Shut down in 2024, Centre mulls reviving weather advisory units for farmers

The Centre plans to revive the district agrometeorological units (DAMUs) that were shut down last year, according to Ministry of Earth Sciences Secretary M Ravichandran. The government aims to create a permanent framework for DAMUs, which previously operated on an ad-hoc basis.

Established in 2018 by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), DAMUs provided block-level weather forecasts and advisories to farmers twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. A total of 199 units were set up at Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and state agricultural universities under the Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme, with funding from MoES.

However, financial issues, including delayed disbursal of funds and unpaid salaries, hampered operations. The MoES sought funding support from the Agriculture Ministry, but in 2024, the IMD directed the closure of all DAMUs.

Since their closure, farmers have had to rely on 130 Agromet Field Units (AMFUs), which provide weather advisories for broader areas, covering five districts, compared to the detailed block-level data offered by DAMUs.

“The hirings for DAMUs were temporary, and the Covid-19 pandemic further impacted recruitment and expansion,” said a senior IMD official. “We now plan to establish a permanent setup with both contractual and permanent staff. While DAMUs performed well, a sustainable structure is necessary for their continued operation.”