Union Government launched weather alert service NOWCAST

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on 18 June 2015 launched a weather alert service named NOWCAST.

NOWCAST will be used to send SMS alerts on extreme weather data like hailstorm, thunderstorm and squall originated by India Meteorological Department (IMD) to over one crore farmers whose mobile numbers are registered on government’s mKisan portal.

Further, the mKisan portal will send warning SMSs to farmers located in affected district/blocks. These warnings will help the farmers to take precautionary measures as needed and feasible. The SMS will be sent in English, Hindi and regional languages as per farmers’ request.

This technological break-through is a collaborative effort between mKisan Portal developed by DAC, weather technologies adopted by IMD and GIS Portal of NIC.

Besides, Radha Mohan Singh also launched Insurance Web-Portals for Farmers (www.farmer.gov.in/insurance) that will enable farmers to insure their crops under three schemes.

Prevailing provisions under which farmers can insure their crops are
• National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS)
• Modified National Insurance Scheme (MNAIS)
• Weather based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS)

Besides, Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme (CPIS) also is applicable in some parts of the country.

The portal available in English will be used to create awareness and encourage more farmers to insure their crops by taking advantage of existing schemes.

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