Using IMD agromet advisories and the Meghdoot app

In a year when the rain is uneven, small decisions matter: when to sow, when to irrigate, when to hold off spraying. India's weather service gives farmers free, local advice to help.

What it is. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) runs the Gramin Krishi Mausam Seva, its agromet advisory service. IMD makes district and block-level forecasts, and agromet units at state agricultural universities, ICAR institutes and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) turn them into crop and livestock advice.

When. Advisories are issued every Tuesday and Friday. IMD also sends alerts and warnings for extreme weather, with suggested actions, by SMS, and shares them with state agriculture departments.

How to get it.

• The Meghdoot app, launched by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, shows weather, alerts and advisories for your district.
• The Kisan Suvidha app of the Ministry of Agriculture also carries the weather details.
• Advisories also go out through SMS, radio, Doordarshan, newspapers and village WhatsApp groups run by the agromet units.

How to use it. Pick your state and district, read the latest advisory on Tuesday and Friday, and plan sowing, irrigation and spraying around the forecast. For example, IMD's Karnataka bulletin of 16 October 2026 advised avoiding unnecessary irrigation ahead of forecast rain.

Ask locally. If the advice is unclear, your nearest KVK can explain what it means for your crop.

Join the El Niño help room on soshyal.com to ask questions and share what you see in your area.