FE Today Logo

BD launches seasonal weather forecasting system

FE REPORT | March 28, 2023 00:00:00


Bangladesh has entered into the era of seasonal weather forecasting system from traditional sub-seasonal system.

From now on, framers and researchers as well as policy-makers can avail weather forecast before four weeks to three months of the present time, which can help minimise losses from natural calamities, said experts.

A new weather forecasting system - 'Sub-Seasonal to Seasonal Forecasting for Agriculture in Bangladesh' - was jointly launched by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and the Bangladesh Metrological Department (BMD).

The new system was launched under the 'Agro-Meteorological Information Systems Development Project' - to provide accurate and up-to-date weather information.

The launching ceremony was held at the Bangladesh Military Museum's Multipurpose Hall in the capital on Monday.

Agriculture Secretary Wahida Akter said Bangladesh is one of the most disaster-prone and climate vulnerable countries, where authentic whether forecast has a great impact on farming and economy.

She noted that this new state-of-the-art automated forecasting system uses latest technologies, like artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data analytics, to provide accurate and timely information about weather patterns.

The agriculture secretary opined that this forecasting system is beneficial not only to farmers but also to the entire agriculture sector value chain.

It would help the policy-makers to formulate effective policies and programmes to support growth and development of the agriculture sector.

It would also help the agro input suppliers, processors and exporters to manage their supply chain by reducing risks and increasing their competitiveness in the global market, she added.

Bob Amerlan, researcher and project coordinator at Weather Impact BV in the Netherlands, presented technical aspects of the new forecasting system.

He showed how weather bulletins and agro-meteorological information services can be delivered to farmers through the system.

Project Director M Shah Kamal Khan said this automatic forecasting system is going to be a breakthrough for agriculture sector.

Currently farmers get weather forecast from daily to a maximum of five days. So, they do not get enough time and opportunity for the needful practices to protect their crops from adverse weather situation.

"Because of this new forecasting system, it will be possible to avert such crisis, as the farmers will get prior notice and enough time to protect their crops," he added.

BMD Director Azizur Rahman chaired the programme, where Senior Policy Advisor of Netherlands Embassy Osman Haruni, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) Dr Sheikh Mohammad Bakhtiar, and DAE Director General Badal Chandra Biswas also spoke, among others.

'Weather Impact' and Wageningen University, two renowned Dutch institutes, in partnership with Digital Innovation for Impact (Dii) developed the system, with support of Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI).

[email protected]


Share if you like