Archive · 1 Sep 2026
NABARD, IMD Partner to Deliver Weather Intelligence to Farmers
NABARD and the India Meteorological Department have agreed to share useful weather information.
They will put this information on a digital platform called DiCRA.
Farmers will be able to see forecasts, warnings, and farming advice.
The information will cover districts and smaller blocks.
It will also be available to banks, researchers, and government officials.
DiCRA will combine weather data with information about crops, soil, and climate risks.
This can help farmers decide when and how to farm.
It can also help banks understand risks before providing agricultural loans.
The groups want weather information to reach farmers in a simple and timely way.
NABARD and IMD signed an MoU to integrate weather data into the DiCRA platform.
The initiative aims to provide free weather intelligence to farmers, financial institutions, policymakers, and researchers.
IMD will supply forecasts, agromet advisories, observations, and weather alerts at district and block levels.
DiCRA will combine weather information with data on soil moisture, crop conditions, vegetation health, and climate vulnerability.
NABARD and IMD said the partnership could improve climate-resilient farming, rural livelihoods, and weather-linked financing.
- Who
- The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
- What
- They signed an MoU to integrate IMD’s agro-meteorological products into the Data in Climate Resilient Agriculture (DiCRA) platform.
- When
- At the MoU signing ceremony; the article does not specify a date.
- Where
- The article does not specify the ceremony’s location; the services are intended for users across India.
- Why
- To make weather intelligence freely accessible and support climate-resilient agriculture, rural livelihoods, and financing decisions.
- Partner institutions
- National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development and India Meteorological Department
- Digital platform
- Data in Climate Resilient Agriculture (DiCRA), an open-source platform supported by UNDP and NABARD
- Planned data
- District- and block-level forecasts, agromet advisories, in-situ observations, and weather alerts
- Additional DiCRA data
- Soil moisture, vegetation health, crop conditions, and climate vulnerability
- Users
- Farmers, financial institutions, policymakers, researchers, credit officers, and field staff
- Access channels
- DiCRA’s web portal, mobile interface, and open API integrations
- Forecasting improvement
- IMD said forecast accuracy has improved by around 40 to 50 per cent over the last decade