EU Crisis: Germany facing devastation to farming industry over Brexit black hole
15 Nov, 2017
Germany could be left with a £5.5billion funding deficit if countries are asked to contribute more money to make up money lost from Britain.
A staggering €3billion (£2.7billion) will be cut from the European agriculture budget from 2020 onwards, a study by the European Parliament's Scientific Service found. The research says the gap will have to be filled by higher contributions, spending cuts or new EU taxes.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/880037/brexit-farming-agriculture-germany-funding-black-hole
India needs multi-pronged approach to agriculture: Naidu
15 Nov,
2017
Visakhapatnam: Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu called for a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach to agriculture with a focus on crop diversification as well as technology infusion to make the sector viable and sustainable. He made these comments while inaugurating the three-day AP AgTech Summit-2017, organized jointly by the Andhra Pradesh government and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, at the APIIC grounds in Visakhapatnam.
http://asianetindia.com/india-needs-multi-pronged-approach-to-agriculture-vice-president/
USDA report: Russia grain harvest heads for new record
15 Nov, 2017
Russian wheat growers keep smashing records, with a new global report predicting another increase in the nation’s wheat crop. The US Department of Agriculture’s latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, released last week, upgraded the Russian wheat crop by 1 million tonnes from last month to 83 million tonnes.
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/agribusiness/cropping/usda-report-russia-grain-harvest-heads-for-new-record/news-story/aa263098798c627f66c678de6dd0cc97
Punjab, Haryana farmers share their story of stubble burning
14 Nov, 2017
Rising air pollution in Delhi has once again turned the heat on paddy farmers in Punjab and Haryana, who burn stubble in their fields around this time to ready it for the next wheat crop.
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/smoke-and-mirrors-delhi-air-pollution-smog-stubble-crop-burning-farmers-4933291/
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CLIMATE CHANGE
Trump pullout from climate pact means even hotter world: Study
15 Nov, 2017
Bonn: US President Donald Trump´s pullout from the Paris Agreement will push up global temperatures nearly half a degree Celsius (0.9 degrees Fahrenheit) by 2100, according to a report released Wednesday at UN climate talks in Bonn. Scientists say that is not nearly good enough to avoid climate catastrophe.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/244477-Trump-pullout-from-climate-pact-means-even-hotter-world-study
Warning letter to humanity on climate change signed by 16,000 scientists
15 Nov, 2017
More than 16,000 scientists from across the globe have signed their name to an updated warning letter to humanity. The letter predicts dire consequences for the planet and the human race if human behavior isn't altered and Earth's ecosystems and natural resources aren't better protected.
https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2017/11/15/Warning-letter-to-humanity-on-climate-change-signed-by-16000-scientists/6611510755106/
Amazon's recovery from forest losses limited by climate change
15 Nov, 2017
Deforested areas of the Amazon Basin have a limited ability to recover because of recent changes in climate, a study shows. Scientists say that while replanting forests remains an effective way to counter the effects of climate change, their latest findings show that this may prove to be challenging.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171115124922.htm
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DROUGHTS
Western Cape appeals for Zuma's help with drought
14 Nov, 2017
Cape Town: The Western Cape appealed for assistance from national government with the drought and water crisis engulfing the province at a meeting of President Jacob Zuma's coordinating council on Tuesday at Tuynhuys, in Cape Town.
https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/western-cape-appeals-for-zumas-help-with-drought-20171114
North Dakota drought delays reclamation of Cold War site
15 Nov, 2017
Fortuna: This year’s statewide drought has stalled the full reclamation of a Cold War-era military facility in northwest North Dakota. Full reclamation depends on grass seeding of an inert waste disposal pit, the Bismarck Tribune reported. Seeding in July didn’t take because of the drought. Workers have seeded again and are cleaning up the area.
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/north-dakota-drought-delays-reclamation-of-cold-war-base/
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FLOODS
Greece floods death toll rises to 20
19 Nov, 2017
Authorities in Greece say that the body of an 83-year-old man has been found in the Athens suburb of Mandra that was struck by flash flooding, raising the overall death toll to 20. More heavy rain fell Sunday across Greece and the bad weather is expected to continue Monday.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/greece-floods-death-toll-rises-20-discovery-body-51260374
Flood insurance premiums to go up due to more frequent, powerful storms
15 Nov, 2017
The House has passed legislation that will increase flood insurance premiums for many property owners to help firm up a program under stress from ever-more frequent and powerful storms. The program is the only flood insurance available to most Americans.
http://www.wafb.com/story/36844024/flood-insurance-premiums-to-go-up-for-many-homeowners-due-to-more-frequent-powerful-storm
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FOOD SECURITY
UN: Manage climate risks or face much more hunger by 2050
14
Nov, 2017
UN on Tuesday called on the participants of the Climate Change Conference (COP23) in Bonn, Germany, to adopt a coordinated policy approach in order to achieve zero hunger and ensure food security across the world by 2030. Jose da-Silva, Director-General, FAO said,“climate change, hunger and poverty must be tackled together, and with the right intervention across sectors this can be achieved."
http://worldstagegroup.com/worldstagenew/index.php?active=news&newscid=40431&catid=36
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IRRIGATION
MIT researchers release evaluation of solar pumps for irrigation and salt mining in India
13 Nov, 2017
MIT researchers have released a new report evaluating a range of solar pump technologies and business models available in India for irrigation and salt mining to better understand which technologies can best fit farmers’ needs.
http://news.mit.edu/2017/mit-researchers-release-evaluation-solar-pumps-used-irrigation-and-salt-mining-india-1113
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WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Kansas lawmakers disagree on funding for water resources
14 Nov, 2017
An interim legislative committee in Kansas is struggling to agree on where funding should come from to extend the life of the state's water resources. The Joint Special Committee on Natural Resources decided Monday not to recommend raising any fees to pay for projects that would address rapidly depleting aquifers and reservoirs filling up with sediment.
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/kansas/articles/2017-11-14/kansas-lawmakers-disagree-on-funding-for-water-resources
Water level drops to 66% in 91 major reservoirs across India
New Delhi: The water level in 91 major reservoirs across the country has gone down to 66 percent of their total storage capacity from 67 percent last week, according to an official statement. The reservoirs in states such as Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Odisha, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana have reported lesser storage level than last year.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/water-level-drops-to-66-in-91-major-reservoirs-across-india/articleshow/61676790.cms
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Drainage and Flood Control Summit, 26 - 27 November 2017, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Website: https://drainagefloodcontrol.com/
8th Asian Regional Conference, 2-4 May 2018, Kathmandu, Nepal, on the theme “Irrigation in Support of an Evergreen Revolution”
Website:http://nencid.org.np/
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/
Global Water Security for Agriculture and Natural Resources (GWSAN): An ASABE Global Initiative Conference, Hyderabad, India, 3-6 October 2018.
Website: http://www.asabewater.org/
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LATEST PUBLICATION(S)
Water Saving in Irrigated Agriculture in Egypt: Case Studies and Lessons Learned, November 2017
The Egyptian National Committee for Irrigation and Drainage (ENCID) has launched a new book titled 'Water Saving in Irrigated Agriculture in Egypt: Case Studies and Lessons Learned.' The publication is a compilation of successful water saving innovation ideas at the farm level and is a rich source of reference work for all the professionals engaged in agricultural water management aspirating for "More and more crop per drop." For more info, kindly write to Encid@link.net
http://www.encid.org.eg/
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