How to use the weather forecast to plan my sowing date?

Use the forecast to find a sowing window where soil moisture and the next few days both favour germination. The simple rule is sow when there is enough moisture in the soil and the 3 to 5 day forecast shows no heavy rain that can crust the soil or wash out seed, and no extreme heat for a delicate crop. For rainfed kharif crops, do not sow on the very first shower. Wait until the IMD and your KVK confirm the monsoon has set in over your district and you have had good rain that wets the soil deep, usually 50 to 75 mm spread over a few days, so a dry spell after sowing does not kill the young plants. For irrigated rabi crops, pick a window with mild weather so the crop establishes before any forecast cold wave or heat spike. Check the 7 day district forecast on the Mausam app or the IMD agromet bulletin twice a week, and also follow your KVK advisory which converts the forecast into crop advice for your area. The forecast is for planning the window, not an exact date, so keep a few days flexible.