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Globally, 70% of Freshwater is Used for Agriculture
22 March 2017
In most regions of the world, over 70 percent of freshwater is used for agriculture. By 2050, feeding a planet of 9 billion people will require an estimated 50 percent increase in agricultural production and a 15 percent increase in water withdrawals.
http://blogs.worldbank.org/opendata/chart-globally-70-freshwater-used-agriculture
A 'rough road' ahead for agriculture
Colorado, USA, 21 March 2017
The forecast predicts farmers may have a "rough road ahead” -- which could last for a couple of years.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture’s forecast this year calls for farm profits nearly 80 percent lower than where they were in 2011.
http://www.9news.com/money/business/a-rough-road-ahead-for-agriculture/423880011
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CLIMATE CHANGE
Record-breaking climate change pushes world into ‘uncharted territory
21 March 2017
The record-breaking heat that made 2016 the hottest year ever recorded has continued into 2017, pushing the world into “truly uncharted territory”, according to the World Meteorological Organisation. The WMO’s assessment of the climate in 2016 reports unprecedented heat across the globe, exceptionally low ice at both poles and surging sea-level rise.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/21/record-breaking-climate-change-world-uncharted-territory
Canada's Oldest Ice Is Melting Away Due to Climate Change
22 March 2017
The Barnes Ice Cap is a remnant of the Laurentide Ice Sheet that once covered Canada during the Ice Age. Human-driven climate change is pushing it to the point of no return.
http://www.seeker.com/canadas-oldest-ice-is-melting-away-due-to-climate-change-2324835929.html
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DROUGHTS
Somalia: UN opens drought operations centre in Baidoa to tackle hunger
21 March 2017
The United Nations opened a drought operations co-ordination centre in Baidoa, the administrative capital of South West state, of Somalia. The centre is expected to promote effective and timely delivery of humanitarian assistance in the region.
http://www.africanews.com/2017/03/21/somalia-un-opens-drought-operations-centre-in-baidoa-to-tackle-hunger/
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FLOODS
Peru Suffers Worst Flooding in Decades
20 March 2017
An unusual bout of heavy rains powered by El Niño conditions have drenched parts of Peru with 10 times more rainfall than normal, causing rivers to overflow, and mudslides to destroy roads and farms.
https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2017/03/peru-suffers-worst-flooding-in-decades/520146/
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FOOD SECURITY
Myanmar, Philippines sign MoU on food security and agricultural cooperation
21 March 2017
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the countries on food security and agricultural cooperation.
http://www.mizzima.com/news-domestic/myanmar-philippines-sign-mou-food-security-and-agricultural-cooperation
FAO runs workshop for Iraqi gov’t to establish database for food security
23 March 2017
Recognizing the significance of food security in Iraq, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently concluded a major workshop for a number of government ministries and stakeholders on the collection and analysis of information related to food security.
http://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/23032017
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IRRIGATION
10 ways Israel’s water expertise is helping the world
20 March 2017
To celebrate World Water Day on March 22, ISRAEL21c takes a look at 10 water innovation projects bringing clean water to communities across the world.
https://www.israel21c.org/10-ways-israels-water-expertise-is-helping-the-world/
Cotton, chilli farmers adopt plasticulture to cut costs, increase profits
Gujarat, INDIA, 20 March 2017
Farmers in parts of Gujarat have increasingly started turning towards plasticulture - a technique to use plastics in the agricultural application - thereby saving crucial natural resource, i.e. water and reducing the use of pesticides.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/cotton-chilli-farmers-adopt-plasticulture-to-cut-costs-increase-profits/article9592899.ece
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WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
WORLD WATER DAY | Waste water is a resource, conserve and recycle it: this year's theme
Manila, 19 March 2017
UN Offers Total Support to Cuba for Sustainable Water Management
Havana, 22 March 2017
The United Nations Organization (UN) expressed its total support to Cuba in order to contribute to sustainable management of the country''s water resources, faced with challenges as drought and food security.
http://plenglish.com/index.php?o=rn&id=10724&SEO=un-offers-total-support-to-cuba-for-sustainable-water-management
6 Ways to Treat Wastewater This World Water Day
22 March 2017
Bearing all the threats and problems, United Nations (UN) has proposed to celebrate World Water Day on 22 March each year. The main objective of world water day is to save water resources and to solve the problems of clean water shortage in the world. The theme for this year is “Wastewater” with larger emphasis on treating the contaminated water to save water resources for us and our future generations.
http://bwdisrupt.businessworld.in/article/6-Ways-to-Treat-Wastewater-This-World-Water-Day/22-03-2017-114891/
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS
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/
69th IEC & Regional Conference, 12–17 August, 2018, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, on the theme: Innovative and Sustainable Agri-water Management: Adapting to a Variable and Changing Climate.
Website: http://www.icid2018.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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