Agritech firm Fasal has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for a research collaboration. As part of the agreement, Fasal and IMD will work closely on exchange of hourly short-range models for rainfall probability, rainfall amount, temperature, and humidity using historic Internet of Things (IoT) data and hourly forecast data, as well as precipitation nowcasting models, the company said. [1]

Figure 1. Fasal signs MoU with IMD for research collaboration

Figure 1 shows the regions that are in the purview of this agreement for R&D include: five districts in Karnataka, five districts in Maharashtra, one district in Telangana and two districts in Andhra Pradesh.

“With day-to-day weather playing an important role in agricultural production, accurate prediction of weather can significantly help with increasing crop growth and yield, controlling pests, water and fertilizer needs,” said Shailendra Tiwari, Founder, Fasal.

Most of the weather forecast services available to farmers provide predictions for large areas. To change this, Fasal will leverage its award-winning IoT and Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered technology to develop precipitation nowcasting (forecasting for a very short-term period of up to 2 hours) along with the IMD. [2]

IMD has 23 radar stations, which would help in providing Fasal with historical radar and satellite data for the above-mentioned regions.

Of Fasal's several ongroung systems that run on solar & battery power, about 500–600 in the mentioned regions will be used to gather the IoT data to be shared with the IMD.

Fasal's devices have sensors that can measure various farm-level macroclimatic, and microclimate conditions along with rainfall, soil moisture, soil temperature, wind direction, leaf wetness, etc. The data collected from the hardware systems is processed into actionable advisories for farmers using agronomic models, AI and Machine Learning (ML). [3]

References:

1. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/fasal-signs-mou-with-imd-for-research-collaboration/articleshow/91758426.cms
2. https://www.news-next.in/fasal-signs-mou-with-imd-for-research-collaboration/
3. https://agritimes.co.in/farmers/fasal-inks-mou-with-imd-on-weather-forecast-models-to-make-farming-climate-smart

Cite this article:

Thanusri swetha J (2022), Fasal signs MoU with IMD for research collaboration, Anatechmaz, pp.146