With the climate becoming erratic due to global warming as evident in high intensity heat waves or extreme rainfalls leading to floods in various pockets of the country, the Government is considering if rain watch tower can be set up in every village and weather stations at the development block level, so that the authorities can get precise information about the weather.
"There should be a rain watch tower in every village, weather stations can be set up at the development block level, so that the government can get precise information about the weather," Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar shared his idea at an event held here recently to launch Weather Information Network Data Systems (WINDS) portal and AIDE mobile app and unveiling of Yield Estimation System, based on Technology (YES-TECH) Manual.
On the occasion, Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Earth Sciences pitched for adapting agriculture to climate change with a "responsive and appropriate scientific mechanism."
He cautioned that "unless we are prepared to face the grave challenges, the consequences can be grave."
Rijiju said that the impact of climate change on agriculture is becoming more visible. "In our childhood, apple crops grew in Shimla, a few decades later Kinnaur emerged as the apple growing belt and now apple crop is shifting towards the even higher altitude Lahaul-Spiti region," he said, matter of factly. The Minister stressed that changes in the agriculture sector through science and technology are very important. "The importance of all these is even more in the era of climate change."
A senior official from the Union Agriculture Ministry explained that through WINDS, crucial weather related information and data will be available to the farmers. "Keeping in view the challenges of obtaining accurate meteorological data from inadequate infrastructure coupled with climate change threats, the WINDS initiative is laying emphasis on setting up a strong network of weather stations. Through this initiative, the target is to establish a wide network of weather stations at the block and gram panchayat level," he said.
The official further informed that this strategic approach will ensure widespread access to accurate and timely weather data. The goal is to bridge the gap in weather information availability and empower decision makers, farmers and stakeholders at the grassroots level.