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Recent Snowfall a Boost For the Agriculture Sector
6 February 2017
Afghan farmers are optimistic about this year’s harvests as they say the good rain and snowfall has brought an end to water shortages in parts of the country.
http://www.tolonews.com/business/recent%C2%A0snowfall%C2%A0-boost-agriculture-sector
Increasing the water table in agricultural peatland could hold key to reducing UK's greenhouse gas emissions
6 February 2017
Increasing the water table could help to slow down global warming, boost crop yields, and preserve peat soils according to a new study.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170206084256.htm
Women in Agriculture Conference held in Alexandria
10 February 2017
In Louisiana alone, women are the primary operators of about 3,500 hundred of the over 26,000 farms across the state. This conference brings women from all across the state for this one-of-a-kind event where agricultural producers share ideas, experiences and learn from keynote speakers.
http://www.kalb.com/content/news/Women-in-Agriculture-Conference-held-in-Alexandria-413436063.html
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CLIMATE CHANGE
Pakistan 7th among countries most affected by climate change
Islamabad, 8 February 2017
Federal Minister for Climate Change Zahid Hamid said, “Pakistan is facing many disasters as a result of climate change in the form of floods, droughts, sea intrusion and glaciers melting. Pakistan is ranked 7th among countries most affected by the climate change.” He further said that our emission will go higher as a result of our future developmental process. The government of Pakistan is taking many initiatives to deal with climate change that includes ratification of Paris agreement, submission of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions, National Climate Change Policy and Framework for implementation of Climate Change Policy, Climate Change Act.
http://dailytimes.com.pk/pakistan/08-Feb-17/pakistan-7th-among-countries-most-affected-by-climate-change
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DROUGHTS
Karnataka under dry spell: Gets hit by worst drought in 46 yrs
Bengaluru, INDIA, 7 February 2017
Experts have cautioned that the situation will be similar to the crisis faced by the state 46 years ago with rainfall with shortage of 71 per cent. For the first time in four decades, the rainfall has been marked to 28 percentage of annual rainfall in the state
http://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/karnataka-under-dry-spell-gets-hit-by-worst-drought-in-46-yrs/articleshow/57009587.cms
Kenya declares drought a national disaster, appeals for local and international help
11 February 2017
Kenya has declared the ongoing drought affecting many parts of the country a national disaster, calling for aid to counter the situation which is posing a major risk to people, livestock and wildlife. The Kenya Red Cross estimated about 2.7 million people were in need of food aid after low rainfall in October and November, with the next rainy season not due before April.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-11/kenya-declares-drought-a-national-disaster/8261970
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FLOODS
Thailand approves $1 billion in measures to help farmers in flood-hit south
7 February 2017
Thailand, the world's biggest rubber producer, accounts for nearly 40 percent of the world's natural rubber, most of which is used in car tires. Nearly two-thirds of Thailand's rubber growing area is in the south. Persistent heavy rain which started in December has triggered floods across Thailand's south, cutting road and rail links, affecting about 1.6 million people and killing 99 so far. The floods were expected to hit Thailand's rubber output by 7.6 percent this year, authorities have said. Thailand's cabinet approved measures worth $1 billion to help farmers in its flood-hit south.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-floods-idUSKBN15M1DK
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FOOD SECURITY
IsDB approves US $790 million of financing for food security, education, health
6 February 2017
Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – The Board of Executive Directors of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) in its 317th meeting in Jeddah has given the approval for US $790 million of financing for new development projects mainly in such sectors as roads, higher education, energy, and health in member countries as well as education and professional training for Muslim communities in non-member countries. To promote food security in Africa’s Sahel region, the Members of the Board agreed to allocate a total amount of US $96 million for financing the Sahel Sustainable Pastoralism Development Program in Burkina Faso, Senegal and Mali.
http://reliefweb.int/report/cameroon/isdb-approves-us-790-million-financing-food-security-education-health
Food security tops UAE’s priorities
ABU DHABI, 6 February 2017
The UAE, led by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, places food security at the top of its policy priorities and is proceeding to deliver the highest possible rates for national food security and its sustainability. "Realisation of food security is a joint responsibility, starting with the individual and the family and their consumption patterns of resources and ending with interaction by the community as well as public-private sector institutions and their support for overall plans and strategies to achieve food security.”
https://www.zawya.com/mena/en/story/Food_security_tops_UAEs_priorities-WAM20170206175101630/
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IRRIGATION
Solar-powered irrigation system to be replicated nationwide
Philippines, 07 January 2017
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to set up solar-powered irrigation systems nationwide to improve rice production. Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol, said the lack of proper irrigation system is one of the reasons that rice production cannot cope with demand, compounded by increasing population. He also said out of the 3.9 million hectares of rice land nationwide, only 1.2 million hectares have access to communal irrigation systems that allow the farmers to plant rice twice a year. In the remaining 2.7 million hectares, farmers primarily rely on rainfall and rice is planted only once a year.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/2017/02/07/solar-powered-irrigation-system-be-replicated-nationwide-524505
Damaged irrigation pivots leave farmers without key tools
Georgia, US, 6 February 2017
Deadly storms that ravaged much of south Georgia Jan. 20-22 also damaged or destroyed many irrigation pivots that supply needed water to agricultural crops. Many Georgia farmers are now choosing crops for the upcoming growing season with limited means of irrigation in mind. Farmers without pivot irrigation or access to irrigation are more likely to switch to growing peanuts or cotton.
http://www.moultrieobserver.com/news/local_news/damaged-irrigation-pivots-leave-farmers-without-key-tools/article_72e46566-ecd5-11e6-9db0-0fed197c136a.html
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WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Drones are improving water management in Thailand
8 February 2017
3D models have been deployed since 2013 to facilitate the effective implementation of protective measures for rivers and water reservoirs. Drones supply data for this.Thailand is feeling the impact of climate change – in particular, the agricultural sector has to deal with extreme weather conditions. The disastrous flooding of 2011 was followed by years of drought, which put additional pressure on water resources already compromised by agriculture. Data collected by the drones is also used to develop 3D models that enable experts to simulate the effectiveness of planned conservation measures. The experts use such models to rapidly recreate different weather scenarios, climate developments and impacts.
http://reliefweb.int/report/thailand/drones-are-improving-water-management-thailand
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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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