Coimbatore : Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) today signed an MoU with Regional Integrated Multi Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (Rimes) to collaborate on the areas of climate information services for agricultural risk management.

The MoU enables both institutions to develop research-based pilot projects to demonstrate seamless use of weather and climate information at various time scales (seasonal, monthly, and medium range) for better decision-making by farmers, says a TNAU statement.

Rimes is an international, inter-governmental, non-profit organisation, established in 2009 under the Agreement on the ‘Cooperation on Regional Integrated Multi Hazard Early Warning System for Afro-Asian Pacific Region’, to enhance preparedness and response and mitigation to tsunami and hydro-meteorological hazards.

It has been working closely with Indian Meteorological Department and Government of Tamil Nadu for developing capacities to translate forecast information into sector specific impacts for effective disaster management.

RIMES  has also established an operational support unit at Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority and built a decision support system called Tamil Nadu System for Multi hazard potential impact assessment, alert, emergency response planning and tracking for rapid and efficient disaster management in the State.

The agreement would pave the way for sharing the best practices and lessons learnt here in Tamil Nadu with 45 participating countries.