ABSTRACT
Given the acute dependence of the Third World on agriculture, it is imperative to look into every possibility that can contribute to agricultural productivity. This chapter focuses on the potential use of weather prediction in agricultural production. There are several weather-related activities of interest to Third World countries, such as applied climatology, weather prediction, and weather modification. Potential users of weather information include farmers of varying types and size, traders and corporations dealing with agricultural goods, and various public agencies. Military and aviation organizations have traditionally dominated the weather services, and their interest in weather information is often too narrow to benefit agriculture. As a consequence, most national weather organizations have been deprived of additional funds and staff, hindering efforts to link agriculture with weather information. The prospects for the extensive use of weather information systems are in some ways comparable to those of the Green Revolution.
