GKMS, KVK Cachar. The KVK Cachar is providing all relevant weather information forecast and advisory bulletin to all registered farmers biweekly at free of cost. Based on the advisory, farmers prepare their field operations accordingly and protect them from the monitor loss or minimizing the loss at the maximum extent.
Case-2
Tamizur Rahman Laskar (9613571862):
He is also a progressive farmer of Raipur, Slachapra. He is receiving our advisory from September, 2019. During the rabi season, he cultivated mainly potato, cabbage and rajma. Around 3 bigha land and he was using GKMS to provide agro-advisory bulletin for the cultivation of rabi crops. The cost of cultivation was Rs 17000-18000 / bigha. The earning of the three major crops is mentioned below:
Cabbage:
Cost: Rs. 17000 / bigha
Production: 90-95 q / bigha
Profit: Rs 90,000-95,000 / bigha (@ Rs10 / kg)
Benefit: 92,500-17,000 = Rs 75,500 / bigha
B: C = 5.44
Potato:
Cost: Rs. 15000 / bigha
Production: 25 q / bigha
Profit: Rs 30,000 / bigha (@ Rs12 / kg)
Benefit: 30,000-15,000 = Rs 15,000 / bigha
B: C = 2.0
Rajma:
Cost: Rs. 18000 / bigha
Production: 4-5 q / bigha
Profit: Rs 40,000-50,000 / bigha (@ Rs100 / kg)
Benefit: 45,000-18,000 = Rs 27,000 / bigha
B: C = 2.5
During 2019, he earned more profit of Rs 10,000-12,000 / bigha by using agro-advisory bulletin than last year (2018). It could successfully save crop losses from the extreme event (flood) rabi 26th-29th Oct, 2019. This is following both our messages (SMS) and bulletin
Authors
Ejaful Ahmed, P. Chowdhury, Abdur Rahman, Sewali Saikia and Kalyan Dutta
Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Cachar, Silchar, Assam