Agricultural Meteorology is an applied meteorology that deals with the influence of climate on crop husbandry and animal husbandry as well. This field is concerned with the physical process of the aforesaid environment that can be exploited for the purpose of solving the problems pertaining to sustainable agricultural production.

Role of Agricultural Meteorologists:

Agricultural Meteorologists are trained in such a way that they can deal with crops, weather, water, soil and meteorological principles to agriculture. Since the failure or success of agriculture depend on chains of five factors being farmer’s skills, technology, weather, soil and seeds, any weak link in the chain will determine the agricultural production at the end.

Status of Agricultural Meteorology in India:

In the year 1932, a separate division of agricultural meteorology was started as one of the division of Indian Meteorological Department at Pune for dealing with the studies of agricultural meteorology. This division in working under the auspice of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and it got the status of permanent department of the Indian Meteorological Department in the year 1943. In addition, the National Commission on Agriculture in the year 1976 recommended for a separate department for agricultural meteorology in ICAR Research institutes and all State Agricultural Universities for strengthening of extension, research and teaching activities and for training technical personnel. The ICAR has started a separate ‘All India Coordinated Research Project in the year 1985 on Agrometerology under dry land agriculture. The institute also supports research project on agricultural meteorology under ICAR ad-hoc schemes and National Agricultural Technology Project. The Science and Technology Department of Government of India have a mission mode research project under the National Center for medium range weather forecasting and Agro meteorological advisory services as well.

Career Opportunities in the field of agricultural meteorology:

Professionals in the field of Agricultural Meteorology can work in developmental and research activities in government and private agencies working in the field of agriculture. In private sector, these professionals can work as consultants to many organizations inclusive of NGOs involved in rural development, command area and water shed management programs.

Government jobs in the field of agricultural meteorology:

When it comes to government job opportunities in the field of agricultural meteorology, candidates can find job opportunities in extension, development, research and teaching activities as subject matter specialists, research officials, assistant professors and scientists. They can also find job opportunities in the position of Agricultural Meteorologists in the following government organizations:

• Food and Agricultural Organization

• Department of Science & Technology

• National Remote Sensing Agency

• Space Application Centre

• Indian Space Research Organization

• Indian Council for Agricultural Research

• Central and State Agricultural Universities

Scope of Agricultural Meteorology:

Agricultural Meteorology is widely used in India for the following purposes:

• For developing weather based agro advisories for sustaining crop production by utilization of different climate and weather forecasts

• For monitoring droughts on crop-wise as well as area-wise for effective drought management

• For developing crop growth stimulation models for obtaining and assessing potential yield in different agro climatic zones

• For preparing crop weather calanders and diagrams for ease of farmers

• For developing weather based effective farm operations

• For studying crop weather relationships in all important crops and forecast yield

• For studying climatic resources of given area for effective production of crops

• For development of weather based effective farm operations

• For establishing relationship between disease infestation, crop pest and weather parameters

• For modifying the microclimate through different means for raising agricultural productivity

• For delineating of agro climatic zones for defining agro climatic analogues in such a way as to make fast and effective transfer of technology for ensuring sustainable development of agriculture

Since agricultural meteorology has such wide usage in India, it has greater scope as well.