Khandwa News: Now meteorological center will be closed on 29th February, anger among farmers

Khandwa News: Naidunia Representative, Khandwa, Khalwa. The District Agricultural Meteorological Units, which have been operating since 2019 to provide accurate weather forecast and crop related precautions to the farmers, are now going to be closed. These units operated in 199 Krishi Vigyan Kendras across the country will be closed after March 31. The Meteorological Department has issued a letter to all the Agricultural Science Centers informing them about this. Earlier it was asked to be closed till 31st March, but in the letter issued on Wednesday, its date has been reduced and it has been asked to be closed from 29th February only. There is anger among the farmers regarding this. Farmer organizations will now inform the responsible officials through a memorandum.

Now farmers will not get information

It may be noted that for the last four years, information was being provided by agriculture and weather expert Krishi Vigyan Kendra Khandwa. At the same time, the Ministry of Earth Sciences has passed orders for closure from 29 February 2024. Under which weather and agriculture related information will stop being available to the farmers. District Agro Meteorological Unit was started in Khandwa district from November 2019 in coordination with the Department of Meteorology (Ministry of Earth Sciences) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (Ministry of Agriculture).

Farmers of many districts were getting benefits

Along with the farmers of Khandwa district, farmers of Burhanpur, Harda, Betul, Khargone and Dhar districts were also getting benefits through this project. Every Tuesday and Friday, the District Agricultural Meteorological Unit provides information about the next five days’ weather (rainfall, temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, cloud cover) as well as weather-based agricultural advisory leaflets through internet media groups. were being done. Due to which farmers were able to manage their crops properly in time. Apart from this, due to availability of accurate information about medicines, the cost of farmers was also reduced. The department used to provide information to the farmers through WhatsApp 48 to 72 hours before the occurrence of sudden calamities like heavy thunderstorms, rain, hailstorm, lightning etc. This would help farmers in reducing the loss of crops as well as livestock and property in time.

Farmers used to discuss problems online

Every Monday, the forecast and crop problems were discussed online with the farmers on Zoom Meeting App by the experts of the District Agro-Meteorological Unit. Which provided immediate solution. Experts from the District Agro-Meteorological Unit were available all the time on mobile to discuss with farmers across the district. Due to which the farmers of the area got proper information from time to time. Through this project, by providing appropriate advice based on weather and agriculture to the farmers of every village of the area, due to the timely use of advanced technology and right medicines in agriculture, it is possible to reduce the agricultural cost of the farmers and also increase the production. It has been possible. The Meteorological Department (Ministry of Earth Sciences) has issued an order to close this useful project on 31 March 2024. Due to which there is anger among the farmer class.

letter has been received

A letter in this regard has been received from the Meteorological Department. Farmers will not be able to get weather information after February 29. Earlier it was asked to be closed by 31st March but now instructions have been received to close it on 29th February.

-Dr. Saurabh Gupta, Agriculture and Meteorological Expert, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Khandwa

Will give memorandum from tehsil to district level

Memorandums will be given at tehsil level and district level through the organization. Farmers will suffer huge losses due to lack of information about weather forecast. Thus, stopping giving weather information is not a right decision. -Surjit Singh Minhas, District Vice President, United Farmers Organization