An Examination of the Role of Weather and Climate Information Services in the Context of Hill Farming: Does It Help in Adaptation?

Weather and Climate Information Services (WCIS) play a critical role in managing farm risks and guide farmers to choose effective adaptation practices to combat climate change. In India, the India Meteorological Department initiated advanced weather forecasting services, such as Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa, which have reportedly generated benefits. However, the role of WCIS remains underexplored with respect to the farm sector in the hills. In hilly regions, weather variability is high, the terrain is complex and climate shocks are highly localised. This study investigates the role of WCIS and other enabling factors in aiding hill farmers’ adoption of scientific climate adaptation strategies (CAS). We randomly surveyed 400 hill farmers spread across 4 randomly selected development blocks in Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand, India. It was observed that 56.8% of surveyed farmers use WCIS and adopt CAS. Regression results indicate that WCIS significantly influences farmers’ adaptation behaviour, alongside factors such as farm inputs, past exposure to climate extremes, proximity to market and altitude. The findings underscore that while India has made strong investments in WCIS with proven macro-level benefits, targeted strengthening of last-mile weather information delivery and advisory services is essential to foster effective climate change adaptation in fragile hill farming systems.