In July 2025, farmers across much of Assam were waiting for rain that didn’t come. Sali paddy seedlings sat in nurseries well past their transplanting time while the main fields stayed dry. By the end of the month, All India Radio reported that the state had received over 42 per cent less rainfall than normal between 1 June and 28 July, and that 27 districts were facing drought-like conditions, including Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamrup, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, Morigaon and Nagaon.
For a state better known for floods, it was a reminder that Assam’s weather is becoming harder to predict. Farmers who once planned their season by the calendar now need something more reliable: up-to-date forecasts, and advice on what to do with them.
The good news is that this information already exists, and most of it is free. This guide explains where Assam’s farmers can get weather forecasts and crop advisories, how to read them, and how to use them at each stage of the crop.
Assam’s weather is changing
Most agriculture in Assam relies heavily on rainfall. Any delay, shortfall or variation in the monsoon is felt immediately in the fields.
Research supports what many farmers have noticed. A study by Jyotsnali Chetia and Monisha Chetia, published in 2025 in the Journal of Agrometeorology, analysed rainfall and temperature between 1970 and 2023 in seven north-eastern states of India. It found a significant reduction in monsoon rainfall, a decrease in annual rainfall in all the states studied except Mizoram, and an increase in both maximum and minimum temperatures. In Assam, rainfall had a significant effect on food grain production, while temperature did not.
These changes were clearly visible during the 2025 monsoon. In its season-end report, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) listed Assam and Meghalaya among the sub-divisions with deficient rainfall. North-East India as a whole received only 80 per cent of its normal monsoon rainfall.
As a result, Assam’s farmers face floods in one season and long dry spells in another, and sometimes both in the same season.
Why a forecast matters on the farm
A weather forecast is only useful if it changes a decision. On a farm, almost every major task depends on the weather over the next few days:
| Farm task | What the farmer needs to know | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Sowing and transplanting | Will there be enough rain or soil moisture in the coming days? | Transplanting into dry fields can lead to poor establishment |
| Fertiliser application | Is heavy rain expected soon? | Heavy rain can wash fertiliser away, wasting money |
| Pesticide spraying | Is rain or strong wind forecast? | Rain can wash off sprays; wind can carry them away |
| Irrigation | Will it rain in the next few days? | Avoids pumping water just before rainfall |
| Harvesting and drying | Are there dry days ahead? | Harvested paddy or mustard can spoil if caught in rain |
| Livestock and fish ponds | Are heat, cold, heavy rain or storms coming? | Animals and ponds need protection in advance |
Saving one round of fertiliser or one spray from being washed away can pay for a farmer’s mobile data for months.
Where Assam’s farmers can get weather information
1. IMD’s agromet advisories (Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa)
The India Meteorological Department runs a service called Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS). It issues agromet advisory bulletins twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. Each bulletin includes a short-term weather forecast and advice on what to do for particular crops, such as sowing, irrigation, spraying and harvesting.
In Assam, these advisories are prepared with the help of Assam Agricultural University (AAU) and the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). They reach farmers through SMS, newspapers, All India Radio, Doordarshan and the Meghdoot app.
One practical point: according to KVK Cachar, the District Agromet Unit at that KVK was discontinued from 29 February 2024. District advisories continue to be available through Meghdoot.
2. Meghdoot app
The Meghdoot app was launched in August 2019 by the Ministry of Earth Sciences and the Ministry of Agriculture. It was developed by experts from IMD, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
The app gives district-level forecasts of temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind speed and direction, along with advisories for crops, livestock, fisheries and poultry. The information is updated twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, and is available in local languages where possible. The app is free on Google Play and the App Store.
How to start using Meghdoot:
- Download Meghdoot from the Google Play Store or App Store.
- Allow location access, or select your state and district manually.
- Check the weather forecast for the coming days.
- Open the advisory section for district-specific advice on different crops.
- Check again every Tuesday and Friday, when the advisory is updated.
3. Damini app for lightning alerts
Lightning is a real danger for people working in open fields. The Damini app monitors lightning activity across India and uses GPS to alert users when lightning is detected nearby. It is free on the Google Play Store and the App Store, and is especially useful during pre-monsoon thunderstorms.
4. Assam-based apps
Pathar Bazar. Launched on 21 October 2022 at Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, by the then Agriculture Minister, Atul Bora. The app was developed by the KVKs of Barpeta, Darrang, Kokrajhar and Udalguri. It provides weather forecasts, market information, improved paddy varieties, seed availability, livestock vaccination schedules and mushroom farming advice.
SashyaRakshyak. A bilingual (English and Assamese) Android app developed by AAU that helps farmers identify and manage pests of different crops through text and images.
Krishi Bikash–Barak Valley. Launched in 2026 by Assam University with funding from the Department of Science and Technology. The app offers early weather warnings and forecasts, voice assistance in the local language, crop-based information, soil and fertiliser management advice, and help with identifying pests and diseases.
How to read a weather forecast
Forecasts use terms that are easy to misunderstand. IMD classifies rainfall over 24 hours as follows:
| IMD term | Rainfall in 24 hours |
|---|---|
| Very light | 0.1 to 2.4 mm |
| Light | 2.5 to 15.5 mm |
| Moderate | 15.6 to 64.4 mm |
| Heavy | 64.5 to 115.5 mm |
| Very heavy | 115.6 to 204.4 mm |
| Extremely heavy | 204.5 mm or more |
“Light rain” will barely wet the topsoil and won’t fill a dry paddy field. “Heavy” or “very heavy” rain can cause waterlogging and wash away fertiliser.
IMD also uses colour-coded warnings. Green means no warning, yellow means be aware, orange means be prepared, and red means take action. An orange or red warning for heavy rain or a storm is a signal to delay spraying and fertiliser application, secure stored grain, and move animals to safety.
Putting it into practice: two examples
Example 1: a dry spell during transplanting. The advisory says no significant rain is expected for the next week. Rather than transplanting into dry fields, a farmer can keep seedlings in the nursery a little longer, irrigate the nursery if possible, and follow the local KVK’s advice on suitable varieties or adjusted planting times.
Example 2: heavy rain forecast when fertiliser is due. The forecast shows heavy rain in the next one to two days. Top dressing with fertiliser and pesticide spraying can be postponed until after the rain.
These are general examples. For decisions about your own crop, variety and soil, please follow the latest district advisory from your KVK.
What still holds farmers back
The tools exist, but many farmers do not yet use them fully. Some of the main obstacles are:
- Awareness. Many farmers have not heard of Meghdoot, or do not know that advisories are issued twice a week.
- Connectivity. Mobile data is slow or patchy in many villages, especially in char and hill areas.
- Language and literacy. Not all apps work well in Assamese, Bodo or other local languages, and not all farmers can read easily.
- Trust. One wrong forecast can make farmers lose faith, although short-range forecasts for the next one to three days are generally more accurate than longer ones.
Solutions are possible at village level. KVKs, FPOs or young people in the village can check the advisory every Tuesday and Friday and share it through WhatsApp groups, read it out at meetings or put it up at the panchayat office.
Conclusion
The weather in Assam is becoming less predictable. Studies show reduced monsoon rainfall and rising temperatures in the North-East, and the dry spell of 2025 showed how quickly this can hurt farmers.
Yet farmers today have more weather information than ever before, and most of it is free: twice-weekly IMD advisories, Meghdoot, Damini and Assam-based apps such as Pathar Bazar, SashyaRakshyak and Krishi Bikash–Barak Valley. Used regularly, this information can help farmers plan transplanting, spraying, fertiliser application and harvesting. The simplest habit is also the most useful one: check the forecast every Tuesday and Friday.
References
- All India Radio (31 July 2025). Assam faces over 42% rainfall deficit, 27 districts in drought-like situation.
- India Meteorological Department. Salient features of the Monsoon 2025.
- Chetia, J. and Chetia, M. (2025). Rainfall and temperature trends in northeastern states of India: Implications for agricultural productivity. Journal of Agrometeorology, 27(2), 168–172. DOI: 10.54386/jam.v27i2.2870.
- Down To Earth (2 August 2019). New mobile app launched to assist farmers.
- KVK Cachar, Assam Agricultural University. Agromet Advisory Service.
- The Sentinel. Mobile app ‘Pathar Bazar’ launched for farmers at AAU, Jorhat.
- Assam Agricultural University. Mobile apps: SashyaRakshyak.
- Barak Bulletin (April 2026). Assam University launches Krishi Bikash–Barak Valley app.