Data with the Indian government suggests that agromet advisories have the potential to yield benefits worth over US $ 430 billion for India’s 90 million agricultural households. About a quarter of these access some form of advisories and benefit from it, though this still is well short of the total ‘risk management’ benefits that can accrue if all farm households were to access advisories. What can be done to benefit all farm households? The research community believes the response lies in next generation of advisories—improved significantly in scale, content, context and timeliness by taking advantage of advances in climate science, big data analytics, digital communication and agriculture itself.

The need for revising or renewing advisory systems is ever persistent given the multitude of changes that affect agriculture. In response to this demand for constant improvement, India’s agromet advisory system, operational since 1976 and considered one of the longest running in the world, has undergone many changes to be what it is today. What should tomorrow’s agromet advisory system (AAS) look like?

To answer this question, climate scientists, agricultural researchers, farmer-participatory experts and other specialists  from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), India Meteorological Department (IMD); CGIAR institutions – ICRISAT, CIMMYT and World Fish; University of Reading, Watershed Organization Trust, GEAG and Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES) gathered in February at a special session on the sidelines of the International Conference on Climate Services in Pune, India, to assess the existing system and ponder a likely ‘Nextgen’ AAS. The session was organized with support from ICAR’s All India Coordinated Research Project on Agricultural Meteorology, Monsoon Mission II: Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), CRP Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) – South Asia and ICRISAT.

Ensuing discussions were three-pronged – data acquisition from multiple platforms, generating content for dissemination and its delivery with feedback.

Data acquisition

The group felt that there is a data cache, including observational network data and forecasts, not easily accessible and readily interpretable. In addition to suggesting making the data available to stakeholders in user-accessible and usable digital formats, the group argued the need for regular capacity building to enhance the use of such data. About forecasts, the discussion group agreed that forecasts have to be provided with different lead times—now casting, short range, medium range, extended and seasonal. Scaling-out of the Indo-Gangetic Plain fog forecast work to rest of India was also suggested. The availability of remote-sensing data and its use was emphasized.

Generating content

Besides regular in-season advisories, the group suggested that a Nextgen AAS accommodate pre-season advisories based on long-range seasonal and four-week forecasts for two groups-farmers, and state and input suppliers. The advisory for state and input suppliers can deal with crops and varietal choices depending on season forecasts and area likely to be covered at district level to determine seed, fertilizer and other input requirements.

For farmers, pre-season advisories with a lead time of at least 15 days can help understand the seasonal conditions forecast, crop options with associated risk, and land allocation suggestions for different crops considering the risk and profit potential. These could be accompanied by agronomic management tips, as well as input and investment guidelines.