New model to predict Indian monsoon
London, Feb. 10: Scientists, including those of Indian-origin, have developed a new system which they say can provide farmers in India early forecasts of expected variations in the monsoon season, an advance which may help reduce crop losses.
The researchers, including those from the European Centre for Medium-range Weather
Forecasts (ECMWF) in the UK, used their long-term global weather forecasting system to predict when the summer monsoon will start, and how much rainfall it will bring.
In the study, published in the journal Climate Dynamics, they noted that the model provided accurate forecasts a month in advance for the timing of the monsoon in India’ s major agricultural regions.
The scientists believe providing this information to farmers could help them prepare earlier for unexpected heavy rainfall or extended dry periods, both of which regularly destroy crops in India.
According to the researchers, the Indian monsoon brings around 80 per cent of India's annual rainfall with even small variations in the timing of its arrival potentially having a huge impact on agriculture.
“Accurately predicting these year-to-year variations is challenging, but could be the difference between prosperity or poverty for many families,” said study co-author Amulya Chevuturi from the University of Reading in the UK.
“The forecasting accuracy we identified in India's main agricultural regions provides a clear opportunity for this system to make a positive difference to people’s lives,” Chevuturi said in a statement.
He believes a month’s warning of a drought or deluge is a valuable time to understand the likely impact on water availability and for the farmers to make provisions to reduce the threat to food supplies.
“Better forecasts save lives, and this kind of indepth global analysis is only possible when the best scientists and leading research institutes work together for the benefit of the whole planet,” Chevuturi added.
Made-in-India tyres get a fillip from import restrictions
Bridgestone, the world’s second largest tyre maker, which reached the pre-Covid sales level last year, is running on full three shifts at its two factories in Indore and Pune.
The Indian arm of the Japanese tyre manufacturer said in the OctoberDecember 2020 quarter it had clocked a sales growth of 15 per cent.
Bridgestone, which is among the top three passenger car tyre makers in India, competes with market leader MRF, Appolo, JK and Ceat, among others.
“The worst is behind us and we are betting big growth for our brand as well as the tyre industry in the country,” Parag Satpute, managing director at Bridgestone India told
The company produces 41,000 passenger vehicle tyres and 2,000 tyres for medium and heavy trucks and buses daily. It has invested Rs 2,000 crore over the five year between 2017 and 2021.
He said even during the Covid pandemic its offthe-road, or OTR, business of supplying tyres for the mining and construction business remained steady.
“This momentum of growth is continued in January and February of the first quarter of this calendar year,” Satpute pointed out, adding that
Financial Chronicle.
both replacement market and retail were growing.
He said both its factories in Pune and Indore, employing more than 3,000, were running on three shifts to cater to growing demands.
He said since all tyres were placed in restricted category by the central government since June 2020, banning import of any tyres from China and other countries, it had given fillip to made-inIndia tyres.
“Our passenger vehicle tyre business is growing fastest as the replacement tyre market is seeing strong growth after imports were banned,” Satpute said. “In fact, normalcy returned in our business last September.”
Satpute said as agriculture was least affected during Covid pandemic, rural economy grew faster, fuelling vehicle growth in tier- II and III towns and cities. “Now there is more growth here which is higher than the Metros,” he said, adding that it would likely grow faster than the urban market.
Bridgestone has launched its first concept store, Bridgestone Select+. With these concept stores, the firm aims to create higher engagement with consumers at tyre services.
Starting with Pune, Bridgestone plans to introduce these stores in multiple cities by the end of this year.
The process is enabled through an interactive digital kiosk where customers can pick between Bridgestone's array of choices. The store also offers customer demonstrations to understand the impact that each of the tyre services provides and helps customers get the best out of their tyres, he added.