Gujarat gets first monsoon forecast calender

In a recently held seminar on forecasting monsoons this season, the state agriculture minister Chudasama, unveiled monsoon forecasting calender which is jointly developed by the state government and Agriculture University of Anand.

According to Chudasama, "This calendar shall be distributed to 18,000 villages of the state for monsoon monitoring. The sarpanch and school teachers in the village will also benefit from the calender by jotting the details of rainfall in the boxes separated and marked using different colour schemes."

Speaking to Business Standard, Chudasama said, "Monsoons are one essential factor, making a strong impact on our economy. So from this year, the state government is planning to monitor monsoon trend across the state by using readings taken on this calender."

Stressing on utilisation of this calender for multi-purpose objectives, Chudasama said, "This shall be useful on deriving agricultural policies to be implemented in the state in the coming years, in accordance with the temperament of nature."

It would probably be a measurement tool for agri-scientists, based on which, they can counsel farmers in particular areas and geography as to what kind of crop pattern, the farmers should adopt.

Tentative irrigation methodologies to handle crisis in terms of providing waters to the scarce area shall also be undertaken in accordance with the data registered in this calendars based on the readings and observations from all the 18,000 villages, he added.

The reading registered on every single date shall be studied 18,000 times.

We are of the opinion that after undertaking this study for few years from now, the state government would be in position to arrive at the nearest conclusion and monsoon trends, in the future course, he said.

This excise shall equally catalyse the decision support system in terms of boosting the agriculture based economy of the state, thus strengthening the economy of the nation too, Chudasama said.

After few years, once state government is ready with the tentative monsoon forecast data, this shall not only help the farmers, but shall also help the society.

As this calendar would serve like 'Panchang' and would allow most of the people to derive on to their travel plans, arranging or postponing social occasions and so on, keeping in view the tentative weather and monsoon forecast, he added.