Operational Agricultural Meteorology: A Realm for Sustainable Livelihoods offers a comprehensive exploration of the intersection between meteorology and agriculture, emphasizing its vital role in enhancing productivity, resilience, and sustainability across farming systems. In a time of growing climate uncertainty, this book brings to light the essential services and tools that agricultural meteorology provides to support informed decision-making at the farm, institutional, and policy levels. The book delves into the principles and practices of operational agricultural meteorology, covering topics such as weather and climate forecasting, agro-advisory services, early warning systems, agrometeorological data collection, and the integration of modern technologies like remote sensing, GIS, and AI-based analytics.

It highlights how timely and location-specific weather and climate information can significantly reduce agricultural risks, improve resource management, and contribute to sustainable livelihoods—particularly for smallholder and resource-poor farmers. Rich with real-world examples, case studies, and actionable insights, this volume provides readers with both theoretical foundations and practical guidance.

It serves as a vital resource for students, researchers, extension professionals, meteorologists, development practitioners, and policymakers working at the nexus of agriculture, environment, and rural development. At its core, this book is a call to action: to strengthen the bridge between science and service, between forecast and farm, and between climate knowledge and community resilience. Through this lens, Operational Agricultural Meteorology becomes not just a field of study-but a transformative force for sustainable livelihoods and food security in a changing world.

BV Ramana Rao taught Agricultural Meteorology in the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore during the years 1966 to 1979 and later joined the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and superannuated from service during April, 2000. He served as Head, Division of Climatology, Wind Power and Solar Energy Utilization at ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur (Rajasthan); founder Project Coordinator, All India Coordinated Research Project on Agrometeorology at ICAR Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad (Telangana) during December 1984 to March 1994. His major contributions in the field of Agrometeorology include Agroclimatic Characterization, Delineation of Efficient Cropping Zones, Crop Weather Modeling, Classification and Management of Agricultural Droughts, Operational Agrometeorology, etc. He published about 150 research papers in peer reviewed journals with 50 of his papers appearing in high impact International Journals. He authored 5 books and monographs and a number of scientific and technical bulletins. He served as Editor in Chief, Journal of Agrometeorology during the years 2009 to 2023. 
He is the recipient of British Council Fellowship during the year 1986-87 for advanced training at University of Reading, United Kingdom. He was conferred as Honorary Fellow (2011) and Life Time Achievement Award (2025) by the Association of Agrometeorologists for his valuable contribution to the growth and development of Agricultural Meteorology in India. 
Surender Singh has about thirty five years of experience with PhD in the field of Agrometeorology. Worked in Agrometeorology encompassing teaching, research, extension and administration at various capacities viz., Principal Scientist, Professor & Head, Senior Scientist, Assistant Scientist, Advisor (Recruitments) and Associate Director (Students’ Counseling and Placement) at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India. Recipient of Two Gold Medals for Best Research Work during PhD Program and for Best PhD Dissertation (2001-02) awarded by then President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. Offered UK Universities Vice Chancellors’ Scholarship for Higher Studies twice (1991 & 1993) under Commonwealth Fellowship Program. Post Doctoral Fellow at Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy; IAC – Instituto Agronômico, Campinas, Brazil and BOKU (Met) - Institute of Meteorology and Climatology, Vienna, Austria. 
He is life member of Association of Agrometeorologists, Indian Meteorological Society, Indian Society of Remote Sensing, International Society for Agrometeorology, Society for Sustainable Agric& Resource Management, Environment Science Published for Everybody Round the Earth (ESPERE), European Drought Centre, South Asian Forum on Agriculture Meteorology (SAFOAM) and The Geographical Society of India. Organized quite a few trainings/symposia in Agrometeorology and associated domains at National level. Published more than 250 research papers, popular articles, manuals/teaching aids and research bulletins/book chapters etc. Performed responsibilities as Managing Editor - Journal of Agrometeorology, Research Collaborator, Monsoon Asia Agro-Environmental Research Consortium (MARCO), Japan, Member, Expert Team - CAgM-WMO, Geneva, Switzerland (2018-20). Core Committee Member on Agriculture – Drought at WMO, Geneva, Switzerland (2021-24 & 2024-27). External Expert for evaluation of research projects submitted at COST-Association, European Union, Brussels, Belgium. Many students (UG, PG and PhD) were trained under him and placed across the country and well settled in various positions in the field of Agrometeorology. He is widely travelled researcher/expert across the globe on many academic pursuits. He has been conferred upon Fellow of Association of Agrometeorologists (FAAM) for the year 2024 in recognition of his exemplary achievements and enduring impact on agrometeorological science. 
V Uma Maheswara Rao has forty years of experience with PhD in the broader field of Agrometeorology. Worked in Agrometeorology encompassing teaching, research, extension and administration at various capacities viz., Project Coordinator, Principal Scientist, Professor & Head, Agrometeorologist, and Assistant Scientist at CCS Haryana Agricultural University and Indian Council of Agriculture Research in India. 
He is life member of Indian Meteorological Society, The Arid Zone Research Association of India, Indian Society of Remote Sensing, Association of Agrometeorologists, International Society for Agrometeorology, and The Indian Society of Dryland Agriculture. Organized several trainings/workshops in Agrometeorology at the International and National level. Published more than 345 research papers, popular articles, manuals/teaching aids and research bulletins/book chapters. Member of the CCI-ET-IIC, WMO, Geneva (2014-2017). Member of XI Plan High Powered Review Committee of Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India (2012). In 2014, the prestigious Chaudhary Devi Lal Award, ICAR’s Best AICRP on Agrometeorology was received under his dynamic leadership as Project Coordinator. Many students (UG, PG and PhD) were trained under him spread across the country and settled in various positions in the field of Agrometeorology. He visited numerous countries in official capacity.

1. Introduction
2. Operational Agricultural Meteorology: Concepts and Components
3. The Capricious Skies: Understanding Weather from a Farmer‘s Perspective
4. Farmers Climate Awareness
5. Development of Operational Agrometeorological Advisories - Key Concerns
6. Complexities in Farmers Decision Making based on Weather Forecasts
7. Extreme Weather Events, Hazards and Disasters
8. Research Priorities for Operational Agrometeorological Advisories
9. Classification of Crops and Farmers
10. Climate : Cropping and Farming Systems
11. Operational Agricultural Meteorology: A System Analysis Approach
12. Linkages between Government Agencies and Public Funded Organizations
13. Skill Advancement and Knowledge Empowerment (SAKE)
14. Harvest for Future