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Montenegro and Slovenia sign agreement on cooperation in agriculture, forestry, food safety, beekeeping and aquaculture
11 April 2017
Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Milutin Simović and Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Dejan Židan signed Action Plan on cooperation between the two ministries in the field of agriculture and rural development, forestry, food safety, beekeeping and aquaculture. The Action Plan defines specific activities that the two sides will carry out in accordance with the needs of Montenegro and the challenges toward EU membership.
https://europeanwesternbalkans.com/2017/04/11/montenegro-and-slovenia-sign-agreement-on-cooperation-in-agriculture-forestry-food-safety-beekeeping-and-aquaculture/
How Nanobiotechnology Could Transform Agriculture At Every Level
10 April 2017
Considering the advancements in science and technology, nanotechnology is being visualised as a rapidly evolving field that has the potential to revolutionise agriculture and food systems. Nanotechnology, when applied as a tool, in tandem with other measures, can seek to address some of the world's most critical sustainable development problems in the areas of water, energy, health, environment, agriculture, and biodiversity and ecosystem management (United Nations Summit on Sustainable Development, 2002)
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/alok-adholeya/how-nanobiotechnology-could-transform-agriculture-at-every-level/
Ants Mastered Sustainable Agriculture 30 Million Years Ago
12 April 2017
New research reveals that some ants adopted a sophisticated level of farming eons before humans did, probably in response to a cooling and drying climate.
https://www.seeker.com/earth/ants-mastered-sustainable-agriculture-30-million-years-ago
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CLIMATE CHANGE
Support to Innovation in Agriculture to Combat Climate Change
13 April 2017
Ashgabat
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) held a study visit to Israel for seven experts of the national agencies of Turkmenistan. The study tour took place under the project “Supporting climate resilient livelihoods in agricultural communities in drought-prone areas of Turkmenistan” funded by the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) of the Global Environment Facility. “The aim of the study visit was to familiarize experts from Turkmenistan with the agricultural practices in Israel with the focus on sustainable agriculture, planning and application of new technologies. Special attention was paid to the topic of rational and effective use of water resources, which is an important factor in sustainable agriculture,”.
http://reliefweb.int/report/turkmenistan/support-innovation-agriculture-combat-climate-change
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DROUGHTS
Africa and Yemen face mass starvation and drought, UN refugee agency warns
11 April 2017
Parts of Africa and the Middle East face their worst drought in almost 70 years with a significant risk of starvation leading to “mass deaths”, the United Nations refugee agency has warned.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/africa-yemen-mass-starvation-drought-united-nations-refugee-agency-un-warns-nigeria-somalia-south-a7679016.html
UN: Cholera Spreading in Drought-stricken Somalia
13 April 2017
United Nations and international aid agencies warn that cholera is spreading in drought-stricken Somalia as hunger grips that nation and the threat of famine inches closer. The World Health Organization reports more than 21,000 cases of cholera, including 533 deaths, in Somalia since the beginning of the year.
https://www.voanews.com/a/united-nations-cholera-spreading-drought-stricken-somalia/3808630.html
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FLOODS
How can Peru prepare to withstand more devastating floods and landslides?
13 April 2017
After record rains caused $3bn worth of damage, Peru must build infrastructure to prepare for any more extreme climate events in the future
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2017/apr/13/peru-prevent-floods-landslides-climate-change
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FOOD SECURITY
FNC members seek more efforts to enhance food security
11 April 2017, Abu Dhabi
Members of the Federal National Council (FNC) demanded that more efforts be made to boost local food output and sustainability of farming activities to reduce reliance on imports.
http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/government/fnc-members-seek-more-efforts-to-enhance-food-security-1.2009765
Australia announces funding to attain food security
14 April 2017, Islamabad
Australian government announced additional support worth one million dollars to the government of Pakistan and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Pakistan to improve nutrition, eliminate hunger and attain food security by fortifying food.
http://pakobserver.net/australia-announces-funding-attain-food-security/
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IRRIGATION
El Nino Returns? How a Climate Event Off the Coast of Peru could Affect Indian Monsoon This Year
14 April 2017
Will there be a normal monsoon this year? From farmers to economists to investors, everyone is eagerly waiting for the weather department’s monsoon forecast next week. Meteorological experts suggest that there’s a cause for India to be concerned, if not alarmed.
A massive weather event in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Peru, could result in a deficient monsoon this year, potentially affecting India’s agricultural output and food security.
http://www.news18.com/news/india/el-nino-returns-how-a-climate-event-off-the-coast-of-peru-could-affect-indian-monsoon-this-year-1373573.html
Zim’s fertile farm land lying idle
13 April 2017
More than half of Zimbabwe’s irrigable land is underutilised due to dilapidated state-owned irrigation equipment, posing a threat to the country’s food security, a study by the Auditor-General has revealed.
https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2017/04/13/zims-fertile-farm-land-lying-idle/
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WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Water resources must act as uniting force: Sheikh Hasina
11 April 2017
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s four-day long visit in India concluded on April 10. As many as 22 bilateral agreements and Memoranda of Understandings (MOUs) were discussed during her visit. During her visit, Hasina stressed that the common water resources should act as a uniting force between the two countries.
“We strongly believe our common water resources must act as a uniting force. A comprehensive, basin-wide solution with an in-built solution to water sharing of all common rivers holds the key to our common future,” she said while addressing an event.
http://www.tehelka.com/2017/04/water-resources-must-act-as-uniting-force-sheikh-hasina/
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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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