Sibal says weather information to farmers should be modernised

New Delhi, Oct 30 (UNI) Weather information services for farmers should be modernised to increase agricultural production and preserve food security of the country, Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Minister Kapil Sibal today said.

''Agromet services alone can solve the challenges facing the farming sector,'' Mr Sibal said while inaugurating the 14th session of the World Meteorological Organisation's Commission for Agricultural Meteorology here.

India is a founder-member of the World Meteorological Organisation, a specialised body of the United Nations.

Countries need to make sure that the agricultural productivity is increased to meet the demands of the growing population, he said.

He said agriculture was a global issue and needed a global outlook to solve the problems pertaining to it. The dissemination of information directly to the farmers is a big challenge and there should be sustained efforts to meet this problem, he added. Weather information to farmers should be simple and in their own language, Mr Sibal said.

The Minister suggested that the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) should also take up the issues relating to the impact on global warming.

Addressing the delegates from around the world, WMO Secretary General M. Jarraud said application of science and technology in providing weather predictions was ''highly necessary''.

''New methodologies will help in reducing the hardships of the farming community. Agricultural production is fully depended upon weather conditions,'' Mr Jarraud said.

The Commission is holding its sitting for the first time in India. It will discuss various issues like strengthening information and dissemination networks including monitoring and early warning systems, management of natural and environmental resources for sustainable agricultural development, support systems for agrometeorological servies and techniques including technologies such as GIS and remote sensing for agroclimatic characterisation and sustainable land management.

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