This new online service introduced by ICID is developed to help various stakeholders in locating required business information through a few clicks. The online directory enlists all the services and products being provided by consultants, manufacturing companies, dealers, and other professional institutions dealing in irrigation, drainage and flood management. This online service is totally FREE and can be availed of by any service provider by submitting the required information on ICID website <http://www.icid.org/ypaddform2.php>. To view this new service, please visit http://www.icid.org/ypsearch.php

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

National Water Research Center (Egypt) International Conference on “Research and Technology Development for Sustainable Water Resources Management”  on the theme “Geo-Measurement, Field Investigation, and Monitoring” Special Sessions, Workshops and Exhibition, Cairo, Egypt, 4-6 December 2016.

E-mail: eng.mirmokhtar@gmail.com, website: www.redwarm2016-eg.org

13th International Drainage Workshop (IDW), Ahwaz City, Iran, 4-7 March 2017, Theme: Drainage and Environmental Sustainability. 
E-mail:13idw2017@gmail.com, website:http://idw13.org

68th IEC and 23rd ICID Congress on Irrigation and Drainage, 8-14 October 2017, on the theme: Modernizing Irrigation and Drainage for a new Green Revolution, Mexico City, Mexico, 8-14 October 2017.
Website: http://www.icid2017.org/ E-mail: cnm@mxcid.org, brobles@tlaloc.imta.mx, luis.rendon@cna.gob.mx, luis.rendon@conagua.gob.mx

World Bank support for Nigeria’s agriculture development hits $600m
Guardian, 16 November 2016
The World Bank said it has currently committed to about $400 million into the Nigerian agriculture, and also unveiled plans to commit another $200 million in the nation’s livestock development. The Bank representative, Shehu Salau, who disclosed this at the Regional Wrap-up meeting of the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) Implementation Support Missions, said the World Bank has prioritized agriculture and energy in the African economy due to the fact that Africa is largely agrarian. His words: “Our portfolio in Nigeria is about $400 million, but we have an engagement to scale up the support, we have a $200 million staple crop processing zone project, we also have about $200 million livestock project.” “World Bank has prioritised agriculture and energy because if you look at the economy of Africa, you will see that it is largely agrarian, so the Bank stands worthy of pushing investment and support the government to achieve these objectives”.
http://guardian.ng/business-services/world-bank-support-for-nigerias-agriculture-development-hits-600m/

Planting the seeds of growth in African agriculture
STRATFOR, 15 November 2016
Sub-Saharan Africa knows the dangers of not having reliable access to food. The so-called Green Revolution — the mid-20th century boom in research and development that led to increased agricultural production worldwide — missed most of the African continent. Images of famine in Somalia, Ethiopia and Sudan are sadly familiar. War, poor governance and water scarcity led to dwindling food supplies for millions in a region that still produces far less food than it could. The southern part of the continent has been plagued by drought since 2015, increasing food prices and reliance on food imports. If regional populations grow as demographic projections suggest, poorer African nations with underperforming agricultural systems will have to import even more foodstuffs. Although prospects seem bleak, the fact remains that arable land in much of Africa has been underutilized, and farming methods are still rudimentary.
https://www.stratfor.com/analysis/planting-seeds-growth-african-agriculture

Regenerative agriculture will feed the world and cool the planet
EcoWatch, 9 November 2016
"World governments spend $486 billion a year to subsidize an industrial food and farming model that the United Nations estimates, contributes 43-57 percent of total man-made greenhouse gas emissions," said Ronnie Cummins, international director of the Organic Consumers Association. "It's time to stop subsidizing agricultural practices that contribute to global warming, and start subsidizing food, farming and land-use practices that restore the soil's capacity to draw down and re-sequester excess carbon from the atmosphere and store it in the soil." Speaking to a panel hosted by the Social Innovation and Global Ethics Forum in conjunction with the COP22 Climate Summit, Cummins told participants that "Climate-Smart Agriculture," is a clever term used to describe a limited approach to adapting to climate change and to addressing global food insecurity through agricultural practices that fail to meet the standard of regeneration.
http://www.ecowatch.com/regenerative-agriculture-climate-change-2086525996.html

USA: High-tech agriculture continues to reap rewards for farmers and society
USDA.gov (press release) (blog), 8 November 2016
Just like a smart phone helps users learn, communicate and make important decisions, smart technology—known as precision agriculture—helps farmers know and apply critical information about the right investments in fertilizer, seed, pesticide and water needed to produce their crops. Through new technologies, farmers produce more efficiently and see an increase in profits while improving stewardship of ecosystems and local communities. To talk about precision agriculture is to talk about mapping the amount of a crop grown per acre (yield) or the types of soils in a given area. It also includes the technology that automatically guides farm machines and controls variables like the rates of seeds, fertilizers or chemicals.
http://blogs.usda.gov/2016/11/08/high-tech-agriculture-continues-to-reap-rewards-for-farmers-and-society/

U.N. Climate Change Conference turns to implementing Paris agreement
Wall Street Journal, 7 November 2016
A year after nearly 200 nations agreed to a global pact in Paris to combat climate change, a United Nations conference this week ushers in the hard work of turning the plan into action. The conference, known as COP22, which kicks off in Marrakesh, Morocco, benefits from the unexpectedly quick adoption of the Paris agreement. It entered into force after at least 55 signatories representing more than 55% of global emissions previously ratified it, including the U.S., China, the European Union and India. “The politically difficult step was Paris,” said Robert Stavins, an environmental economist at Harvard University. “The technically difficult steps now remain.” The agreement is a collection of self-imposed national plans for holding emissions to a level scientists believe will prevent global temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-n-climate-change-conference-turns-to-implementing-paris-agreement-1478514604

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El Nino 'has affected 400m' as a result of global drought crisis
OneWorld UK, 10 November 2016
A new report launched at UN climate negotiations in Marrakech today by international development group ActionAid has found that over 400 million people have been affected by this year’s El Niño weather event, as a result of record droughts in a year that has also seen record levels of CO2 and the planet’s hottest ever year. ActionAid climate expert Teresa Anderson said: “this may be the largest global drought crisis that the world has ever experienced.” The new report “Hotter Planet, Humanitarian Crisis” says that this crisis has exposed disconnect between climate rhetoric and disaster response. The international community must do more to provide its fair share of funding to support developing countries that are bearing the brunt of climate change impacts, and there is an urgent need to invest in resilience to climate change and weather disasters.
http://oneworld.org/2016/11/10/el-nino-has-affected-400m-as-a-resu t-of-global-drought-crisis/

Zimbabwe needs US$352 million for drought mitigation
AllAfrica.com, 10 November 2016
Government and its development partners require US$352 million to cater for the four million Zimbabweans in need of emergency food aid due to an El-Nino-induced drought that wreaked the country's agricultural sector in the last season. The new bill is part of a revised Humanitarian Response Plan by agencies and government. Informed by the findings of the 2016/2017 Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVac) Rural Livelihood Assessment, the United Nations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) revised the Humanitarian Response Plan, which aims to provide life-saving and critical assistance to 3,1 million vulnerable people with the greatest needs. To complement government's efforts, to date the UN and NGOs have reached over 1,3 million people with food and agricultural assistance; 260 000 people with water supply and hygiene promotion interventions; and 262 000 children aged from six months to 50 months with Vitamin A supplements.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201611100196.html

World Bank provides hope to drought stricken Malawi
ReliefWeb, 8 November 2016
The World Bank has approved $174 million to help millions of Malawians facing food shortages and other drought induced challenges recover and build resilience against future weather related shocks. The financing has been provided through two projects – the Malawi Drought Recovery and Resilience Project (MDRRP) with a grant of $104 million, and the Strengthening Safety Nets Systems Project (SSNSP) - Malawi Social Action Fund (MASAF) IV with a grant of $47.68 million and a credit of $22.32million. Malawi has suffered two consecutive poor agricultural seasons leaving 6.5 million people unable to meet their food requirements during 2016/2017. The Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee says for these affected people to manage up to the next harvest period in April/May 2017 without disrupting their socio-economic livelihoods they require about half a million metric tons of maize.
http://reliefweb.int/report/malawi/world-bank-provides-hope-drought-stricken-malawi

South Africa: North West government on current State of drought
AllAfrica.com, 8 November 2016
North West Government optimistic recent rainfall will ease drought situation The North West Provincial Government is hopeful that the rainfall that is being experienced across the province will ease the drought that has been described as one of the worst droughts the province has seen in many years. According to the South African Weather Services, there is a good chance of more rainfall across the province over the next seven days. "This week we are expecting 60 percent chance of rain across the whole province. On Thursday and Friday, there is 60 to 80 percent chance of rainfall in the eastern parts of the province, which include areas such as Potchefstroom, Rustenburg, Mahikeng and Klerksdorp," said Weather Forecaster Christiana Thaele.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201611081107.html

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Indonesia: Over 6,000 people displaced as floods hit Java province
The Indian Express, 15 November 2016
Over 6,000 people were displaced due to major floods that hit parts of Indonesia’s West Java province, an official said. The floods have submerged over 5,000 houses, 12 mosques, four school buildings and more than 100 hectares of paddy field, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the national disaster agency, told Xinhua news agency. Evacuation was underway, with the operation being carried out by soldiers, police, personnel from local search and rescue offices and local disaster agencies, he said. Flood relief was also flowing into the evacuation centres, Sutopo added.
http://indianexpress.com/article/news-briefs/indonesia-over-6000-people-displaced-as-floods-hit-java-province-4376122/

India: Central team inspects damage caused by floods in Bihar
The Indian Express, 12 November 2016
A seven-member Central team visited several districts in Bihar to assess the damage caused byrecent floods, to provide assistance to the state. The inter-ministerial team headed by Joint Secretary inthe Ministry of Home Affairs Ajay Ramesh Sule left for Delhi today after two days of interaction with state officials and visit to several districts for on-the-spot study of the damage incurred in the floods. “The team appeared satisfied with the presentation made by state officials about the extent of damage caused by floodsthis year,” Pratyay Amrit, Principal Secretary of Disaster Management and Power, told media. The state government had in August submitted a memorandum to the Centre for Rs 4,111.98 crore flood assistance after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on August 23.
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/central-team-inspects-damage-caused-by-floods-in-bihar-4372129/

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Ethiopia: Rehabilitating dry lands ensures global food security - IFAD
AllAfrica.com, 15 November 2016
The United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) stressed the need for rehabilitating dry lands in order to cope with the negative impacts of climate change, land degradation and drought. Dry lands typically refer to arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas cover some 40 per cent of the earth's land surface. They are found on every continent and are home to over two billion people. They support up to 44 per cent of the world's cultivated agricultural systems. In a press release at the launching of the report entitled "The Drylands Advantage: Protecting the Environment, Empowering People," in Marakkash, Morocco, where the 22nd Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is underway, IFAD President Kanayo F. Nwanze said that dry lands are absolutely key to global food security for the whole planet.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201611160298.html

Chile: Strike affects agricultural sector and food security
FreshPlaza, 9 November 2016
The National Society of Agriculture (SNA) warned on Friday about the negative effects that the illegal public sector strike, particularly that of the Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG) and of the Customs service, can have on the country and on agriculture. "Public officials have mobilized for more than a week demanding wage increases. Unfortunately the country seems to have gotten used to these kind of strikes, even though they are illegal and affect the delivery of public services to thousands of people, hindering the normal development of the economic activity and foreign trade," said the president of the SNA, Patricio Crespo. The union said, the strike of the officials from the SAG and Customs was altering the delivery of essential services for the agricultural exporting and importing sectors, causing delays in shipments and receptions, especially in the case of imported seeds, which have deadlines to be planted.
http://www.freshplaza.com/article/166332/Chile-Strike-affects-agricultural-sector-and-food-security

Future of food security depends on irrigation methods that adapt to climate change – UN agency
UN News Centre, 7 November 2016
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned that in order to adapt agriculture to a changing climate, new approaches to irrigation will need to be developed and implemented worldwide. These new approaches are being discussed as part of the 2nd World Irrigation Forum which opened yesterday in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and brings together stakeholders from around the world to rethink water management in the context of continued population and economic growth as well as the growing threats of climate change. During the Forum, which wraps up on 12 November, experts will also discuss ways to improve water management in order to achieve global sustainable food security.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=55491#.WCQRRuN97IU

Making every drop count: Rethinking irrigation for global food security
Reliefweb, 6 November 2016
Adapting agriculture to a changing climate and world will mean developing and implementing new approaches to irrigation policies and practices the world over, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) warned. These new approaches were discussed at the beginning of the 2nd World Irrigation Forum underway in Chiang Mai, Thailand. With continuing population and economic growth, combined with the threat of climate change adversely affecting freshwater sources, the 2nd World Irrigation Forum brings together stakeholders from around the world to rethink water management to achieve sustainable food security for all. Achieving food security, especially in developing countries, goes hand-in-hand with ensuring regular access to water for irrigation. From ending poverty, hunger and malnutrition, to sustaining our natural resources and responding to climate change, sustainable irrigation plays a crucial role, and is therefore a key factor to help transform rural societies and economies.
http://reliefweb.int/report/world/making-every-drop-count-rethinking-irrigation-global-food-security

Hunger expert discusses USDA report on U.S. household food insecurity
Quality Assurance & Food Safety, 4 November 2016
USDA recently released its report, “Household Food Insecurity in the United States in 2015," which showed a significant decline in the national food-insecurity rate, from 14 percent to 12.7 percent in one year. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released its report, “Household Food Insecurity in the United States in 2015.” The report shows a significant decline in the national food-insecurity rate, from 14 percent to 12.7 percent in one year, which means that millions more people throughout the nation now have access to food. Director of Baylor University’s Texas Hunger Initiative (THI) Jeremy Everett was appointed by Congress in 2014 to serve for a year on the National Commission on Hunger, which was charged with providing policy recommendations to Congress regarding programs and funds to combat domestic hunger and food insecurity.
http://www.qualityassurancemag.com/article/hunger-expert-discusses-usda-report-on-household-food-insecurity/

World Vision Malawi urges famers to adopt irrigation farming amidst climate change
Nyasa Times, 14 November 2016
The remarks were made by World Vision Malawi Food Security and Resilience Coordinator for South Zone, Crenodia Chigamba, during a field visit to appreciate maize fields at Nembo Irrigation Scheme in T/A Njema area, Mulanje on Friday. Chigamba said they are working with 32, 260 families in Njema area sensitizing them on climate change and how they can deal with it to have more food in their homes. “We would people here at T/A Njema to adopt modern farming technologies inorder to increase crop production and attaining food security status in their households,” she said. She added that it is WVI wish to ensure that each farmer produces good harvest through irrigation farming so that children have food to eat throughout the year.
http://www.nyasatimes.com/world-vision-malawi-urges-famers-adopt-irrigation-farming-amidst-climate-change/

Thailand: More than 1,200 participants join in remembrance of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej at WIF2
Pattaya Mail, 7 November 2016
Approximately 1,200 participants from more than 45 countries around the world have gathered in remembrance of King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the 2nd World Irrigation Forum and the 67th International Executive Council Meeting, being held in Chiang Mai. Agricultural and Cooperatives Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya presided over the inauguration of the 2nd World Irrigation Forum (WIF2) and the 67th International Executive Council Meeting (67th IEC Meeting) at Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Center, commemorating His Majesty’s 7th Cycle Birthday Anniversary. The forum and meeting take place from 6th-12th November 2016. Gen. Chatchai said that apart from having the WIF6 and 67th IEC Meeting observe the main theme “Water Management in a Changing World: Role of Irrigation for Sustainable Food Production”, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has organized this meeting in remembrance of His Majesty King Bhumibol, and his royal grace and wisdom seen in the water management exhibition of his work and many royal projects.
http://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/1200-participants-join-remembrance-majesty-king-bhumibol-adulyadej-wif2-154395

Rwanda: Regional Agric experts root for irrigation
AllAfrica.com, 4 November 2016
About 90 per cent of regional agriculture is rain-fed, which makes it vulnerable to drought, hence threatening the region's food security, agriculture experts have said. Speaking on 2nd November at a sub-regional workshop on investments in climate-smart agriculture, in Kigali, the experts called for collaboration between all players to implement sustainable irrigation as one of the means to tackle climate change effects. The two-day conference, which closed yesterday, was organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). It brought together agriculture experts from 11 eastern African countries. Climate-smart agriculture consists of various technologies and good farming practices that make agriculture or crops resilient to climate change effects and enhance environmental sustainability.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201611040166.html

IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE - The Journal of the ICID
Articles available via complimentary online access at: http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/ird