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Norway committed to support agriculture sector
8 Mar, 2018
Norwegian Government has said it is committed to continue supporting Malawi in agriculture sector so that the country should end hunger.
The assurance was made by Norwegian Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Hanne Blafjelldal during a press briefing on International Treaty on Plant Resources for Food and Agriculture organized together with Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) at Bingu International Conventional Centre (BICC) in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe.
https://malawi24.com/2018/03/08/norway-committed-to-support-agriculture-sector/
Skagit Valley women farm for sustainability, nutrition
9 Mar, 2018
From taking over an heirloom berry farm to starting a flower farm from scratch, some Skagit Valley women are thriving in family farming. These women are proud owners of some of the Skagit Valley’s small, organic and sustainable farms, and their passion for what they do is clear. For them, it’s about flavor and nutrition, beauty and sustainability.
https://www.goskagit.com/news/local_news/skagit-valley-women-farm-for-sustainability-nutrition/article_94cdbfd7-caa1-5785-b3d1-ca63858f7c0e.html
Crops successfully engineered to need 25 percent less water
8 Mar,
2018
Scientists have revealed that a simple genetic tweak to overexpress a single protein in crops could result in the plants needing up to 25 percent less water to produce a regular yield. It's hoped the breakthrough research will lead to a new generation of water-efficient agriculture that helps communities grow more food in areas struggling with drought and climate change.
https://newatlas.com/crops-engineered-need-less-water/53712/
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CLIMATE CHANGE
Current deforestation pace will intensify global warming, study alerts
6 Mar, 2018
The global warming process may be even more intense than originally forecast unless deforestation can be halted, especially in the tropical regions. This warning has been published in Nature Communications by an international group of scientists.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180306141559.htm
Climate change 'impacts women more than men'
8 Mar,
2018
Women are more likely than men to be affected by climate change, studies show. UN figures indicate that 80% of people displaced by climate change are women. Roles as primary caregivers and providers of food and fuel make them more vulnerable when flooding and drought occur. The 2015 Paris Agreement has made specific provision for the empowerment of women, recognizing that they are disproportionately impacted.
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-43294221
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DROUGHTS
California water use back to pre-drought levels as conservation wanes
10 Mar, 2018
California’s water conservation habits, refined and improved over five years of drought, are quickly evaporating. For the seventh time in the last eight months, the amount of water saved by urban Californians has declined, according to new data from the State Water Resources Control Board. In other words, lawn sprinklers are back on, showers are getting longer and overall, California’s water use, after five years of conserving, is now back to where it was before the drought began.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/03/10/california-water-use-continues-to-increase-as-conservation-declines/
People in Cape Town have massively delayed the day they run out of water
7 Feb, 2017
Cape Town has massively postponed the date on which it will run out of water until next year. After three years of persistent drought, the government has warned that the coastal South African city would be forced to turn off most of its taps in 2018 - a date also known as "Day Zero." The new Day Zero is now an unnamed date in 2019, according to the city government's website.
https://www.businessinsider.in/People-in-Cape-Town-have-massively-delayed-the-day-they-run-out-of-water-by-using-dirty-shower-water-to-flush-their-toilets/articleshow/63207153.cms
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FLOODS
Floods bring wildlife danger to Aussie towns
12 Mar,
2018
Extreme weather in Queensland has led to increased encounters with dangerous wildlife - with bull sharks, spiders, and snakes spotted in large numbers. There has also been a report of a crocodile lunging at a 4WD in the drenched state, which is preparing for more rain in parts and for a massive clean-up operation in others. At least a dozen schools will remain closed in north Queensland and disaster has been declared in the area from Cairns to Townsville.
https://www.cqnews.com.au/news/queenslanders-report-large-numbers-of-dangerous-wi/3358604/
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FOOD SECURITY
Nigeria, 36 others need help on food security: FAO
8 Mar, 2018
A new report by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has listed Nigeria as one of the 37 countries currently in need of external food assistance. The global body said high levels of food insecurity persisted in the world due largely to conflicts and adverse climatic shocks that are taking a toll particularly in East African and Near East countries where large numbers of people continue to be in need of humanitarian assistance.
https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria-36-others-need-help-on-food-security-says-fao/
A new global geospatial dataset for agriculture and food security
6 Mar,
2018
SERVIR, a joint initiative of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has released a new global geospatial dataset for agriculture and food security around the world. The dataset, called the Evaporative Stress Index (ESI), is available for analysis and download, and produced weekly at 5-km resolution for the entire globe.
https://www.geospatialworld.net/blogs/new-global-geospatial-dataset-for-agriculture/
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IRRIGATION
11 micro-irrigation firms sign MoU with Andhra Pradesh: India
25 Feb,
2018
Eleven micro-irrigation companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Andhra Pradesh government at Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit on Sunday. On the first day of the summit, the State government signed the MoU's to assist the micro- irrigation companies in establishing their respective manufacturing units in the state.
https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/11-micro-irrigation-firms-sign-mou-with-andhra-pradesh201802252244280002/
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WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
WRI, MIT focus on creating water management database
8 March, 2018
World Resources Institute and MIT Sloan School of Management have proposed a method to help pinpoint where utilities and local governments may need to fortify water management efforts. A new technical note has released titled, “Mapping Public Water Management by Harmonizing and Sharing Corporate Water Risk Information”, that proposes a method for closing this data gap.
https://facilityexecutive.com/2018/03/wri-mit-focus-on-creating-water-management-database/
Wisconsin looks to Israel tech to solve water pollution woes
8 March,
2018
Wisconsin, a US state whose name evokes flowing rivers and abundant lakes, has an endemic water problem of nutrient pollution and is turning to Israeli start-ups to solve it. Now, a partnership forged by Israel’s Start-up Nation Central has Wisconsin’s The Water Council and the Israel Innovation Authority working together to find new ways to solve the problem, which is common in many parts of the US.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/wisconsin-looks-to-israel-tech-to-solve-water-pollution-woes/
4,000 pledge to save water at Singapore World Water Day launch
3 March,
2018
Singapore: More than 4,000 participants from 30 organizations and educational institutions pledged on Saturday (March 3) to do their part at home to save water and fight climate change. They were at the Marina Barrage to celebrate Singapore World Water Day (SWWD) which was held on Saturday. The event is organised every year by national water agency PUB and activities to mark the day go on for a month, although globally World Water Day is held on March 22.
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/4000-pledge-to-save-water-at-singapore-world-water-day-launch
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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), 3-6 October 2018, Hyderabad, India: An ASABE Global Initiative Conference.
Website: http://www.asabewater.org/
9th International Micro Irrigation Conference, 16-18 January 2019, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India, on the theme: Micro Irrigation in Modern Agriculture.
Website: http://www.icid.org/conf_microirri.html
3rd World Irrigation Forum (WIF3) & 70th International Executive Council Meeting, 1-7 September, 2019, Bali, Indonesia, on the theme: Development for water, food and nutrition security in a competitive environment.
Website: http://www.icid2019.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.enci
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