Tamil Nadu Agriculture Department

The effectiveness of monsoon farming hinges on the weather conditions present in the specific area during the planting season. Promptly informing farmers about the essential climatic elements for crop care can help mitigate the effects of weather-related calamities. Additionally, providing concise and timely updates on the current weather conditions in the area is crucial for enhancing the accuracy of weather forecasts given to farmers. By implementing automated weather stations at the local level and enhancing the weather network, we can mitigate the consequences of climate-related disasters and enhance productivity through suitable weather-dependent agricultural approaches.

The Government of Tamil Nadu, through the National Agricultural Development Program, has offered financial support to establish the “Tamil Nadu Agricultural Meteorological Network” by setting up automatic weather stations in 224 locations in the initial phase across the state. The network, a collaboration between the Tamil Nadu Agriculture Department and the Agricultural Climate Research Center under the Directorate of Soil and Crop Management at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, collects data on 10 agro-meteorological factors through these weather stations and updates the information on its website every hour. Additionally, medium-term weather forecasts for all areas in Tamil Nadu are made available based on this data. Agriculture officers in Tamil Nadu will utilize this information to provide region-specific agricultural techniques. This network, the first of its kind in India with a large number of automated weather stations at frequent intervals, is expected to play a crucial role in monitoring the impacts of global warming and climate change in Tamil Nadu.