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Child labour in agriculture is on the rise, driven by conflict and disasters: FAO
12 June, 2018
After years of steady decline, child labour in agriculture has started to rise again in recent years driven in part by an increase in conflicts and climate-induced disasters. This worrisome trend, not only threatens the well-being of millions of children but also undermines efforts to end global hunger and poverty, warned FAO as it observed World Day Against Child Labour.
https://reliefweb.int/report/world/child-labour-agriculture-rise-driven-conflict-and-disasters
World Bank promotes agricultural risk management to benefit most vulnerable producers
28 May, 2018
The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved a new US$150 million project to support 20,000 vulnerable, rural producers in Argentina through improving risk management in the agricultural sector to increase their resilience to extreme weather events such as droughts and floods. The Integrated Risk Management in the Rural Agroindustrial System Project will include improving access to risk information, adoption of climate-smart technologies and risk management practices, as well as reform of the agricultural emergency system.
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2018/05/28/riesgos-agricultura-productores-argentina
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CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change could lead to major crop failures in world’s biggest corn regions
11 June,
2018
Climate change will increase the risk of simultaneous crop failures across the world's biggest corn-growing regions and lead to less of the nutritionally critical vegetables that health experts say people aren't getting enough of already, scientists warn. Two new studies looking at corn and vegetables warn of a rising risk of food shocks and malnutrition with unchecked global warming.
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/11062018/climate-change-research-food-security-agriculture-impacts-corn-vegetables-crop-prices
Japan’s climate change preparedness an example for Asian countries
7 June, 2018
Japan has been affected by extreme events such as droughts and floods throughout its history, which has made its institutions and its society aware of the importance of preparedness. With climate variability and change, these events are only expected to increase. The level of preparedness shown by Japan can be a lesson for numerous countries in the region—and globally—that are still to plan or are planning for the impacts resulting from changing climate.
http://www.brinknews.com/asia/japans-climate-change-preparedness-an-example-for-asian-countries/
Climate change has fish migrating faster than regulations can keep up
14 June, 2018
The world’s system for allocating fish stocks is being outpaced by the movement of fish species in response to climate change, according to a study undertaken by an international team of marine ecologists, fisheries and social scientists, and lawyers. The study analyzed 892 fish stocks from around the world using models, developed by Cheung and his team at UBC, that show climate change is driving marine species toward the poles.
https://science.ubc.ca/news/climate-change-has-fish-migrating-faster-regulations-can-keep
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DROUGHTS
Building underground greenhouses ‘Walipinis’ to avoid drought
15 June, 2018
The Altiplano in Bolivia is one of the largest and highest plateaus in the world. To protect their crops from drought, flash floods and increasing temperatures, some farmers are building underground greenhouses, known locally as ‘Walipinis’. The series 'Taking the Temperature,' focuses on the battle against climate change and the people and ideas making a difference.
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/business-44419653/growing-underground-to-avoid-drought
Israel to top up Sea of Galilee after years of drought
12 June, 2018
The shrinking Sea of Galilee is to be topped up with desalinated seawater. A plan given Israeli cabinet approval will pump 100 million cubic metres of water annually by 2022 into the lake in the Galilee region, said Yechezkel Lifshitz, from the country’s energy and water ministry. In 2017 Israel’s water authority said the sea, hit by years of drought, had reached its lowest level in a century.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/12/israel-to-top-up-sea-of-galiliee-after-years-of-drought
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FLOODS
Over one lakh people affected in first wave of flood in Assam: India
14 June,
2018
Guwahati: Nearly 1.50 lakhs people have been affected by the first wave of flood that hit Assam on Wednesday, with six districts currently reeling under the deluge since monsoon hit the state early this month. The affected districts are Golaghat, Karbi Anglong East, Karbi Anglong West, Biswanath, Karimganj and Hailakandi.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/assam-over-one-lakh-people-affected-in-first-wave-of-flood/articleshow/64576630.cms
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FOOD SECURITY
Canada publishes final food safety regulations
14 June, 2018
Ottawa: The final Safe Food for Canadians Regulations have been published in the Canada Gazette, Part II (CGII). The regulations are the result of consultations with industry stakeholders and consumers and were designed to provide clear and consistent rules for food commodities that help food makers prevent food safety risks. The regulations come into force on 15 January 2019.
http://www.meatpoultry.com/articles/news_home/Food_Safety/2018/06/Canada_publishes_final_food_sa.aspx?ID=%7BA7117A62-241B-44BC-8B2E-2D7363E05971%7D
South Africa’s metrology institute reports successful food safety conference
14 June, 2018
The National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA) announced earlier this week that it had held its first Africa Food Safety Workshop during the first week of this month, in Pretoria. The event was attended by delegates from South Africa, Africa and the rest of the world. They represented academia, analytical regulatory food testing laboratories, governmental and non-governmental food programmes, and metrology institutes.
http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/south-africas-metrology-institute-reports-successful-food-safety-conference-2018-06-14
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IRRIGATION
Punjab govt encouraging drip irrigation to tackle water scarcity: India
11 June,
2018
The Punjab government in collaboration with the World Bank is encouraging drip irrigation under Punjab Irrigated-Agriculture Productivity Improvement Project (PIPIP) to overcome water scarcity. Under this project, agriculture department is installing drip & sprinkler irrigation on subsidy basis in the fields. So far, this technology has been adopted by many farmers across Punjab owing to acute shortage of river water and limited rains.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/328373-water-scarcity-punjab-govt-encouraging-drip-irrigation
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WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Myanmar to construct national water resources committee headquarters with World Bank support
13 June, 2018
Myanmar has borrowed 10 million U.S. dollars' loan from the World Bank to construct the headquarters of the National Water Resources Committee (NWRC). Along with the headquarters, a hydro-informatics center will also be built. The Hydro-Infromatics Center, attached with the NWRC, will scientifically calculate water-related disaster and will draw a plan for the development of the Ayayawaddy River basin and will also train water-related experts. The building will be built on a land plot in Yangon's Mayangone township.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-06/13/c_137250738.htm
Groundwater overpumping boosts arsenic in California aquifer
14 June,
2018
In California’s agricultural heartland, the San Joaquin Valley, excessive pumping of groundwater has resulted in subsidence, damaging crucial infrastructure, including roads, bridges and water conveyance. A study last year from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, found overpumping of groundwater since the 1920s had caused parts of the San Joaquin Valley to sink as much as 28 ft.
https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/06/14/toxic-trap-groundwater-overpumping-boosts-arsenic-in-california-aquifer
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS
International Conference and 69th International Executive Council Meeting of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, 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) and 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
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