Assessment of Agromet Advisory Services from the Perspective of Farmersin Nandurbar District, Maharashtra

A study was undertaken in Nandurbar district, Maharashtra, by the District Agrometeorological Unit (DAMU) in 2024 to evaluate farmers’ perceptions and adoption of weather forecasts and agro-advisory services. The Agromet Advisory Bulletins (AABs) were issued twice weekly (Tuesday and Friday) through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to support farm-level decision-making. Survey results from 106 farmers indicated that 93.4% regularly utilized weather-based advisories. The advisories were most frequently applied to sowing and transplanting (76.4%), followed by chemical application (70.8%), harvesting and threshing (65.1%), fertilizer application (64.2%), irrigation scheduling (57.5%), and post-harvest operations (41.5%). With respect to usefulness, 62.3% of farmers rated AABs as highly useful, 35.8% as partially useful, and only 1.9% considered them not useful. The economic benefits were substantial, with farmers reporting savings ranging from ₹5,000 to over ₹1,20,000, depending on the degree of adoption and crop type. These savings were attributed to improved efficiency in resource use, reduced weather-related losses, and better crop management practices. The study underscores the critical role of agrometeorological advisories in mitigating climate-related risks, enhancing resource optimization, and improving profitability in smallholder farming systems. Broader dissemination and increased farmer engagement with AABs can further strengthen climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural development in the region.