Automatic weather system comes as a boon for Maharashtra farmers

Farmers, who are often at the receiving end of unpredictable weather, will now get detailed information about the climatic conditions in their area, thus allowing them better crop management and damage prevention. This is going to be possible as the Maharashtra government has commissioned 2,060 automatic weather stations (AWS) in as many revenue circles, to provide real time weather-related information to farmers up to the village level.

“The idea was to create a decentralised system that would provide accurate weather related information right up to the village level,” Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told PTI. As the current weather systems provide a consolidated information on weather of a whole region, one cannot exactly predict the climate change at a local level, he said. For instance, at times there is rain in one village and the adjoining village is dry, he said. “In the AWS, we will get exact information right up to the village level. Based on the information, farmers will know if there was going to be rain, hailstorm...,” he explained. There are currently eight major weather forecast providing systems in the state that provide general information related to atmospheric conditions, Fadnavis said.

However, these automatic weather stations will be helpful in measuring the winddirection and speed, air temperature, relative humidity, the amount of rainfall.

This is going to be possible as the govt has commissioned 2,060 automatic weather stations in as many revenue circles, to provide real time weather-related info to farmers up to the village level