ICID wishes all its patrons a Happy and a Prosperous New Year 2017 |
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AGRICULTURE |
Zimbabwe: Demystifying command agriculture
The Herald, 5 January 2017
Whenever discussion on Command Agriculture comes up, there are high chances of confusing it with Command Economy in that the two are centrally planned with a desire for mass food production and to hedge the economy against shortages. By definition, a command economy is a system where government determines what goods and services should be produced and the price at which the goods are sold. It is the job of government planners to do that. Essentially that is command economy. It is economy-wide while Command Agriculture is sector-specific and in the case of Zimbabwe, is focused on boosting maize production, the country's stable food. Command Agriculture is an import substitution-led industrialisation concept deliberately meant to empower local producers of cereal crops and in the process boosting capacity for locals and creating employment for thousands of people in the sector.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201701050425.html
Agriculture Sector Generates 12% of Iran’s GDP
Financial Tribune, 3 January 2016
The agriculture sector now accounts for 12% to 13% of Iran’s gross domestic product, up from 9% to 10% three years ago (when President Hassan Rouhani first took office in August 2013), according to Agriculture Minister Mahmoud Hojjati. “The sector has created between 19% and 20% of all the jobs in the country,” the minister was quoted as saying by IRNA. Iran’s agriculture sector grew 6% during the first half of the current Iranian year (started March 20, 2016) compared with last year’s corresponding period, according to government data.
https://financialtribune.com/articles/economy-domestic-economy/56758/agriculture-sector-generates-12-of-iran-s-gdp
USDA announces new conservation farmland transfer policy
Twin Falls Times-News, 2 January 2016
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a new policy designed to allow farmers to take land out of a conservation program early if it is to be transferred to the next generation of farmers. Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary Lanon Baccam says beginning Jan. 9, the USDA will offer an early termination opportunity for certain Conservation Reserve Program contracts.
http://magicvalley.com/business/agriculture/usda-announces-new-conservation-farmland-transfer-policy/article_0e48e849-913c-5c16-9885-ded860814606.html
Making agriculture work for Nigeria
Guardian, 2 January 2016
Following the alarm raised by the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, the Federal Government has appropriately come out with a bold plan to boost food production towards the Sustainable Development Goal of achieving food security by the year 2030. However, it is important that all the factors in the food production chain are included in the planning and implementation. The planned strategy is to assist states achieve self-sufficiency in some of the food crops in which demand surpasses local supply. Each participating state is to draw up a programme and submit proposals on how to end hunger in the state by selecting two crops and one livestock where the state has comparative advantage.
http://guardian.ng/opinion/making-agriculture-work-for-nigeria/
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CLIMATE CHANGE |
2017: Agriculture begins to tackle its role in climate change
InsideClimate News, 4 January 2017
By allowing countries to decide how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the landmark Paris climate agreement opened the door to new solutions. And over the past year, many countries, particularly in the developing world, decided that an especially effective way to reach those targets is through their farms. Nearly 80 percent of the countries said they would use agricultural practices to curb climate change, and more than 90 percent said they would use those practices in addition to changes in forestry and land use linked to farming. "2016 has been a very good year for agriculture and climate," said Martin Frick, director of climate, energy and tenure at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. "It's become possible to finally discuss the elephant in the room."
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/03012017/agriculture-climate-change-paris-agreement-global-warming-drought
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DROUGHTS |
India to produce less sugar than expected as drought wilts cane crop
Reuters, 5 January 2017
India's sugar production in 2016/17 is likely to fall to 22 million tonnes, down 4.3 percent from an earlier estimate, as mills in its key producing state are closing early due to a cane shortage, industry officials told Reuters. A drop in production below India's consumption of around 25 million tonnes could lift local prices and prompt the world's second-biggest consumer to allow duty-free imports of the sweetener, supporting global prices that are trading near their highest level in 1-1/2 months. In the last two years back-to-back droughts have ravaged the cane crop in Maharashtra, the country's top sugar producer.
http://in.reuters.com/article/india-sugar-output-idINKBN14P15Y
FAO seeks Sh102 billion to feed 40m hungry people
The Star, Kenya, 5 January 2017
The Food and Agriculture Organisation has appealed for US$1 billion (Sh102 billion) to feed more than 40 million starving people in drought-stricken countries worldwide. “Forecasts for 2017 are alarming as millions of people, many of them children, face the threat of starvation in countries like South Sudan, northern Nigeria, Madagascar and Yemen,” the UN-FAO appeal states. “Drought is once again threatening herders across the Horn of Africa, further undermining livelihoods that have yet to recover from the last drought.” South Sudan, Burundi, Ethiopia and Somalia are among 41 countries in dire need of food.
http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2017/01/05/fao-seeks-sh102-billion-to-feed-40m-hungry-people_c1481483
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FLOODS |
US had more floods in 2016 than any year on record
KHOU.com, 4 January 2017
In total, 19 separate floods swamped the nation last year, the most in one single year since records began in 1980. This is according to an analysis by Munich Re, a global reinsurance firm. The worst flood was in August in Louisiana. At least 13 people were killed and roughly 60,000 buildings were destroyed. The disaster cost $10 billion, Munich Re reported, which noted it was the worst natural catastrophe in the U.S. since Hurricane Sandy in 2012. "We did get very unlucky" last year, Bove said. The 19 floods in 2016 were an increase from 2015, when there were 15. Overall, there were 91 weather, climate or geological disasters in the U.S. in 2016, the second-most on record, Munich Re said.
http://www.khou.com/news/us-had-more-floods-in-2016-than-any-year-on-record/382144213
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FOOD SECURITY |
Azerbaijan striving to increase food security
FreshPlaza, 4 January 2017
Azerbaijan may soon initiate an agency to encourage the growing of organic food in the country. Relevant agencies will initially examine the possibility of the creation of such an enterprise in the country. Further, the work will be implemented for the production of fertilizers, should the establishment of the institution be found reasonable. Motivational measures are also planned to be implemented to enlarge the area suitable for the cultivation of such products. Some 5 “green shops” and 50 “farmer’s markets” are planned to be organized in large cities and regions of the country by 2020. The establishment of such specialized stores is deemed to be one of the main factors affecting food security that will allow the country to provide its population with organic and ecologically clean products. The country has a self-sufficiency ratio for fresh fruit and vegetables and is keen on developing grain production to fully ensure self-sufficiency in the product and export it to the third countries.
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/1596ebb7aa4b3b2d
Pakistan faces no threat of food insecurity
Pakistan Today, 3 January 2016
Federal Minister of National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan has ruled out any threat of food insecurity, saying Pakistan has surplus stocks of wheat, rice, corn, sugar and other commodities. Talking to media after holding a meeting with All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) Punjab Chapter President Aamir Fayyaz and other office-bearers at the Aptma House on Monday, Khan said the country had a bumper crop of corn in the current season and its yield also stood very high. Though many crops, including gram, had been affected by low rainfall and other environmental factors, their production would improve as showers were expected next month, he stressed.
http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/01/03/pakistan-faces-no-threat-of-food-insecurity/
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IRRIGATION |
Ethiopia: Construction of Tendaho Irrigation Dam completed
2merkato - Ethiopian Business Portal, 4 January 2017
Tendaho Irrigation Dam has been completed after consuming 8 more years of its scheduled timeframe, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity announced. The dam is built in Afar State and has the capacity of holding 1.8 billion cubic meter water. It can also irrigate 60,000 hectares of land. Nevertheless, the irrigation dam is currently being used to cultivate sugar cane farm laying over 25,000 hectares of land and irrigate 6,000 household farm lands. Back in 2005 when the construction of the dam was started, it was scheduled to take only 3 years and 870 million Birr. Nevertheless, the construction took 11 years and 5.6 billion Birr – which is 5 times the initial estimated cost.
http://www.2merkato.com/news/alerts/4901-ethiopia-construction-of-tendaho-irrigation-dam-completed
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WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT |
India: Rs 6,000-crore World Bank-backed scheme proposed to manage groundwater resources
Times of India, 7 January 2016
Facing a sharp decline in groundwater level in many parts of the country due to over exploitation of existing resources, the Centre has proposed a new World Bank-backed Rs 6,000 crore scheme to manage groundwater resources in India. Half of the total cost of the scheme, called National Groundwater Management Improvement Scheme (NGMIS), will be supported by the World Bank as loan while the remaining half (Rs 3,000 crore) will be funded by the government through budgetary support. “The World Bank board is expected to formally approve the funding for the Scheme by April. The fund under NGMIS will be used for capacity building, institutional reforms and infrastructure development", said a senior WATER Resources ministry official. Infrastructure development includes building recharge structure\facilities for utilising rain water directly from roof top, creating rain water harvesting structures for conserving surplus run-off and recharging ground water in aquifers.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/the-good-earth/rs-6000-crore-world-bank-backed-scheme-proposed-to-manage-groundwater-resources/articleshow/56392332.cms
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS |
13th International Drainage Workshop (IDW), Ahwaz City, Iran, 4-7 March 2017, Theme: Drainage and Environmental Sustainability.
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/
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LATEST PUBLICATION(S) |
National Agriculture Policy, Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, September 2016.
Agriculture remains the mainstay of Malawi’s economy, contributing significantly to employment, economic growth, export earnings, poverty reduction, food security, and nutrition. It also plays a critical role in ensuring sustainable use of natural resources. All of these pose a threat to food security and nutrition in the face of a growing population, increased land pressure, and climate change. In trying to address these challenges in the past, Malawi has over-concentrated on maize self-sufficiency for food and tobacco as a cash crop, at the expense of other agricultural commodities, including livestock and fisheries. Moreover, the sector remains predominantly subsistence-oriented. In response, the NAP seeks to sustainably transform the sector from subsistence to a market orientation in order to increase agricultural production, marketed surpluses of commodities, and real incomes.
http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/NAP_Final_Signed.pdf
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Directory on Irrigation and Drainage - Products and Services (Yellow Pages)
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
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International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), established in 1950 as a scientific, technical and voluntary not-for-profit non-governmental international organization has the Mission to Work together towards sustainable agriculture water management through inter-disciplinary approaches to economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound irrigation, drainage and flood management. ICID e-Bulletin is a compilation of news items of importance during the preceding week in respect of Agriculture, Climate Change, Drainage, Droughts, Floods, Food Security, Irrigation and Water Resources Management that might be of interest to the ICID fraternity. Feedbacks on the usefulness of the bulletin are solicited icid@icid.org
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IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE - The Journal of the ICID
Articles available via complimentary online access at: http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/ird
ICID e-Bulletin is a weekly compilation providing a snapshot of international media coverage of and commentary on ICID-related issues that does not purport to be exhaustive. The information contained in the compilationis taken as is from sources external to the ICID Central Office and freely available on the Internet. No evaluation on the part of the ICID Central Office has been made in terms of the authenticity of the information that they contain. The ICID Central Office makes no warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy.
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INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE
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Follow us on:
13th International Drainage Workshop (IDW), 4-7 March 2017, Ahwaz, Iran, Website: http://idw13.org/English
23rd ICID Congress & 68th IEC meeting, 8-14 October 2017, Mexico City. Website: http://www.icid2017.org/
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