Advertisement
The Uttar Pradesh cabinet has given its approval for the implementation of the Weather Information Network and Data System (WINDS), a comprehensive initiative that involves the installation of 826 Automatic Weather Stations and an Automatic Rain Gauge (ARG) across 57,702 village panchayats in the state.
This ambitious system is envisioned to serve as a robust weather monitoring mechanism, offering granular, standardized, and timely weather databases. The key objectives of WINDS include strengthening advanced farmer advisory services, facilitating effective crop planning, aiding in streamlined crop insurance processes, improving disaster management, and facilitating accurate crop loss assessment.
An official statement explained, “The cabinet has approved the agriculture department’s proposal to implement WINDS in the state.” The plan involves integrating automatic weather stations to be installed at block headquarters with rain gauges in villages. This integration is expected to generate scientific and reliable weather data, enhancing the precision and utility of the information collected.
The Revenue department has already taken steps in this direction by installing rain gauges in several village panchayats. The upcoming integration with automatic weather stations is anticipated to further enhance the capabilities of the existing infrastructure.
WINDS is part of a larger programmatic initiative by the central government aimed at strengthening the country’s weather data infrastructure. The ultimate goal is to provide high-quality weather datasets through a unified digital platform, facilitating the widespread use of weather variables in agriculture.
This initiative aligns with the broader vision of leveraging technology to empower farmers with accurate and timely information, enabling them to make informed decisions about crop management, resource utilization, and risk mitigation. The implementation of WINDS is expected to contribute significantly to the agricultural landscape in Uttar Pradesh, promoting sustainable practices and enhancing resilience against weather-related challenges.
