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Fungus threatens Brazilian farms
21 Dec, 2017
Brazil has become the world’s largest market for fungicides as growers have stepped up the fight against Asian rust and other crop diseases. They spent $3.2 billion last year, three times what they did a decade earlier.
http://www.farmfutures.com/fungicide/fungus-threatens-brazilian-farms
New Bill simplifies bamboo farming in India
28 Dec,
2017
The Parliament on Wednesday passed the Indian Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2017 that will omit bamboo from the definition of trees and allow its cultivation and trade on non-forest areas without permits. The amendment was earlier adopted in the Lok Sabha on December 20, and it was passed by a voice vote after a short debate in the Rajya Sabha.
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-new-bill-simplifies-bamboo-farming-2571071
ZAMFI pledges to support agriculture
29 Dec,
2017
Zimbabwe Association of Microfinance Institutions (ZAMFI), has pledged to support agriculture starting from next season due to its contribution to the economy. Of the estimated $106 million loan book, agriculture is expected to get over 20 percent of the amount.
https://www.herald.co.zw/zamfi-pledges-to-support-agriculture/
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CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change may drive up migration to Europe by more than 1 mln a year: Study
28 Dec, 2017
The devastating effects of climate change may drive up the number of migrants seeking asylum in Europe if current trends continue, a new study has shown. Even if international efforts to curb global warming are successful, the number of asylum applications may rise by as much as a quarter before 2100.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/climate-change-may-drive-up-migration-to-europe-by-more-than-1m-a-year-before-2100-study-shows-a3727311.html
2017: Devastating effects of climate change
13 Dec, 2017
The world is increasingly taking action to stop climate change. But the frequency of devastating climate events in 2017 has shown that we are starting to run out of time. A look at some of the most dramatic events in the year 2017.
http://www.dw.com/en/2017-devastating-effects-of-climate-change/g-41945621
Climate change to affect water supply nationwide in Papua New Guinea
28 Dec, 2017
Papua New Guinea is experiencing shortage of water supply nationwide and people are reminded to come up with mitigation measures to have clean water supply, says Water PNG Managing Director Raka Taviri Jr.
https://postcourier.com.pg/climate-change-affect-water-supply-nationwide/
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DROUGHTS
Lack of rain brings dry conditions to Southern California
28 Dec, 2017
A month of below-normal rainfall brought abnormally dry conditions and moderate drought conditions back to Southern California, and the Santa Clarita Valley, this December.
https://signalscv.com/2017/12/lack-rain-brings-dry-conditions-southern-california/
Western Cape is experiencing its worst drought in more than a hundred years
29 Dec, 2017
Cape Town: The Western Cape is experiencing its worst drought in more than a hundred years. The municipality is implementing various water saving measures and is looking to future desalination projects to avoid a major water shortage. Dam levels in Cape Town have dropped to 32%, down from 33% last week.
http://ewn.co.za/2017/12/28/cape-town-dam-levels-drop
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FLOODS
New System uses Twitter, Artificial Intelligence to predict floods
26 Dec,
2017
London: Scientists are combining Twitter, citizen science and cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to develop an early-warning system for flood-prone communities. Researchers from the University of Dundee in the UK have shown how AI can be used to extract data from Twitter and crowdsourced information from mobile phone apps to build up hyper-resolution monitoring of urban flooding.
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/new-system-uses-twitter-artificial-intelligence-to-predict-floods-1792249
Zimbabwe: 200 houses destroyed by floods
30 Dec, 2017
Over 200 houses in different parts of Zimbabwe have been destroyed by floods and violent storms since October 2017, leaving families homeless. Insiza accounts for over 58, Mudzi 12, Chipinge 15; and Chivi and Buhera 40 each. About 110 other houses were destroyed in Mount Darwin at the beginning of the rainy season.
https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-national-byo-125062.html
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FOOD SECURITY
'Rapid Response' needed to hunger crisis in Latin America: FAO
27 Dec
, 2017
More than 42 million people are suffering from hunger across Latin America and the Caribbean, the United Nations Organization for Food and Agriculture, FAO, said Tuesday while calling for a rapid response to curb the crisis.
https://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Rapid-Response-Needed-to-Hunger-Crisis-in-Latin-America-20171227-0031.html
Bangladesh ranks lowest in terms of food security in S Asia
23 Dec, 2017
Bangladesh stands on the 89th position in the recently published Global Food Security Index-2017, which is the lowest among the South-Asian countries. The General Secretary of Bangladesh Food Security Network (BFSN), Nurul Alam Masud, said though Bangladesh has gained recognition as lower-middle income country in 2015, in case of food security it secured the 89th position. The organization also proposed six-point recommendations including forming a Food Security Act.
http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2017/12/23/bangladesh-food-security-ranking-lowest/
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IRRIGATION
Maharashtra to map irrigated land with drones soon: India
28 Dec, 2017
Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has decided to map the irrigated land with the help of drone technology. At present, the government has no scientific mechanism to establish the exact land under irrigation.
http://www.asianage.com/metros/mumbai/281217/state-to-map-irrigated-land-with-drones-soon.html
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WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Coastal waters threaten Florida's historic resources
28 Dec,
2017
Scientists say seas in parts of Florida have risen at a rate of about a third of an inch a year over the past decade. Mid-range forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicate seas could rise anywhere from 13 to 39 inches in Florida by 2070 and as much as 72 inches by 2100. Like the St. Augustine fort and Egmont Key, thousands of Florida's heritage sites are vulnerable to rising seas.
http://www.theeagle.com/news/nation/coastal-waters-threaten-florida-s-historic-resources/article_0e19f37a-feb8-5c8d-932e-b24ffd04ce2b.html
Morocco launches water police to supervise use of water resources
22 Dec, 2017
Equipped with material support and judicial authorization, 200 agents will start inspecting water resources throughout Morocco. First established in 1995, the water police will finally become operational in 2018. In collaboration with the judiciary branch of the government, the water police’s main task will consist of combating the misuse of water resources and the supervision of appropriate utilization of the public hydraulic domain including lakes, ponds, lagoons, and marshes.
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2017/12/236957/morocco-water-police/
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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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