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Wisconsin Assembly passes bill to allow hemp farming
10 Dec, 2017
Wisconsin would join a majority of other states in allowing the farming of industrial hemp under a bill sent to Gov. Scott Walker. The Wisconsin Assembly passed the bill unanimously on Thursday. Wisconsin will join 33 states that have legalized hemp farming.
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/wisconsin-assembly-passes-bill-to-allow-hemp-farming/article_4d1c2bf5-ad4d-5ea8-841d-fdb5dd350794.html
Fiji to become first ever Pacific Island Nation to hold the 34th Food & Agriculture Conference
8 Dec,
2017
Fiji will become the first ever Pacific Island Nation to hold the 34th Food and Agriculture Organization - Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific. A Memorandum of Responsibility was signed between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Food and Agriculture Organization.
http://fijivillage.com/news/Fiji-to-become-the-first-ever-Pacific-Island-Nation-to-hold-the-34th-Food-and-Agriculture-Conference-k59rs2/
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CLIMATE CHANGE
Tragic video shows polar bear on verge of death due to climate change
9 Dec, 2017
Global warming has taken its toll on even the world’s most frigid areas and it is causing animals to suffer to a great extent. In a heart-breaking video captured by wildlife photographer, the plight of a starving polar bear stranded on an iceless land just minutes before he died has caught the attention of people from all over the globe.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/254153-tragic-video-shows-polar-bear-on-verge-of-death-due-to-climate-change
El Niño might speed up climate change
1 Dec, 2017
Every two to seven years, abnormally warm water in the Pacific Ocean causes an atmospheric disturbance called El Niño. Now scientists have new evidence indicating El Niño conditions might also add extra carbon dioxide to the atmosphere as well as lessen the ability of trees to absorb the greenhouse gas.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/el-nino-might-speed-up-climate-change/
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DROUGHTS
Arizona's recent six-year dry spell was the worst in nearly 700 yrs
7 Dec, 2017
The six-year dry spell in Arizona that ended earlier this year was likely an unprecedented event not seen in the past 675 years. The interesting and spooky factoid comes from studies of tree-ring data that were used to estimate flows from the rivers that provide water to metro Phoenix and other parts of central Arizona.
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona-drought-hit-with-six-year-dry-spell-worst-in-700-years-9930544
Arctic sea ice melt could exacerbate California droughts: Study
7 Dec, 2017
Melting Arctic sea ice could render sun-soaked California vulnerable to a recurrence of the severe drought suffered in recent years as it is likely to cause high-pressure systems that push away rain-bearing storms, a study released Tuesday says.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/arctic-sea-ice-melt-california-drought-1.4437273
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FLOODS
Thailand flood death toll rises to 15
5 Dec,
2017
Bangkok: Fifteen people have died and many have been affected by flooding in Thailand´s deep south, authorities said. The monsoon rains that started late last month have inundated eight provinces and hit hundreds of thousands of households, according to the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department.
https://www.geo.tv/latest/170776-thailand-flood-death-toll-rises-to-15
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FOOD SECURITY
India to seek permanent solution to food stock issue at WTO
10 Dec
, 2017
Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu has said that a permanent solution to the public stockholding of food stock is a "must have" at the 11th ministerial conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) that kicked off on 10 December, 2017 at Buenos Aires.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2017/dec/10/india-to-seek-permanent-solution-to-food-stock-issue-at-world-trade-organisation-1723556.html
NASA, University of Maryland join forces on food security
7 Dec, 2017
NASA has tapped the University of Maryland to lead a new consortium focused on putting satellite data to use to enhance food security and agriculture around the world. The Earth Observations for Food Security and Agriculture Consortium (EOFSAC) will combine the expertise of more than 40 partners to advance the use of Earth observations in informing decisions that affect the global food supply.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/nsfc-auo120717.php
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IRRIGATION
More and more farmers depending on groundwater for irrigation: India
3 Dec, 2017
The number of groundwater schemes has increased, while that of surface water schemes has gone down across the country between 2006-07 and 2013-14, resulting in growing dependency of farmers on subsurface resources, the government's minor irrigation census has found.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/more-and-more-farmers-depending-on-groundwater-for-irrigation/articleshow/61903238.cms
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WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Ground vegetation has impact on water resources, says Study
7 Dec, 2017
UBCO researched published a study on changes in forest vegetation and how it affects water supplies. Using several decades worth of data, the work examined how water resources are responsive to vegetation ground cover and climate change.
https://www.lakecountrycalendar.com/news/groun-vegetation-has-impact-on-water-resources/
Water resources discovered under Earth’s hottest spot
30 Nov, 2017
Iranian researcher Amir Aghakouchak, winner of American Geophysical Union’s prestigious Hydrology award, says he has discovered underground water resources in Lut Desert, the earth’s hottest place. Aghakouchak said he along with a research team had toured the desert several times to conduct research work. They learned that underground water resources existed in some areas in Lut, but they, “don’t know the volume and size of these desert water resources.”
http://ifpnews.com/exclusive/water-resources-discovered-earths-hottest-spot/
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS
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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