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Overuse of agricultural chemicals on China's small farms harms health and environment
18 June, 2018
The size of farms in China is a key contributor to the overuse of agricultural chemicals, and as a result they may be too small to be environmentally sustainable, a new study has found. The research -- conducted by a team from the Universities of Melbourne, Zhejiang, Fudan, Wuhan and Stanford -- is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180618222511.htm
FAO new publication highlights impact of bludgeoning population, food productivity on water
19 June,
2018
In many countries the biggest source of water pollution today is agriculture — not cities or industry — while worldwide, the most common chemical contaminant found in groundwater aquifers is nitrate from farming, according to More People, More Food, Worse Water? A Global Review of Water Pollution from Agriculture, launched by FAO and the International Water Management Institute at a conference in Tajikistan held from 19-22 June 2018.
https://reliefweb.int/report/world/more-people-more-food-worse-water-global-review-water-pollution-agriculture
Genomic boost to chickpea yield, climate resilience
14 June, 2018
The humble chickpea, often sidelined as an “orphan” crop, is not short of attention anymore, thanks to the “omics” era and a growing awareness on intake of sustainable and non-processed foods. Now, the chickpea (Cicer arietinum) has got its own genetic atlas following a five-year long effort by researchers from International Crops Research Institute for the Semi‐Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, India.
https://india.mongabay.com/2018/06/14/orphan-no-more-genomic-boost-to-chickpea-yield-climate-resilience/
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CLIMATE CHANGE
International conference urges world to help Africa adapt to climate change
19 June,
2018
The 5th International Climate Change Adaptation Conference kicked off in Cape Town on Tuesday with participants urging the world to help Africa adapt to climate change. The three-day conference, held in the African continent for the first time, brought together more than 1,000 government officials, scientists, experts and business leaders from around the world to connect, learn and inspire actions for climate change adaptation.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-06/19/c_137265704.htm
Climate change to become ‘greatest pressure on biodiversity’ by 2070
20 June, 2018
The combined effects of global warming and land-use change could cause the world’s ecosystems to lose more than a third of their animal species by 2070, surpassing the effects of deforestation and agriculture, a new study finds.
https://www.carbonbrief.org/climate-change-to-become-greatest-pressure-on-biodiversity-by-2070
Climate change appears to be speeding the deaths of world's largest, oldest trees: Study
14 June, 2018
The world's oldest trees are dying -- and investigators say the deaths are suspicious. So concluded a new study published in the journal Nature Plants. Researchers spent 12 years examining and dating all of the known "very large" African baobab trees, which can live for more than 2,000 years. The study points out that "9 of the 13 oldest and 5 of the 6 largest individuals have died" over the past decade.
https://www.oregonlive.com/expo/news/erry-2018/06/4b9d922ab32238/climate_change_appears_to_be_s.html
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DROUGHTS
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2018 observed globally
18 June, 2018
The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (WDCD)was observed across the world on 17 June 2018 to promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification. The theme ''Land has true value – invest in it" urged everyone to move away from unsustainable land use and make a difference by investing in the future of land. The Goal 15 of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development states the need to halt and reverse land degradation.
https://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/world-day-to-combat-desertification-and-drought-2018-observed-globally-1529314275-1
Colorado wildfire forces nearly 2K evacuations amid drought
15 June, 2018
The threat of hot, windy weather and thunderstorms on Thursday posed more problems for firefighters battling a Colorado wildfire that has forced residents of more than 1,000 homes to evacuate and led to warnings for others to get ready to leave. The fire 13 miles (43 kilometers) north of Durango is in the Four Corners Region where Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah meet — the epicenter of a large U.S. Southwest swath of exceptional drought, the worst category of drought.
https://apnews.com/979512d6ca824f2c9314da0e1520d77a
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FLOODS
NE states continue to reel under floods, rains claim 54 in Kerala
18 June,
2018
The devastating flood in the Northeast has claimed six more lives, taking the death toll to 23, although the situation in the region showed a marked improvement on Sunday (17 June) barring Assam state, officials said. Incessant rains and landslides have left several people stranded in different districts in Kerala. Land slips and damage to roads were reported from Idukki, Waynad, Kozhikode districts. Officials have asked people to avoid travel during night in the hilly areas of Idukki district.
https://www.thequint.com/news/india/floods-in-northeast-and-kerala
Michigan flooding leads to disaster declaration
19 June,
2018
Michigan's governor has issued disaster declarations for two counties in the state's Upper Peninsula that suffered flooding damage due to heavy rains. The declaration also allows Snyder to make all state resources available in cooperation with local response and recovery efforts. The state police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division will coordinate state efforts.
http://www.wdtn.com/news/u-s-world/michigan-flooding-leads-to-disaster-declaration/1248170900
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FOOD SECURITY
UN's World Food Program turns to global cinemas to help end hunger
19 June, 2018
The United Nations’ World Food Program kicked off a global campaign on Tuesday aimed at reaching the public through a 60-second cinema spot that will air in more than 25 countries starting in September. The "Feed Our Future" ad, which was written and directed by Sir John Hegarty’s The Garage Soho, premiered at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity in partnership with SAWA, the Global Cinema Advertising Association. Rather than featuring images of starving children, the ad focuses on "the potential we lose when a child dies or is malnourished.
https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/uns-world-food-program-turns-global-cinemas-help-end-hunger/1485410
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IRRIGATION
ADB funds $375 mn project for irrigation boost in Madhya Pradesh
31 May,
2018
Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide USD 375 million (about Rs 2,532 crore) loan for a project to improve irrigation in Madhya Pradesh to help boost farmers’ income. The project will expand irrigation networks and system efficiency, ADB released in a statement. The total cost of the project cost is USD 535.1 million, of which USD 160.71 million will be provided by the government. It is estimated to be completed by September 2025.
https://www.financialexpress.com/economy/adb-funds-375-mn-project-for-irrigation-boost-in-madhya-pradesh/1188477/
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WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
PepsiCo extends safe water access to 16 million people
21 June,
2018
PepsiCo has announced that it has extended access to safe water to nearly 16 million people in some of the world’s most water-stressed areas, including 10 million people in India, since it launched its Performance with Purpose vision in 2006. The company has invested over $40 million in safe water access solutions with strategic partners as a part of its goal to support a total of 25 million people with safe water access by 2025.
http://www.fnbnews.com/Top-News/pepsico-extends-safe-water-access-to-16-million-people-including-indians-43357
India's groundwater widely contaminated with uranium: Researchers
8 June,
2018
Researchers have found widespread uranium contamination in groundwater from aquifers in 16 Indian states. The findings suggested that the main source of the uranium contamination is natural, but human factors such as groundwater-table decline, over-exploitation of groundwater for agricultural irrigation and nitrate pollution may be aggravating the problem.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/indias-groundwater-widely-contaminated-with-uranium-say-researchers/articleshow/64509655.cms
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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
International Dam Safety Conference 2019, 13-14 February 2019, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, India
Website: www.damsafety.in/idsc2019
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.n
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