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Nepal’s organic manure could work wonders for Indian farmers
16 Jan, 2018
Nepal has turned to Jhol Mol, a traditional bio-fertilizer which can be beneficial to Indian farmers too. The organic manure can be easily made in a farm without resorting to artificial chemicals that are harmful to soil health. Both countries have a large proportion of small farmers, for whom chemical fertilizers and pesticides is not always desirable in the long run, both in terms of cost and maintaining soil health and nutrient balance.
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/village-square/nepal-s-organic-manure-could-work-wonders-for-indian-farmers_a_23332858/
Researchers develop a wearable fit for plants
5 Jan, 2018
A team of engineers from Iowa State University has developed wearable sensors, some specially designed for our photosynthetic friends, allowing growers to measure how their crops use water. The innovative new device — which its creators are calling “plant tattoo sensors” — is designed to be low-cost, using the revolutionary material graphene, which allows it to be thin and adhere to surfaces like tape.
https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/wearable-for-plants/
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CLIMATE CHANGE
Environmental threats once again top global risk survey
17 Jan, 2018
The environment has once again ranked as the most pressing global risk in the annual Global Risks Perception Survey (GRPS) from the World Economic Forum, underlining the concern felt by economic experts at the rapid rate of change in the natural world. The annual survey, which was published ahead of next week's Davos Summit, questioned nearly 1,000 risk managements experts about the threats facing the planet in 2018.
https://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news-analysis/3024621/climate-breakdown-environmental-threats-once-again-top-global-risk-survey
Rural women have resilience to cope with climate risks: Study
2 Jan, 2018
New Delhi: A new study says women, particularly in marginalised communities, possess necessary knowledge to cope with climate risks. The study assessed the role of individual women in coping with climatic risks, particularly in managing agriculture, energy and nutrition in flood and drought-prone paddy growing region of eastern India. It was found that women’s participation and involvement is much higher in managing nursery as well as in other farm-related functions like transplanting and weeding.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/science/rural-women-have-resilience-to-cope-with-climate-risks-study/article10008833.ece
Singapore to boost climate change defences against rising sea levels
8 Jan, 2018
Due to its position on the Equator, Singapore may be spared tropical cyclones that last year wreaked havoc in the northern hemisphere. However, the island is vulnerable to another effect of climate change: rising sea levels, which cause coastal floods and erosion. An ongoing, first-of-its-kind study commissioned by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) will form the national framework for coastal protection measures.
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/spore-to-boost-climate-change-defences
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DROUGHTS
Drought-stricken Cape Town could run out of water by April's 'day zero'
17 Jan, 2018
One of the world’s favorite tourist destination, South Africa’s iconic city of Cape Town, has less than a 100 days of water supply left if a drought is not relieved soon. The city’s mayor, Patricia de Lille, has again urged Capetonians to conserve water in order to avoid “day zero,” now forecast for April 21.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/drought-stricken-cape-town-south-africa-run-water/story?id=52402170
Somalia: UN, partners seek $1.6 billion to protect millions of lives from drought
17 Jan, 2018
While Somalia, with the international community’s help, averted famine last year, long-term solutions for drought, conflict and displacement must still be found, the United Nations office in the country said Wednesday, launching the 2018 humanitarian response plan, which calls for $1.6 billion to protect the lives of 5.4 million people.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=58434#.WmBm-q6Wbcc
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FLOODS
Tropical Cyclone Berguitta lashes Mauritius, Reunion Island
19 Jan,
2018
A pair of islands in the Indian Ocean were impacted by the wind and rain from Tropical Cyclone Berguitta, which raked both as it continued its journey southward. Widespread flooding was reported on Mauritius and Reunion Island as the storm passed, according to reports.
https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2018-01-19-tropical-cyclone-berguitta-impacts-images
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FOOD SECURITY
Sweden’s World Food Building aims to improve food security
16 Jan, 2018
The Swedish architecture firm, Plantagon, has proposed a design plan for a building called “World Food Building,” half of which will house a number of offices spanning 17 floors, while the rest will become an urban greenhouse. Although Sweden’s has ample food relative to other countries, the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) Executive Director Johan Kuylenstierna argues that the country still needs a strategy for food security. In the greenhouse spaces, food will be grown using hydroponic farming – a method that involves submersing crops in nutrient-rich water.
https://progrss.com/sustainability/20180116/sweden-world-food-building-food-security/
UN: Food imports needed to 'stave off famine' in Yemen
16 Jan, 2018
The UN has warned Yemen is at risk of famine, with 76 percent of the population in need of humanitarian aid. The saudi-led coalition has authorized a major port to operate, allowing supplies to reach those in need.
http://www.dw.com/en/un-food-imports-needed-to-stave-off-famine-in-yemen/a-42165227
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IRRIGATION
Smart farming app lets farmers irrigate their fields with just a click: India
28 Dec, 2017
To help farmers sustain themselves against the pervasive shortage of water and use existing sources efficiently, Bengaluru-based startup, Avanijal has developed an ingenious automated irrigation system called 'Nikash' which uses IoT (Internet of Things) technology to control irrigation in the fields via an app.Farmers can configure their irrigation schedule on the app and remotely monitor the activity thereafter, automating processes that were earlier done manually.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/features/smart-farming-this-startup-has-a-new-irrigation-method-one-that-uses-just-an-app-avanijal-agritech/articleshow/62248946.cms
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WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Abu Dhabi unveils world’s largest man-made desalinated water reserve
16 Jan, 2018
Abu Dhabi has unveiled the world’s largest reserve of high quality desalinated water, secured in a network of 315 recovery wells lying up to 80 meters below the Liwa Desert. The wells are fed by one of United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) longest water pipeline networks which runs the water from Shuweihat desalination plant at a rate of 7 million imperial gallons (approx. 32,000 m3) / day over 27 months.
http://www.utilities-me.com/article-5206-abu-dhabi-unveils-worlds-largest-man-made-desalinated-water-reserve/
Scientists from China, Russia, U.S. win rain enhancement award in UAE
18 Jan,
2018
The UAE government on Wednesday honored at the ongoing World Future Energy Summit three winners for their scientific works on rain enhancement. Lulin Xue from the Hua Xin Chuang Zhi Science and Technology LLC in Beijing, China, won the award for his project entitled "Using Advanced Experimental -Numerical Approaches to Untangle Rain Enhancement." The other two winners who shared the prize money are Eric Frew from the University of Colorado, and Ali Abshaev, from the Hail Suppression Research Center in Russia.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/18/c_136903458.htm
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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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