Panels set up for agri weather, crop yields

The Centre has set up two scientific panels to assemble an advanced agricultural weather information system and introduce tech-enabled assessment of crop yields to check the impact of extreme weather linked to climate change, officials said.

The committees based in the Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre in New Delhi comprise multidisciplinary experts and representation from states to step up the response to the climate crisis, which has cut yields and farm incomes.

Climate scientists have consistently warned that severe heatwaves, changing rainfall patterns and flooding will threaten India’s food security, especially the rice and wheat cropping systems that are critical to feeding the world’s most populous nation.

Heatwaves have dealt a blow to India’s wheat output in recent years. In 2022 and 2023, spikes in temperatures, especially around harvest, crimped yields. Two years ago, India recorded its hottest March on record, which shaved off 3 million tonnes of wheat. Late surges in monsoon in the past 3 years have flooded several states, destroying oilseeds and pulses, and delaying rice harvesting.

Weather disruptions sent federally held wheat stocks to a 16-year low this month.

The first panel has the task of putting in place a string of hightech, automatic weather stations to generate timely data and forecasts to help farmers and policymakers prepare better for changes in temperatures, drought and extreme rainfall events.

The second panel will work out faster ways to calculate yield losses due to extreme weather for quicker payouts of farm insurance.

Scientific panels will introduce tech-enabled assessment of crop yields to ward off climate impact