Met comes to aid debt-ridden farmers

For the debt-affected farmers in Punjab, the Meteorological Department (MD) has devised a way to offer respite by providing weather related information for facilitating agricultural activities.

Term it as an attempt for filling 'information' gap in Punjab's agricultural sector, authorities from India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Punjab's agricultural department had planned to set up an automatic weather station and rain gauge sub-stations. For farmers it will smooth the process of planning their crops in advance. Meanwhile, government can insure their crops with the help of accurate weather data.

"In every district, automatic weather station would be set up and each Taluka will have automatic rain gauge sub-stations to help us generate accurate data related to climatic conditions," said Surinder Paul, director meteorological centre. At present Punjab have six meteorological stations whereas around 550 weather sub-stations are in the finalization stage.

The significance of weather related information could be gauged from the fact that even senior officials from MD agreed that there is a pattern of information being asked by farmers. "Nearly, 80% queries by farmers pertain to weather," said Dr LS Rathore, additional director general IMD, New Delhi.