http://www.icid.org 12 February 2018

Agriculture                                                   Climate Change                                                             Droughts
Floods                                                           Food Security                                                                Irrigation
Water Resources Management                 Forthcoming Event                                         Latest Publication

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture offers little chance of escaping poverty in Africa
7 Feb, 2018
The rate of rural households in developing African nations “descending into poverty exceeds the rate of those sustainably escaping it”, according to a recent report of the Overseas Development Institute (ODI). 
ODI’s Chronic Poverty Advisory Network (CPAN) conducted research into the extent to which government and NGO policy, as well as development programmes, contribute to sustained pathways out of extreme poverty, in light of the UN’s ‘Getting to Zero’ 2030 target.
https://www.euractiv.com/section/development-policy/news/agriculture-offers-little-chance-of-escaping-poverty-in-africa/

Thailand asks farmers to cut down rubber trees to boost prices
7 Feb, 2018
Bangkok: Thailand, the world's largest rubber producer and exporter, has launched a program to encourage farmers to cut down rubber trees earlier than the 25-year life cycle to reduce total annual output by 5% by the end of April, in a bid to support falling rubber prices.
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Policy-Politics/Thailand-to-rev-up-the-plan-to-cut-down-rubber-trees

Premium coffee growers branch out to cheaper beans
7 Feb, 2018
A growing number of farmers in Latin American nations renowned for their high-quality arabica coffee are starting to plant cheaper robusta - a crop still frowned upon or even outlawed in some countries. But a growing number of Latin American farmers are warming up to the bitter bean as a cash crop.
https://www.dailysabah.com/business/2018/02/08/premium-coffee-growers-branch-out-to-cheaper-beans

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CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change could unleash vast reserves of toxic mercury from Arctic permafrost
7 Feb, 2018
New research into the composition of the frozen ground in the Arctic has revealed the single largest reserve of mercury on the planet. Mercury, a toxic metal that has been regulated the world over due to its ability to poison wildlife as well as humans, is locked in the Arctic permafrost, and has been safely contained there for the entirety of human civilization. As worldwide temperatures rise, that will change, releasing as much as 15 million gallons of mercury.
http://bgr.com/2018/02/07/arctic-mercury-climate-change-global-warming/

Australia tourism industry under climate change threat: Study
8 Feb, 2018
Sydney: Australia's multi-billion dollar tourism industry is under increasing threat from climate change with some of the nation's top natural wonders in the firing line as temperatures and sea levels rise, a study warned Thursday. 
The report by environmental advocacy group the Climate Council said the government needed to do more to reduce carbon emissions harming Australia's beaches, national parks and the Great Barrier Reef.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/australia-tourism-industry-under-climate-change-threat-study-9939694

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DROUGHTS
Southern Africa still battles to recover from drought
6 Feb, 2018
Windhoek-Southern Africa is still battling to recover from the 2015/16/ El Niño-induced drought, which by last year had affected about 41 million people across the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). The substantial government and SADC-led response, supported by about N$108 billion from the international humanitarian community, empowered farmers to take advantage of a better 2017 rainfall season, delivering an April 2017 cereal harvest three percent above the 5-year average. However, at least five million people across the region continue to require emergency humanitarian assistance.
https://reliefweb.int/report/world/southern-africa-still-battles-recover-drought

Farmers now accustomed to a drying climate are donating water to Cape Town: S.Africa
8 Feb, 2018
Cape Town’s ominous day zero has been moved back from April 16 to May 11, thanks to a generous donation from farmers in the Western Cape province. On Feb 6, farmers north of the city opened their dams to allow about 10 million liters of water to flow down to the drought-stricken city.
https://qz.com/1201156/farmers-now-accustomed-to-a-drying-climate-are-donating-water-to-cape-town/

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FLOODS
Floods hit Jakarta, thousands evacuated
7 Feb, 2018
Thousands of residents in the Indonesian capital have been evacuated due to flooding on Wednesday. The torrential rain also caused landslides in areas around Jakarta, with at least two people dead and eight missing after two landslides near Bogor. About 6,500 people have been displaced by floods in parts of south and east Jakarta.
http://www.tnp.sg/news/world/floods-hit-jakarta-thousands-evacuated

Create “Sponge Cities” to tackle worsening floods
31 Jan, 2018
Penang, Malaysia: With floods now causing more damage more frequently around the world, it is time to counter their effects by turning towns into “Sponge Cities”, a recent trend popularised by China to absorb rainwater through permeable roads and pavements, parks, rooftop gardens and other green spaces.
https://reliefweb.int/report/world/create-sponge-cities-tackle-worsening-floods

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FOOD SECURITY
SAVE FOOD initiative passes 1,000 member mark
7 Feb, 2018
Established in 2011, membership of the SAVE FOOD Initiative has successfully passed the 1,000 member mark. The 1,067 supporters currently registered include groups of companies, corporations, and professional associations as well as research institutes and NGOs from the entire food value chain. The SAVE FOOD Initiative as a joint project of the FAO, the United Nations’ Environment Programme (UNEP), and Messe Düsseldorf seeks to reduce food waste and loss on a global scale by focusing on measures involving all parties concerned.
https://www.packworld.com/article/trends-and-issues/food-safety/save-food-initiative-passes-1000-member-mark

UN seeks $1.06 billion to help 26 fragile countries create ‘firewall against famine’
Feb, 2018
Ongoing conflicts and climate-related shocks have left millions of people on the brink of starvation, the United Nations agriculture agency warned on Thursday as it launched a $1.06 billion appeal to save lives and livelihoods, and tackle acute hunger in 26 countries.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=58554#.Wn1AQSVubcc

Action on Food Safety to be focus of GFSI Global Food Safety Conference 2018
7 Feb, 2018
The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), a worldwide project to advance food safety and improve consumer trust, is holding its annual conference in Tokyo, Japan, from 5th-8th March 2018, bringing representatives of the world's biggest food companies together to discuss industry challenges. The theme for 2018 is "safe food for consumers everywhere". The event will take a stronger implementation approach, aiming to provide practical insights for attendees.
http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/action-on-food-safety-to-be-central-focus-of-gfsi-global-food-safety-conference-2018-673218063.html

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IRRIGATION
Projects under long-term irrigation fund get Rs 14,398 cr: India
1 Feb, 2018
New Delhi: An amount of about Rs. 14,398 crore has been released for projects under the Long Term Irrigation Fund (LTIF) until December 31, out of the allocated Rs. 40,000 crore. Spread across 18 states in the country, the 99 projects are to be completed in phases by December 2019, bringing 7.9 million hectares of land under assured irrigation.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/projects-under-long-term-irrigation-fund-get-rs-14398-cr/articleshow/62731144.cms

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WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
World Bank to fund water schemes for Doon, 6 other districts: India
23 Jan, 2018
An agreement was signed among the Centre, state government and the World Bank to end water woes being experienced in several areas of Uttarakhand state. The World Bank has agreed to finance water schemes worth Rs. 975 crore in 35 semi-urban areas of Dehradun and six other districts.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/uttarakhand/world-bank-to-fund-water-schemes-for-doon-6-other-dists/533188.html

90% Nigerian households consume faeces-tainted water
8 Feb, 2018
Ninety percent of households in Nigeria consume contaminated water and other impure substances, the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) has revealed. According to the report, an overwhelming majority of households in Nigeria, drink water contaminated by faeces and other impure substances like Ecoli.
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/02/90-nigerian-households-consume-faeces-tainted-water/

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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

 Directory on Irrigation and Drainage - Products and Services (Yellow Pages)


This new online service introduced by ICID is developed to help various stakeholders in locating required business information through a few clicks. The online directory enlists all the services and products being provided by consultants, manufacturing companies, dealers, and other professional institutions dealing in irrigation, drainage and flood management. This online service is totally FREE and can be availed of by any service provider by submitting the required information on ICID website <http://www.icid.org/ypaddform2.php>. To view this new service, please visit http://www.icid.org/ypsearch.php

International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), established in 1950 as a scientific, technical and voluntary not-for-profit non-governmental international organization has the Mission to Work together towards sustainable agriculture water management through inter-disciplinary approaches to economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound irrigation, drainage and flood management. ICID e-Bulletin is a compilation of news items of importance during the preceding week in respect of Agriculture, Climate Change, Drainage, Droughts, Floods, Food Security, Irrigation and Water Resources Management that might be of interest to the ICID fraternity. Feedbacks on the usefulness of the bulletin are solicited icid@icid.org

 

IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE - The Journal of the ICID














Articles available via complimentary online access at: http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/ird


ICID e-Bulletin is a weekly compilation providing a snapshot of international media coverage of and commentary on ICID-related issues that does not purport to be exhaustive. The information contained in the compilationis taken as is from sources external to the ICID Central Office and freely available on the Internet. No evaluation on the part of the ICID Central Office has been made in terms of the authenticity of the information that they contain. The ICID Central Office makes no warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy.


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8th Asian Regional Conference, 2-4 May 2018, Kathmandu, Nepal, Website:http://nencid.org.np/
69th IEC & Regional Conference, 12–17 August, 2018, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, Website: http://www.icid2018.org/