Japan to provide more weather forecast training
04 Dec 18 - Source: Myanmar Times - The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will provide technical training in weather forecasting to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH).
JICA had donated 30 automatic weather forecast stations and three radars with built-in training programmes, but the training has so far been insufficient so more is planned, said U Kyaw Moe Oo, DMH director general.
"To improve our weather forecasting, Japan will provide more technical assistance," he said at the signing of an agreement by the two agencies last Wednesday.
Japanese experts will provide training in Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon, Mandalay and Kyaukphyu, where the weather stations are installed.
Maintenance training for Myanmar engineers, monitoring devices, and programmes to help the public understand the forecasts are part of the agreement.
Myanmar is behind in many ways compared to other countries, so improvements are needed to quickly share forecasts with the public, U Kyaw Moe Oo said.
Only with successful weather forecasts can the agricultural sector develop, so the department is trying hard to provide fast, accurate information, he said.
"With these devices, our weather forecasts will be more accurate, and we will be able to use them to manage water resources, energy and industry as well," he said.
After Cyclone Nargis battered the country in 2008, Myanmar began receiving international aid to improve its weather forecasting system.
