IBM gets 'The Weather Company' going to empower farmers during lockdown

With the restriction in the movement of transport vehicles and closing of mandis (market places) to contain the spread of Covid-19, farmers and agriculture technology companies are facing a huge challenge. The supply chain operations of many agtech firms have been disrupted due to the lockdown. This is also the season when farmers were gearing up to harvest Rabi crops such as peas, wheat, mustard, sesame and barley. Apart from logistical challenges, the weather also plays a key role in enabling a smooth flow of crops from farms to consumers.

This is where tech giant IBM is now stepping in, to fill the gap. The Big Blue, as IBM is known as, is offering ‘Operations Dashboard’ from its weather forecasting firm The Weather Company (TWC), for a 30-day free trial. The customisable solution is designed to function like a ‘meteorologist-in-a-box’ which actively monitors weather forecasts for conditions that may affect one’s location, operations and customers. The technology helps supply chain managers make faster, more informed decisions by combining weather forecasts with their unique business insights.

The ‘Operations Dashboard’ is helping agtech companies that are providing inputs to farmers and working at the farm gate with the Farmer Producer Organisations to take their produce to a warehouse or market. For instance, one can determine the safety actions to employ in specific locations due to severe weather, such as tornadoes or lightning. This means, produce will reach consumers faster and less food would get spoiled.

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