Dharwad: Dr Harsha Vardhan, Union minister for science and technology and earth sciences, inaugurated North Karnataka Agromet Forecasting and Research Centre (NKAFC) at the Farmers’ Knowledge Centre in the University of Agricultural Sciences ( UAS ) premises in Dharwad on Thursday.Speaking on the occasion, the minister said that in a bid to boost agricultural activities across the country, the government has already set up farmers’ knowledge hubs in various states in the first phase. Going a step ahead, the government is now establishing centres which can give accurate weather information and warning to farmers to protect their crops and get good yield. Information is reaching farmers through SMS, WhatsApp, social networking sites and community radios run by universityies and colleges. Weather forecasting will help farmers prepare field for sowing, harvesting, protecting crops from pest attack, drought and floods.India’s first Agromet Forecasting and Research Centre has been established at the UAS in Dharwad and nearly 25 lakh farmers will benefit from this, he added.MP Pralhad Joshi stated that India ranks fourth in the world in giving accurate weather information, leaving Japan behind. Rural areas in the country should benefit from this rare achievement of the meteorological scientists. Setting up of NKAFC is a significant step in this direction. As per expert opinion, a farmer can save up to Rs 5,000 per hectare if he gets information on weather on time. To realise this and increase the income of farmers, NKAFC will play a pivotal role, he said.The UAS has already procured mobile numbers of 1.40 lakh farmers from Dharwad district and these farmers will get weather information on daily basis. More number of phone numbers will be tapped in the coming days.IMD director general M N Rajeevan and UAS vice-chancellor M B Chetti were among those who were present.

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