**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 852 regarding weather forecasting data provided to farmers by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). The response, dated February 4th, 2026, details the IMD's efforts to disseminate weather information to farmers across India to aid in agricultural planning and decision-making. Key methods include Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS), Agromet Field Units (AMFUs), and digital platforms, ensuring localised relevance and connectivity in remote areas.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **IMD Weather Forecasting for Farmers:**
* The IMD provides weather forecasts to farmers across all states through the Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme.
* Medium-range forecasts are provided for rainfall, temperature, humidity, cloud cover, wind speed, and wind direction at district and block levels for the next five days.
* A subsequent week's rainfall and temperature outlook at the meteorological sub-division level is also provided.
* **Agromet Advisories:**
* 130 Agromet Field Units (AMFUs) operate across 127 agroclimatic zones.
* AMFUs prepare Agromet Advisories twice a week in English and regional languages for their respective districts.
* AMFUs communicate with farmers to help them make informed decisions for agricultural operations.
* Impact-based forecasts (IBFs) and appropriate advisories are prepared based on severe weather warnings issued by NWFC, Regional Meteorological Centers, and State level Meteorological Centres.
* **Dissemination Methods:**
* Weather updates and early warnings are disseminated directly to farmers' mobile phones through various channels.
* These include print and electronic media, Doordarshan, internet, and SMS under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives.
* Approximately 6.16 million farmers benefit from weather forecasts, alerts, and Agromet Advisories under the PPP mode.
* SMS-based alerts and warnings, along with remedial measures, are sent during extreme weather events.
* Farmers can access location-specific forecasts and advisories through mobile apps such as 'Meghdoot' and 'Mausam', and social media platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook.
* **Integration with State Governments:**
* IMD has integrated its services with the IT platforms of 21 State Governments.
* Approximately 15.6 million farmers access information in English and regional languages on these State Government IT platforms.
* **Panchayat-Level Forecasts:**
* IMD, in collaboration with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, has launched Panchayat-level weather forecasts covering nearly all Gram Panchayats.
* Forecasts are accessible through digital platforms such as e-Gramswaraj, Meri Panchayat app, e-Manchitra of MoPR, and Mausamgram of IMD.
* Forecasts cover critical parameters such as temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind, and cloud conditions.
* Weather information reaches a larger number of people through Pashu Sakhis and Krishi Sakhis.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers in all States**
*Impact:* Improved access to weather forecasts and advisories to plan sowing patterns, harvesting, irrigation and day-to-day agricultural operations.
*Action Required:* Utilize provided information to make informed decisions about agricultural activities.
**Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development**
*Impact:* Collaboration and outreach through Pashu Sakhis and Krishi Sakhis under their administration.
*Action Required:* Continue supporting the dissemination of weather information through existing networks.
**State Governments**
*Impact:* Integration of IMD services with state IT platforms enhances information accessibility for farmers.
*Action Required:* Maintain and promote the integrated IT platforms to ensure farmers have access to weather information.
**Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR)**
*Impact:* Enhanced localization of weather forecasts at the Gram Panchayat level through collaboration with IMD.
*Action Required:* Support the use of digital platforms like e-Gramswaraj and e-Manchitra to disseminate weather information.
Key Entities Referenced
India Meteorological Department (IMD): Primary entity responsible for providing weather forecasting data to farmers across all states.
Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS): Scheme under which IMD provides medium-range weather forecasts and advisories to farmers.
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: Collaborates with IMD on accessing weather information tools to assist farmers.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR): Collaborates with IMD to launch Panchayat-level weather forecasts.
Agromet Field Units (AMFUs): Units preparing Agromet Advisories based on weather information and forecasts to help farmers.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 852
TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 4TH FEBRUARY, 2026
WEATHER FORECASTING DATA PROVIDED TO FARMERS BY INDIAN
METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT
852. SHRI ANIL YESHWANT DESAI:
Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:
(a) whether Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) is providing weather forecasting
data to our farmers from all the States to plan their sowing patterns and if so, the details
thereof;
(b) the details of latest social media platforms used by the IMD to reach farmers living in
remote areas of various States;
(c) whether the IMD has any authentic data about farmers being aware about such weather
information and whether the farmers are having such mode etc. with them to get timely
information about the weather conditions and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether the IMD has any data or system developed with the Ministry of Agriculture
and Farmer's Welfare about access of farmers with these modern information tools and
helping poor farmers and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
AND EARTH SCIENCES
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) Yes. India Meteorological Department (IMD) is providing weather forecasts to farmers
from all the States. Under the Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme, IMD
provides medium-range weather forecasts for rainfall, temperature, relative humidity,
cloud cover, wind speed, and wind direction at district and block levels for the next five
days, along with the subsequent week’s rainfall and temperature outlook at the
meteorological sub-division level. In addition based on the observed weather
information and forecasts, 130 Agromet Field Units (AMFUs) operational across 127
agroclimatic zones of the country prepare Agromet Advisories twice a week (every
Tuesday and Friday) in English and regional languages for their respective districts,
and communicate with farmers to help them make appropriate decisions for day-to-day
agricultural operations. Impact-based forecast (IBFs) and appropriate advisories for
agriculture are also being prepared by AMFUs based on the severe weather warnings
for different districts of various States and UTs across the country issued by the
National Weather Forecasting Centre (NWFC), New Delhi, and Regional
Meteorolgoical Centeres and State level Meteorological Centres (MCs) of IMD.(b)-(d) To provide weather updates and early warnings directly to farmers’ mobile phones,
weather forecasts and Agromet Advisories are disseminated through real-time
mechanisms or multichannel dissemination systems, including print and electronic
media, Doordarshan, internet, and SMS under Public-Private Partnership (PPP)
initiatives. Under the PPP mode, about 6.16 million farmers are benefiting from
weather forecasts, alerts, and Agromet Advisories. SMS-based alerts and warnings,
along with suitable remedial measures, are being sent during extreme weather events
such as cyclones, deep depressions, etc., through the Kisan Portal. Technological
advancements have further enhanced accessibility, enabling farmers to receive
location-specific forecasts and advisories through mobile apps such as ‘Meghdoot’ and
‘Mausam’, and social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, etc. Additionally,
IMD has integrated its services with the IT platforms of 21 State Governments, and
about 15.6 million farmers are accessing information in English and regional languages
on these State Government IT platforms.
To ensure localised relevance and last-mile connectivity of weather updates in remote
and vulnerable regions, IMD, in collaboration with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj
(MoPR), has recently launched Panchayat-level weather forecasts covering nearly all
Gram Panchayats in India. These forecasts are accessible through digital platforms such
as e-Gramswaraj (https://egramswaraj.gov.in), Meri Panchayat app, e-Manchitra of
MoPR, and Mausamgram of IMD, MoES (https://mausamgram.imd.gov.in). The main
aims and objectives of Gram Panchayat Level Weather Forecasting (GPLWF) are to
provide weather forecasts up to Gram Panchayat Levels, covering critical parameters
such as temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind, and cloud conditions-essential data that
farmers need for informed decision-making regarding sowing, harvesting, and
irrigation. The platform is making weather forecast information accessible anytime and
anywhere at the panchayat level across the country. This weather information reaches
a larger number of people through Pashu Sakhis and Krishi Sakhis under the Ministries
of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development.
********