1. Role of Agro-Meteorological Services in Building up Climate Adaptive Capacities R. P. Samui DDGM and Scientist ‘F’ Agricultural Meteorology division India Meteorological Department

2. Climate change & Agriculture – some facts  Global Warming is now a realty  Despite uncertainties, climate change is more or less evident in terms of increasing extreme weather events and large climate variability  Its impacts over next 100 years will be more significant than past 100 years.  Agriculture Production Systems are more vulnerable because of their sensitivity to climate  This could bring greater challenges for managing future climate & agricultural production

3. All India Monsoon Rainfall (1901-2009)

4. Impact of ISMR anomalies on crop production ISMR Anomaly Crop Production (Impact) % -20-12.44 -15-8.83 -10-5.55 -5-2.61 00.00 52.28 104.22 155.83 207.10

5. Natural Disasters India Natural hazardsWeather Disasters 1980-2005 Area prone to different Natural Disasters

6. Disasters in India Drought Flood CycloneThunderstorm

7. Impact of Extreme Weather Events on Agriculture Integration of Agrometeorological information  Agromet Services play important role, particularly under extreme weather events.  Contingency plan to tackle such events are provided to the farmers.  Agromet data are changed into useful information by ICT.  Providing Agromet products.  Dissemination through multimedia.

8. Impact of Extreme Weather Events  Drought: Less recharge of soil moisture, reductions of stream flow, reservoir levels, irrigation potential and availability of drinking water  Flood : Depletion of oxygen available to the plant root zones causing loss of plant vigour and growth  High temperature (heat wave) adversely affect standing crops due to heat stress & more ET demand.  Cold waves : Crop damage due to extreme low temperature / frost.  Cyclone: Losses of cash crops, fruits and mechanical damage to the horticultural crops and loss of soil fertility  Thunderstorms, hailstorms and dust storms hazardous to the crops due to uprooting, breaking of leaves, deposition of sand.

9. Need of Need-based Real time Advisories  Delineation of zones (micro level) prone to extreme events such as drought, flood, heat wave, cold wave, cyclone, thunderstorms, etc.  Cultivar Selection  Advisories and contingency planning based on weather forecast  Mitigation and adaptation strategies for each of the adverse weather events  Re-sowing of crops  Fertilizer application  Spraying of pesticides  Weeding/thinning at regular intervals  Irrigation Scheduling  Harvesting  Transportation

10. The major activities undertaken by the Agricultural Meteorology Division are:  Operational weather services to farmers.  Training in Agrometeorology.  Crop weather studies and preparation of crop weather calendars.  Observational network, data generation and archiving.  Technical assistance to various institutions which are acting for the benefit of farming community.  Drought studies.  Pests and diseases study.

11. IMD (NAASC, SAMC & AMFU) District level Block level Hub Rural Knowledge Centre Rural Families

12. Agro meteorological Advisory Bulletin for the State of Punjab For the period 07th to 10th May, 2010 Issued on Friday, 07 th May, 2010 Issued by Meteorological Centre Chandigarh In collaboration with Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana & Department of Agriculture, Punjab Met sub-divisions of the state As per IMD classification entire Punjab State consisting of twenty districts has been taken as one meteorological subdivision. Part II: Agro climatic zone wise Agricultural/Agro meteorological Advisories Sub-mountain undulating zone Cotton Complete sowing of recommended varieties/hybrids of cotton/desi cotton including Bt cotton during upto 15 th May as it ensures better yield, However farmers are advised to withhold sowing of cotton for next 1-2 days as there are chances of thundershowers. Sowing of cotton on ridges saves considerable amount of irrigation water without reduction in seed yield. Sugarcane Control weeds in the plant as well as ratoon crop. Due to prevailing hot weather conditions, sugarcane crop require frequent irrigations at 8 to 10 days interval. Apply 65 kg urea per acre to ratoon crop. Moisture conservation may be done by spreading mulch in between cane rows. Use wheat straw as mulch. This also checks the growth of weeds. If the iron deficiency appeared in ratoon and plant crops in light textured soils, farmers can control this by spraying the crop with 1.0 kg ferrous sulphate dissolved in 100 Iitres of water on the foliage. 2-3 sprays at weekly intervals are sufficient. Oilseed Complete the thrashing of mustard crop. Animal husbandry If not already done, get your animals vaccinated immediately against Gal Ghotu, black Quarter. Keep the animals in shade and provide clean fresh drinking water ad lib. Animal should not be made to work during peak hours of summer. Due to some stroke or if an animal starts bleeding from nose, do not disturb it much and pour ice cold water over face and head and keep its head lifted. Provide double number of waterers to poultry birds for increasing space to meet increasing requirement of water. Change the water frequently to provide cool water. Sprinkling of water around the shed, more green area surrounding this shed is helpful in reduction of heat. White washing of poultry shed from outside will be helpful in reflecting the sun rays back from the shed. Increase protein, minerals and vitamins in feed as the feed intake is reduced during summer. Pulses Farmers are advised to give need based irrigation to the crop. Control the weeds by the recommended herbicides. Horticulture To maintain good health and ensure regular cropping in kinnow, the fruits on young trees must be thinned out judiciously soon after setting. To avoid the adverse effect of hot weather on fruit trees apply white-wash on the trunks of the trees. To peach and plum trees give frequent irrigations for proper development of fruit size and better quality. To grapes, apply irrigation at weekly intervals during this month.

13. Disasters in India Community nurseries at points where water is available Transplantation Sowing of alternate crops/varieties Ratooning or thinning of crops Soil mulching if the break in the monsoon is very brief Weed control In situ water harvesting and/or run-off recycling Broad beds and furrows Inter-row and inter-plot water harvesting systems Intercropping systems for areas where the growing season is generally 20 to 30 weeks Development of agriculture on the basis of the watershed approach Alley cropping Advisories for agro-horticultural systems watershed management for resource improvement and use treatment of lands with soil conservation measures alternate land use systems forage production. Agro-Meteorological Advisories for Drought Adaptation

14. Agro-Meteorological Advisories for flood Adaptation  Raft (bamboo and banana plant) for people/livestock/poultry  Afforestation of the upper catchments areas of the rivers  Construction of river embankments and the execution of multi- purpose river valley projects.  Construction of storage dams, reservoirs, embankments, drainage structures as required at suitable locations  Application of fertilizers like urea, muriate of potash for standing crops after draining out excess water.  Skip, if deemed appropriate, entire cropping season  Sowing of short duration non-rice minor crop  If cropping season is lost, start early for the next season  Provide weather based agricultural insurance.

15. Adaptation Policy Framework 1.Adaptation at different levels in society. 2.Adaptation strategy and the process of implementation. 3.Adaptation policy and measures for developmental. 4.Adaptation to short-term climate variability and extreme events toward reducing vulnerability to long-term change. 5.Building adaptive capacity to cope with current climate is one way of preparing society to better cope with future climate.

16. Flexibility of APF - Defining project scope and design -Assessing vulnerability under current climate -Characterizing future climate related risks -Developing an adaptation strategy -Continuing the adaptation process.  The framework focuses on the involvement of stakeholders at all stages.

17. Adaptations Strategies  New varieties: drought/ heat/ pest resistant  Seamless Weather forecast  Prediction of extreme events  Forewarning of P&D out breaks & intensities  Weather based Farm management  Weather based Crop Insurance

18. Flag the issues  The likely impacts of climate change have to be conceptualized in agriculture planning & management.  Identify and quantify vulnerability of crops/animals  Crops not vulnerable now but could become vulnerable in future  Cultivar selection in tune  with warmer climate  More variable precipitation regime  Pest/Disease dynamics  Adjustment in planting time  Mitigating the adverse impacts

19.  Disseminate meteorological/climate data/information on a large – scale;  Suggest weather-based changes in cropping systems/land uses to sustain agricultural production;  Encourage farmer groups to establish small weather observatories in their villages;  Employ crop-weather models dynamically to advise farmers on improved animal/crop management for sustainable agriculture in a Decision Support System’s framework. Strategies

20. Mode of Dissemination 1. Mass Mode of Dissemination All India radio All India radioTelevision Print Media 2. Outreach at Village level - Ministry of IT Internet based Village Connectivity - Ministry of IT Internet based Village Connectivity - MSSRF & other NGOs - MSSRF & other NGOs 3. Human face for advisory dissemination - KVK (ICAR):Training + interaction - KVK (ICAR):Training + interaction - DAO (SDA):Coordinate Farm inputs with Line Function Dept. in rhythm of weather forecast - DAO (SDA):Coordinate Farm inputs with Line Function Dept. in rhythm of weather forecast - NGOs & other intermediary groups - NGOs & other intermediary groups - Web portals - Awareness Programme - Awareness Programme

21.  All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan  Private TV radio channels  Mobile phone / SMS (Pull in & Push up)  Newspaper  Internet  Kisan Call Centers/KVK/DAO  Time criticality in dissemination  Language of bulletins  Frequent interaction & constant feedback

22. Farmer’s Awareness Programme on Weather, Climate and Farmers  To make farmers more self-reliant in dealing with weather and climate information.  To increase the interaction between farmers and AAS providing agencies i.e. IMD, SAUs, ICAR etc.  This programme has already been organized at 50 locations in 2009  The same will be organised in 80 stations by 2010 Mechanism of Feedback Information on AAS

23.  To combat Climate Change improved prediction needed for:  Extreme weather events  Shifting climatic regimes  AAS Need to generate advisories on cultivar selection in view of changing thermal regimes.  Selection of sowing window.  Develop appropriate management practices to cope with extreme weather events.  Develop forewarning system for P&D attack. Conclusion