A ree Week Online National Certiﬁcate Course on Weather

A �ree Week Online National Certificate Course on

Weather based AgrometAdvisory Services through ICT 02-22 August, 2021

Certificate Course No. 09

�e project entitled "Center for Advanced Agricultural Science and Technology (CAAST) on Climate Smart Agriculture and Water Management (CSAWM)" is being implemented in Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (An Agricultural University), Rahuri, Maharashtra under World Bank Sponsored National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP) of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, Government of India, Since 2018.

One of the major objectives of CAAST-CSAWM project is to develop the capacity amongst the faculties and students of MPKV Rahuri and other Agricultural Universities and related organizations for the development and adoption of the precise Climate Smart Agriculture and Water Management technologies as well as to conduct on-the-job training and case study based learning to enhance the employment and placement rate; and business and entrepreneurship opportunities.

�e CAAST-CSAWM has developed collaboration with National and International organizations to support the di�ferent extension, education and research activities of CAAST-CSAWM and Deutsche Gesellscha�t für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH India is one of the partners of CAAST-CSAWM project.

About

More than 68-70% of the population is dependent on agriculture, and agriculture, in turn, is dependent on climate. Climate variability, ranging from the South-West monsoon to the North-East monsoon, has made agriculture vulnerable. Furthermore, the increasing unpredictability of weather conditions complicates agricultural decisions, particularly for small holders and marginal farmers who rely on the monsoon for agriculture. Climate and weather data are critical both before and a�ter a cropping season. It provides farmers with a wealth of knowledge about resource utilisation and, if given in advance, can increase farm productivity.

If we look at the warming trend in India over the last 100 years, we can see that it has increased by 0.6°C, which is likely to a�fect many crops, threatening the food and livelihood security of millions of Indian farmers. In this situation, advances in weather forecasting and weather-based agromet advisory services are playing an important role in mitigating the negative e�fects of climate change on agriculture.

Agro-meteorological Advisory Service (AAS) assists farmers in making weather-sensitive farm decisions such as sowing, transplanting, fertiliser application, pest and disease control, inter-cultural operations, and so on, in order to maximise resource utilisation while minimising waste and loss. At the same time, it will provide avenues for increasing farm productivity and instilling confidence in farmers. �e primary goal of AAS is to collect weather and climate information, soil-related information, and crop-based knowledge and combine it with weather forecast to provide farmers with the vision to manage their decisions.

Background

Information and communication technology (ICT) in agriculture is a new field that aims to improve agricultural and rural development in India. It can provide farmers with timely, accurate, and high-quality information, allowing them to increase agricultural output. �e integration of weather-based agromet advisory services with ICT tools (mobile and web applications, GIS integration, SMS, and so on) is important in the preparation and dissemination of agro advisories/ bulletins to assist farmers in adapting to climate change.

Considering the significance of Agromet Advisory Services and ICT in climate smart agriculture, the in collaboration CAAST-CSAWM, MPKV, Rahuri

with Deutsche Gesellscha�t für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH India under BMZ's 'ONE WORLD – No Hunger' special initiative (SEWOH) - Soil Protection & Rehabilitation for Food Security in India (ProSoil) project, is organising a three-week national online certificate course from 02-22 August, 2021, with the following objectives.

Ÿ To understand the concept of weather forecasting and AAS.

Ÿ To understand the holistic approach of Agromet advisory preparation.

Ÿ Dissemination mechanism of AAS, including in real-time.

Ÿ Application of smart technologies and ICTs in the dissemination of AAS to farmers and stakeholders.

Duration: 02 to 22, August 2021 (Twenty one days )

No. of seats: 100 seats on “First-Come-First-Serve” basis (However, 50% seats are reserved for MPKV Students, Faculties and Scientists)

Course fee: (Non-refundable)

Registration fee: Rs. 100/-

Course fee: Rs. 4000/- (Course fee includes registration fee)

Students of constituent colleges of MPKV, Rahuri are exempted from course fee; however, they need to pay the r egistration fee.

Important dates:

Last date of application: July 28, 2021

Confirmation of admission to the candidates: July 30, 2021

Language: English

Pre and Post Evaluation: Pre and post certificate course evaluation will be carried out to evaluate the impact of the certificate course.

Conduct of the Certificate course: �e certificate course will consist of online lectures-cum-discussions, demonstrations, tutorials, case studies, experience sharing from progressive farmers and scientists in relation to climate resilient practices and technologies in climate smart agriculture.

Project Reports: �e candidates are required to complete the case study based project reports (individual and group) and submit online.

Evaluation: �ere will be evaluation of the candidates at the end of the each week, and final evaluation towards the end of the course. �e evaluation will be in the form of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), descriptive questions and power point presentation.

Feedback: Candidates need to provide the feedback towards the end of certificate course.

Methodology for conduct of course

Who can apply?

Faculty Members, Scientist, Farmers, Govt. O�ficers, Non-Govt. O�ficers, Extension personnel, KVK O�ficers, Industry persons or any individual who is working and/or is interested in the field of agriculture and agricultural meteorology.

Minimum eligibility

Graduate/ Diploma (3 years) or Final year students (registered for at least 7th semester or fourth year) from the bachelor degree program in Agricultural Science, Social Science, Agricultural Engineering and Engineering.

Mode of applicationInterested candidates should visit following link to register for the certificate course.

Link: http://www.mpkv-caast.ac.in/page/certificatecourses

Documents required while applying

• MPKV Candidates: �e o�fice reference number of "No Objection Certificate" in case of students and

"Permission Letter" in case of sta�f in the box provided in the form; and email the scan copy of the

"No Objection Certificate" or "Permission Letter" as the case may be to "[email protected]".

• Non MPKV Candidates: �e documents in support of minimum eligibility for attending the

certificate/ module based course to be emailed to "[email protected]".

It will be the responsibility of the concerned candidate to obtain the permission of the concerned organisation, if

necessary (in case of non MPKV candidate).

For details, refer guideline by clicking here: https://qrgo.page.link/oxaBG

Scan following QR code for Registration and

Course Guidelines

Global climatic phenomena, droughts and weather aberrations, drought indices, heat unit requirements, tools and techniques of weather forecasting, crop planning and risk reduction, ITK methods, agrometeorology and pest and diseases of some important crops, crop weather calendar, preparation of Agromet Advisory Services (AAS) including in real-time, role of ICT, digital techniques for AAS, remote sensing and agro advisory, crop weather models and automation of Agromet Advisory Services.

Main topics

Experts

United Nations O�fice for Outer Space A�fairs (UNOOSA), Vienna International Centre, Vienna, Austria

• Dr. Shirish Ravan, Head, Beijing O�fice, UN-SPIDER Programme of the UNOOSA)

Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Hyderabad, Telangana, India

• Dr. G Ravindra Chary, Director, ICAR-CRIDA

• Dr. P. Vijaya Kumar, Project Co-ordinator (AICRPAM), ICAR-CRIDA

India Meteorological Department (IMD)

• Dr. Kripan Ghosh, Scientist ‘F’ and Head, Agricultural Meteorology Division, IMD, Pune, Maharashtra, India

• Dr. Subhash Bhan, Scientist ‘F’, IMD, New Delhi, India

• Dr. Anupam Kashyapi, Scientist ‘F’ and Head, Weather & Air Pollution Monitoring Unit, IMD, Pune, Maharashtra, India

• Dr. R. Balasubramanian, Scientist ‘E’, Agricultural Meteorology Division, IMD, Pune, Maharashtra, India

• Dr. Shirish Khedikar, Scientist ‘B’, Agricultural Meteorology Division, IMD, Pune, Maharashtra, India

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)

• Deputed O�ficer, Regional O�fice, NABARD, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Deutsche Gesellscha�t für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH India

• Er. Ranjit Jadhav, Technical Advisor, Soil Protection & Rehabilitation for Food Security in India (ProSoil), GIZ, GmbH, Pune

• Dr. Surendran U, Senior Scientist & Head i/c, Centre for Water Resources Development and Management, Kerala, India

• Dr. Makarand Kulkarni, Chief (Product Planning & Quality), Skymet Weather Services Pvt. Ltd. Pune, Maharashtra, India

• Mr. Ajay Shelke, Manager, Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR), Pune, Maharashtra, India

State Agricultural Universities, India

• Dr. Saon Banerjee, Professor & Head (Agril. Meteorology ), Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal

• Dr. Gautam Saha, Professor (Agril. Meteorology ), Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, India

• Dr. Prabjyot Kaur Sidhu, Head (Climate Change and Agril. Met.), Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana

• Dr. Ravi H. Patil, Head (Agril. Met.), College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka

• Prof. M. B. Rajegowda, Agro-Meteorologist, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore

• Dr. Amarinder Singh, Assistant Professor (Agronomy), Gurunanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab

• Dr. Kailas Dakhore, Agrometeorlogist (AICRPAM), Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapith, Parbhani, Maharashtra

• Dr. Vidyadhar B. Vaidya, Assistant Professor of Agril. Meteorology, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat

• Dr. Lalasaheb Tambade, Head and Sr. Scientist, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kalwade, Solapur, MPKV., Rahuri, Maharashtra

• Dr. Sunil Gorantiwar, Head (Agril. Engg.) and Principal Investigator (CAAST-CSAWM), MPKV., Rahuri, Maharashtra

• Dr. Jaywant Jadhav, Director (CAFT), Head (Agromet), Nodal O�ficer (GKMS-FASAL Project), MPKV., Rahuri, Maharashtra

• Dr. Atul Atre, Professor (Soil and Water Conservation Engineering), MPKV., Rahuri, Maharashtra

• Dr. Ravi Andhale, Associate Professor (Agronomy), Co-Nodal O�ficer, GKMS Project, MPKV., Rahuri, Maharashtra

• Dr. Annasaheb Nawale, Associate Professor (Plant Pathology), Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Maharashtra

• Dr. Sanjay Mandakmale, Senior Scientist, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Maharashtra

• Dr. Anil Durgude, Analytical Chemist, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Maharashtra

• Dr. Sangram Dhumal, Associate Professor (Horticulture), College of Agriculture, Kolhapur, MPKV., Rahuri, Maharashtra

• Dr. Nandkumar Bhute, Assistant Entomologist, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Maharashtra

• Dr. Shraddha Bagade, Assistant Professor (Agronomy), College of Agriculture, Pune, MPKV., Rahuri , Maharashtra

World Bank Aided

ICAR- National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP)

Centre for Advanced Agricultural Science and Technology for Climate Smart Agriculture and Water Management (CAAST-CSAWM)

Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri413 722 Maharashtra, India

www.mpkv-caast.ac.in: [email protected]

Joint Course Director

Ÿ Dr. Jaywant Jadhav, Director (CAFT), Head (Agromet), Nodal O�ficer (GKMS-FASAL Project) and Member

(CAAST-CSAWM), MPKV., Rahuri, India. Email: Mob: [email protected],

Course Director

Ÿ Dr. Ravi Andhale, Associate Professor (Agronomy), Co-Nodal O�ficer, GKMS Project & Member

(CAAST-CSAWM), MPKV., Rahuri, India. Email: Mob: [email protected],

Co-Convenors

Ÿ Dr. Mukund Shinde, Co-Principal Investigator (CAAST-CSAWM) and Professor (SWCE), MPKV., Rahuri, India

Ÿ Er. Ranjit Jadhav, Technical Advisor, Soil Protection and Rehabilitation for Food Security in India (ProSoil),

Deutsche Gesellscha�t für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Pune, India

Convenors

Ÿ Dr. Sunil Gorantiwar, Principal Investigator (CAAST-CSAWM) and Head (Agril.Engg.), MPKV., Rahuri, India

Ÿ Dr. Indraneel Ghosh, Senior Advisor, Soil Protection and Rehabilitation for Food Security (ProSoil), Deutsche

Gesellscha�t für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, New Delhi, India

Advisors

Ÿ Dr. Prabhat Kumar, National Coordinator (NAHEP), Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India

Ÿ Dr. Ashok Pharande, Dean (F/A) and Director of Instruction, MPKV., Rahuri, India

Patrons

Ÿ Dr. Prashantkumar G. Patil, Hon’. Vice-Chancellor, Mahatma Phule Krishi

Vidyapeeth (MPKV), Rahuri, Maharashtra State, India

Ÿ Dr. Rakesh Chandra Agrawal, Deputy Director General (Edn.) and National

Director (NAHEP), Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India

Course Coordinators

Ÿ Dr. Snehal Kanade, Research Associate (Agricultural Meteorology), CAAST-CSAWM, MPKV., Rahuri, India,

Email: Mob: [email protected],

Ÿ Dr. Vaibhav Malunjkar, Research Associate (Soil & Water Conservation Engineering), CAAST-CSAWM, MPKV.,

Rahuri, India, Email: Mob: [email protected],

Ÿ Er. Mohasin Tamboli, Research Associate (Computer Applications), CAAST-CSAWM, MPKV., Rahuri, India

Email: Mob: [email protected],

mailto:[email protected],

http://[email protected],




Technical Schedule

Week Day Date Time (IST) Session/ Topics W

E E

K -

1 Day 1 Monday

02.08.2021 9.45 to 10.30 hrs Inaugural session

10:30 to 12:00 hrs L1- Agromet advisory Services (AAS): Introduction and overview, Status of AAS in India, Scope of AAS, Factors contributing to decisions of AAS.

12:00 to 13:30 hrs L2- Droughts and weather aberrations: Types of droughts and their characterization, Global warming and climate change and its effects on monsoon and agriculture, Western disturbance, Weather modifications and aberrations

14:30 to 17:30 hrs P1- New developments in weather instruments and Automatic Weather Station: Introduction to working of observatory and different instruments, recording observations, understanding of monsoon, Drought and heavy rainfall predictions and relationship with observations taken.

Day 2 Tuesday 03.08.2021

10:00 to 11:30 hrs L3- Global climatic phenomena: Monsoon, Southwest and Northeast monsoon, Onset and withdrawal of monsoon, Break in monsoon, El Nino and La Nina, Characterization of rainfall, Hailstorm, Heavy rainfall events and floods.

11:30 to 13:00 hrs L4-Local Phenomena: Solar radiation, Temperature, Atmospheric pressure, Wind, Depression (Cyclones), Untimely rainfall, Humidity, Evaporation, Evapotranspiration, Rainfall, Dew, Fog, Snow fall, Micrometeorology

14:00 to 17:00 hrs P2- Calculation of drought Indices: Calculation of drought indices such as Standard Precipitation index (SPI), Standard Water level Index (SWI), Vegetation indices etc.

Day 3 Wednesday 04.08.2021

10:00 to 11:30 hrs L5- Protected and High-Tech agriculture: Protected cultivation and High-Tech agriculture, Horticulture. 11:30 to 13:00 hrs L6- Animal Husbandry and Integrated agriculture 14:00 to 17:00 hrs P3- Calculation of Heat unit requirements: Calculation of growing degree days, Photothermal units, hydrothermal units,

Heliothermanl units according to growth stages. Day 4 Thursday

05.08.2021 10:00 to 13.00 hrs Case Study 1: Collection of ITK methods of weather forecasting also collect data of Agromet advisory Services users and non-users and

work out economic impact 14:00 to 15:30 hrs P4- Disease management of important crops 15:30 to 17:00 hrs Advisory services for soil health management under climate change scenario

Day 5 Friday 06.08.2021

10:00 to 11:30 hrs L7- Crop planning and Risk Reduction: Agro-climatic and Agro-ecological zones and crop planning, planning for weather abnormalities, crop substitution, cropping system, fertilizer use based on soil fertility and crop requirement

11:30 to 13:00 hrs L8- Disaster risk reduction: Crop planning based on long range rainfall forecast, less than normal or normal or excess possibility of rainfall, crop planning based on medium range forecast, alternative contingency crop planning in view of drought or floods

14:00 to 17:00 hrs Feedback and Evaluation Day 6 Saturday

07.08.2021 10:00 to 11:30 hrs L9- Weather Forecasting: Importance of weather forecasting in AAS, weather forecast and crop management, weather forecast to take

short term and long-term agriculture decisions, types of weather forecasting- now casting, short, medium range forecasts and long-range forecast as per IMD

11:30 to 13.00 hrs L10- Tools and techniques of weather forecasting: First stage and second stage, long range and extended range forecast as per IMD, Tools of Weather forecasting, models and methods used for rainfall forecasting.

14:00 to 17:00 hrs Allotment of Individual Projects Day 7 Sunday

08.08.2021 Holiday

Mode of Learning: L: Lecture, P: Practical

Week Day Date Time (IST) Session/ Topics

W E

E K

- 2

Day 8 Monday 09.08.2021

10:00 to 11:30 hrs L11- Weather forecasting and Agrometeorology of some important crops:: Choice of crops and varieties production technology of important field crops, vegetables and fruit crops

11:30 to 13:00 hrs L12- Pest Management: Weather based agromet advisory for pest management

14:00 to 17:00 hrs P5- Preparation of crop weather calendar: Preparation of crop weather calendar according to growth stages, preparation of pest and disease calendar


10:00 to 11:30 hrs L13- Preparation of AAS: Components to be considered, interlinkages between different components, preparation and dissemination of AAS using different media, increase in production and reducing risk of farmers during climate change.

11:30 to 13:00 hrs L14- Role of Information and Communication Technology: Improved technology in AAS, impact of AAS, crop planning, planning for weather abnormalities, crop substitution, cropping system, fertilizer use, rainwater management, watershed management, alternative contingency crop planning.

14:00 to 17:00 hrs P6- Preparation of a contingency crop plan


10:00 to 11:30 hrs L15-Digital techniques for AAS: Use of satellite imageries in weather forecasting, synoptic approach to weather forecasting

11:30 to 13:00 hrs L16- Remote sensing and agro advisory: Basic components of remote sensing- signals, sensors and sensing systems; active and passive remote sensing, crop stress detection - soil moisture assessment, inventory of ground water and satellite

14:00 to 17:00 hrs P7- Use of high-resolution remote sensing and GIS in AAS: Data collection through GPS, crop condition assessment, collection of soil information, preparation of maps

Day 11 Thursday 12.08.2021

10:00 to 13:00 hrs P8- Use of Crop weather models in Weather Based AAS: Crop models for yield prediction, applications in yield forecasting

14:00 to 17:00 hrs P9- Automation of AAS: Use of modern technology in AAS, dissemination mechanism to farmers decision support systems

Day 12 Friday 13.08.2021

10:00 to 13:00 hrs Case Study 2: Prepare a Agromet advisory for major field crop on existing weather condition

14:00 to 17:00 hrs Feedback and Evaluation of Individual projects

Day 13 Saturday 14.08.2021

10:00 to 13:00 hrs Evaluation of Individual projects

14:00 to 17:00 hrs Allotment of Group Projects

Day 14 Sunday 15.08.2021

Holiday


Week Day Date Time (IST) Session/ Topics

W E

E K

- 3

Day 15 Monday 16.08.2021

10:00 to 13:00 hrs Case Study 3: Prepare a Agro-Met advisory for horticultural crops on existing weather condition

14:00 to 17:00 hrs Case Study 4: Prepare a Agro-Met advisory for livestock on existing weather condition


10:00 to 11:30 hrs L17- Institutes in AAS and its working mechanism: Central Government -Ministry of Agriculture and allied institutes, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), India Meteorological Department, State Government and allied institutes, Agro-Meteorology Research Centres, Private Sector, Telecom Providers, Call Centers, State Agriculture Universities.

11:30 to 13:00 hrs L18- Farmer Training Program: Training to farmers, introduction of weather component, need-based training, linked agromet training program, weather risk insurance for agriculture, crop specific advisories, location specific advisories, weather forecast & advisory content, gaps in earlier AAS system, gap filling mechanism.

14:00 to 17:00 hrs P10- Different agromet advisory products: Study of Agromet products of IMD, use of Meghdoot App, preparation of weather based Agromet Advisory Bulletin, working of Gramin Krishi Mausam Seva.


10.00 to 11.30 hrs Advanced Instrumentation in Agricultural Meteorology

11.30 to 13.00 hrs Soil and Water Conservation interventions for contingency crop plans

Day 18 Thursday 19.08.2021

10.00 to 13.00 hrs Development of Village level contingency crop plan: A case study of Akole block, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra

14.00 to 17.00 hrs Weather based real-time advisory through ICT: Irrigation Water Management

Day 19 Friday 20.08.2021

10:00 to 17:00 hrs Group Project work

Day 20 Saturday 21.08.2021

10:00 to 17:00 hrs Evaluation of Group projects

Day 21 Sunday 22.08.2021

10:00 to 12:00 hrs Valedictory Session


Organising by

World Bank Aided

ICAR- National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP)

Centre for Advanced Agricultural Science and Technology for Climate Smart Agriculture and Water Management (CAAST-CSAWM)

Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri413 722 Maharashtra, India