New Delhi: The Government on Monday said it had launched the monsoon mission programme to help improve forecast of the annual rainfall season, an initiative that would benefit millions of farmers.
"The Monsoon Mission programme launched by my Government will enable us to significantly improve monsoon prediction for the benefit of our farmers," President Pratibha Patil said in her address to the joint sitting of Parliament.
Patil said over 40 per cent of farmers across the country will be covered under the agro-meteorological services in the 12th Plan period from the 10 per cent at present.
Integrated ocean information advisory services will be extended to 90 per cent of coastal fishermen in our country, the President said.
"The key objective of the monsoon mission is to fix a monsoon forecasting model for the nation," officials said.
Though the focus will chiefly be on seasonal forecast, the mission will include aspects of short (up to 3 days) and medium-range (up to a week) predictions as well.
After a brainstorming session last year, scientists decided to use the Climate Forecasting System of the US-based National Centre for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) and the UK Met Office model for forecasting monsoon.
"But these models need to be improved greatly through a coordinated effort," they said.
Nearly 100 weather scientists, including at least 25 from other countries, are expected to fine-tune these models to Indian conditions with an aim to develop a model for India.
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