An automatic agrometeorology station of pilot agrometeorological network was launched yesterday in Tursunzoda district with the support of the European Union (EU), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and in close collaboration with the Agency for Hydrometeorology of the Committee for Environmental Protection.
The pilot agrometeorological network intends to introduce new approaches for collecting and analyzing weather data to provide early warning to farmers on climate, plant diseases and yield forecasting.
The pilot network consists of three automatic agrometeorology weather stations, which are installed in three different regions with specific crop patterns – vineyards in Tursunzoda district, apricots in Konibodom district of the Sughd region and cotton in Jaloliddin Balkhi district of the Khatlon region.
It is important to note that the launch of the agrometeorology stations in Konibodom and Jaloliddin Balkhi districts is expected to be held on August 2 and 4.
The application of agrometeorology to agriculture is essential, since every facet of agricultural activity depends on the weather. With careful planning and research, agrometeorology helps farmers meet the world’s demand for food and other agricultural products. Unpredictable weather patterns, caused by climate change and other meteorological phenomena, have increased the need for precise weather data.
“The European Union delegation is working closely with FAO and National partners to establish an effective and sustainable pilot agrometeorological system in Tajikistan. Once installed, this system is intended to reinforce the agricultural production in Tajikistan, by providing proactive measures that keep the agricultural sector less influenced by weather hazards, especially drought,” emphasized EU Ambassador in Tajikistan Marilyn Josefson.
“I hope this experience will be copied to other regions in Tajikistan in a near future to broaden the spectrum of coverage of agrometeorological observations and empower the agricultural sector,” continued Josefson.
Moreover, agricultural decision-makers also benefit from agrometeorological applications, including government policymakers seeking to ensure adequate production planning, food supplies, affordable food prices for consumers and sufficient farm income for farmers and to reduce the impact of agricultural practices on the environment.
“The pilot agrometeorological network is an essential element for proper planning, development and management of agricultural activities in the country. By applying data on weather and climate in general, farmers can take proper measures to ensure sustainability of their farm management, can increase yield and produce larger quality harvests,” said FAO Representative in Tajikistan, Oleg Guchgeldiyev.
Advance knowledge and close monitoring of weather conditions is vital in guiding agricultural planning and operations, such as land preparation, pest management and selection of crop varieties appropriate for local conditions. Early warning on weather patterns is critical to inform timely livelihood support and resilience programming.
“With data informed decision-making becomes possible. By tracking temperatures and rainfall patterns there is also room to predict severe climatic events that can have a profound impact on how plants grow, on what types of crops should be planted and when,” added Guchgeldiyev.
The European Union and FAO are working together to support the relevant government institutions through enhancing the collection, analysis and reporting of agrometeorological information in order to produce a stream of basic data such as precipitation, temperature and wind speed across the country.
