Thisrefers to the THI article “Weather forecasting blends two models to sharpen accuracy.” The IMD’s initiative to blend two forecasting models for improved monsoon accuracy is a welcome and overdue step. For Indian farmers, weather unpredictability is not an inconvenience but a direct threat to their livelihood. A missed forecast can mean delayed sowing, wasted inputs, or crop failure. The real test, however, lies in last-mile delivery. Block-level forecasts are only useful if they reach farmers in their local language, through channels they use like mobile alerts, local radio, or panchayat networks. Technology at the top must translate into actionable information at the field level, or its potential remains largely unrealised.

M Barathi, Bengaluru-560076