Agro-advisory services for increasing production, profit under climate change scenario in old alluvial zone of West Bengal

Aim: To increase the net income of farmers by reducing losses caused by extreme weather events and reducing the cost of cultivation using weather advisory and to popular the Agro-advisory service at the block level. Methodology: Data was collected from the selected farmers by interview schedule, and the Weather forecast data was obtained from the Regional Meteorological Centre Kolkata, India Meteorological Department, Alipore biweekly i.e., every Tuesday and Friday. Results: The results showed that the farmers who followed the weather based advisory were able to reduce the cultivation cost like irrigation cost, fertilizer cost, plant protection chemicals etc., than non-users of advisory in Rice and Brinjal crops. Farmers saved Rs. 1940 and Rs. 2444 per ha for rice cultivation and saved Rs. 6685 and Rs. 6688 per ha for brinjal cultivation in a single season by following advisories. Interpretation: The studies showed that the application of advisory bulletin based on realized and forecasting of weather parameter is a useful tool for increasing the production and profit. The farming community who are utilizing the agro-advisory bulletin for agricultural practices, reduce the cost cultivation and increase the yield as well as profit. Key words: Agro-advisory services, Climate change, Economic benefit, Weather forcast