Fadnavis inaugurates automatic weather station in Vidarbha

Fadnavis inaugurates automatic weather station in Vidarbha

NAGPUR, APRIL 30:  Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday inaugurated the State’s first automatic weather station at Dongargaon in Vidarbha region. “Around 2,065 such weather stations will come across Maharashtra on public private partnership (PPP) model this year, and 1,000 of these will be set up by June,” said Fadnavis, while addressing a farmers’ gathering(सभा) after the inauguration. He said information from the stations would help farmers plan and manage the sowing process better. Weather conditions for farmers will be available on the Mahavedh portal (Maharashtra agriculture weather information network) and on the mobile application of Skymet Weather, the private player that will be setting up such stations. “The IMD forecast is limited to four zones. However, this new system of automatic weather station (AWS) will provide forecast up to taluk level,” the Chief Minister said. “Around 122 km area of the taluk will have one AWS,” he said. Fadnavis said digital kiosks would be set up in every gram panchayat to provide weather information and expert advice on crop pattern to be followed by the farmers.

In the first phase, information will be shared using SMS, and in the second, all gram panchayats will get half-hourly information on weather conditions.

Agriculture Minister Pandurang Fundkar, guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, top bureaucrats(नौकरशाहों) and officials of Skymet were present on the occasion.