How it works
Terrain, water bodies, canopy cover, soil colour and wind exposure change temperature, humidity and dew at the scale of metres. A valley-bottom plot can stay wet hours longer than one 200 metres upslope.
In hill farming in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the Northeast, slope and altitude create distinct microclimates within a single holding.
Why it matters for Indian farmers
Fungal infection windows depend on hours of leaf wetness and canopy humidity, and frost settles in hollows. A district forecast cannot capture these, which is why local judgement and field checks still matter.
How VarshaKrishi uses it
VarshaKrishi works from the forecast for your location and from what the satellite sees on your own field, and asks you to check the field when conditions favour disease. A reference plot under a research contract can add on-site weather readings.
Questions about Microclimate
Why do microclimates matter in farming?
Because frost, dew and humidity, which drive crop stress and disease, vary at field scale. Two fields in one village can have different disease risk on the same day.
How small can a microclimate be?
As small as a single orchard row or a frost hollow of a few hundred square metres.