IMD has decided to close all 199 rural farms across the country.

On January 17, the IMD issued an order stating that district agriculture and its services would not extend beyond the current fiscal year. Consequently, steps are urged to discontinue district agriculture unit services and wind up the 199 currently operational DAMUs, as per the directive.

Minutes from a February meeting of the Finance Ministry’s Expenditure Finance Committee highlighted a recommendation from a senior Niti Ayog Advisor to reassess the necessity of staffing each DAMU.

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Suggesting a shift from field units to centralized units, it is proposed that the Ministry of Earth Science reconsiders its approach, citing automated data collection. Employees at the units express concerns about the immediate impact on thousands of farmers across 199 districts in 32 states and Union Territories. The agriculture ministry’s scientists acknowledge DAMUs’ role in enhancing farmers’ resilience to climate change, emphasizing that the termination of DAMU services will have noticeable short-term effects.

Introduced in 2015 to assist farmers in daily decision-making, the Gramin Krishi Mausam Seva provides location and crop-specific advisories. With 130 agromet field units established nationwide, in partnership with the Indian Council of Agriculture Research, AMFUs cover multiple districts at the zonal level. In 2018, 530 district agromet units were established at Krishi Vigyan Kendras to expand GMSV, but only 199 DAMUs were installed due to disruptions caused by the COVID pandemic. DAMUs, comprising Agromet Observers and SMS Agromet, provide block-level advisories and facilitate effective communication between scientists and farmers.

Mahesh Yudulwar, a DAMU employee from Maharashtra, emphasizes the impact of closing DAMUs on the families of the 398 employees and the farmers who rely on crucial agromet advisories. These advisories have played a pivotal role in helping farmers adapt to climate change and mitigate losses, affecting claims under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.

Yudulwar notes that KVKs have a limited workforce, and additional responsibilities may strain the entire process. Agricultural scientist G. V. Ramananeyulu suggests integrating preexisting systems and training individuals in gram panchayats and farmer-producer organizations as a potential solution to the challenges posed by the parallel system.

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