Overview of Operational Agrometeorological Services in India

India is gifted with a variety of agroclimatic zones, each with its own characteristic features of both soil and water. This diversity presents both an opportunity and a challenge for crop production, as dryland crops are strongly linked to monsoonal rainfall behaviour and the associated floods and droughts. The monsoonal effect is often compounded by the incidences of pests and diseases on various crops and animal species, including fish. Irrigated crop production is also influenced by variations in temperature and sunshine. Despite the developments made in weather prediction and operational Agromet Advisory Services (AAS), more services need to be developed for. There are still deficiencies when it comes to providing useful and necessary information to farmers in a timely manner.