KVK Kulgam installs automatic weather station at Pombay campus
SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: In Kulgam, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) has taken a significant step towards empowering farmers and orchardists by installing an Automatic Weather Station at its Pombay campus. The installation of the weather station is part of the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP).
“The weather station has been installed mainly to benefit the farming community,” KVK Pombai Kulgam Senior Scientist and Head, Manzoor Ahmad said.
He said the multifunctional weather station offers comprehensive real-time updates on various factors, including wind direction, temperature, humidity, wind speed, soil temperature, soil moisture, solar radiation, solar intensity and insights into pest activity.
Highlighting the energy of the station, Manzoor emphasized that its main objective is pest detection and providing farmers with early warnings about potential threats to their environment.
He also mentioned that those who have registered with the Krishi Vigyan Kendra receive good-quality support in farming. Additionally, he added that in the event the spray is washed away by rain, it may lead to scab and fungal infections attacking the orchards.
“The proactive approach of the weather station enables farmers to make timely decisions, such as scheduling orchard sprays based on weather forecasts, preventing economic losses due to the high costs and labour associated with pesticides,” he said.
The officer further emphasised that the weather station is a government initiative, and people should benefit from such development.
“There are 29 HADP projects, and people should avail themselves of the benefits of these projects. Last time, we demonstrated a drone based on sensors. The drone automatically sprays the areas that require spraying,” he said.
Manzoor said, the ability to measure soil moisture is another game-changer. He said precise information about soil moisture allows farmers to irrigate more efficiently ,conserving water resources and preventing overwatering, which can damage crops.
He added, the AWS can monitor pest activity ,further empowering farmers to implement targeted pest control measures and protect their crop.