Knowledge Evaluation on Weather Forecast and Agro-advisory Services to Farmers in Srikakulam District of Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Weather is the major factor for crop growth and yield.  Farmers  were more  interested on the  current real  time  weather  parameters  such  as rainfall, humidity in air , air temperature, direction and speed of the wind,   Knowing of weather forecast is   useful  to reduce  the yield loss and to obtain more yield with high remunerative price. The precise real time data at exact time  allows the farmers to plan  field management practices like  choosing of correct crops, land preparation, field operations like spraying of pesticides and herbicides, irrigation, fertilizer application, harvest, drying and post harvest operations  to  reduce the   crop damage and economic losses. The District Agromet unit (DAMU) located at KVK, Amadalavalasa is sending timely weather advisories to farmers of Srikakulam district based on the forecast issued by IMD. A total number of  1080AgroAdvisory Service (AAS) bulletins  were  prepared  by using DSS software  and  disseminated  to  the  registered  farmers  through whatsapp and other social media during  2022-2023.  A random sample survey was conducted to study the impact of agro-advisory services to farmers based on weather forecast issued by DAMU, Srikakualm. The sample size was 60 farmers belong to different villages of Amadalavalasa and Srikakulam  blocks  of  Srikakulam district.  The study Results  revealed that spotlight on illiterate  farmers  is much more  significant and  dispersal  of    advisories  in audio or visual format is more comfortable and easy to understand. The results of the survey exposed that among the total farmers the farmers follow for sowing are 45 percent, for spraying operations are 11 percent, for harvest and drying are 62 per cent.  Finally this study confirms that the farmers were more concentrate on sowing, harvest and drying related to weather forecast. Hence finally realized that farmers should follow forecast data of weather from choice of crop and its management practices to after harvest operations to get enhanced productivity and also superior net returns.