Bhutan embarks on climate data shift with new weather forecasting system

Over half of the people living in the tiny Himalayan nation of Bhutan depend on agriculture to earn a living. But the small farms and the families that run them are coming under extreme pressure from climate change, with reports of crop damage from new pests and diseases, windstorms, untimely rainfalls and hailstones, in addition to the ongoing challenge of human-wildlife conflict. 

The traditional practice for farmers in Bhutan is to follow the lunar-based calendar for planting and harvesting their crops.

For example, rice grown in paddy fields -- the principal food crop in Bhutan -- is transplanted in the fourth month of the traditional Bhutanese calendar, after the advent of the monsoon, while harvesting is done in the ninth month of the Bhutanese calendar, during the dry autumn season.

With climate change, however, while the traditional practices continue, the weather patterns relied upon for centuries are no longer cooperating. As a result, the frequent delay in the onset of monsoon and untimely rains during harvesting of the paddy have caused considerable crop damages.

But a solution is on the horizon. With the support of UNDP and the Global Environment Facility, through the National Adaptation Programme of Actions (NAPA) II project, Bhutan has embarked on installing a modern, automated weather forecast and warning system across the country.

With the arrival of quality hydromet data – and an investment in supporting behaviour change amongst the farming community - Bhutanese farmers will be able to better plan their agricultural cycles, maximizing their yield and minimizing climate-induced crop damage -- so strengthening their livelihoods and opportunities.

The existing hydromet network in Bhutan is limited, consisting of 26 river gauging stations, 90 meteorological stations, and 15 flood warning stations, many of which were established some 20 years back when technology was comparatively restricted.

Of these, only 10 of the river gauging stations and 13 of the meteorological stations are automatic stations. The network was also originally developed to meet the needs of hydropower – Bhutan’s largest export to neighbouring India-- and does not take account of local climates in a way that would be necessary to benefit farmers.

Through the current UNDP-GEF NAPA II project, the Department of Hydromet Services will upgrade and install 99 state-of-the-art weather stations by end of 2016, able to generate real-time hydromet data linked with the World Metrological Organisation’s Global Telecommunication System.

This data will facilitate: enhanced early warning for vulnerable communities, monitoring the impact of climate change on high altitude snow coverage essential for Bhutan’s ecosystems and economic development, and will serve farmers and communities alike with the information they need to plan their crop cycle.

The NAPA II project builds on earlier UNDP-GEF projects supporting community resilience. The NAPA I project focused on reducing the risk from Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF).