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Brazil could cede status as top global sugar producer
17 Aug, 2018
Brazil will likely step down to become the world's second-largest sugar producer on low global sugar prices and higher profitability and strong demand for ethanol, according to a report by Brazilian consulting company. Market incentives for stronger ethanol production in Brazil, combined with expectations of an even larger bumper crop in India in the coming crop season, will likely make India the world's largest sugar producer, according to the report.
https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/agriculture/081718-brazil-could-cede-status-as-top-global-sugar-producer
Farming secrets from New Zealand to future-proof UAE food demand
19 Aug, 2018
A global race to secure the UAE’s food economy is underway as ministers extend their search to New Zealand for future-proof farming alternatives. The role of key trading partners and technology has never been more crucial as climate change and an exponentially increasing world population threaten future food demand. The UAE is New Zealand’s 10th largest trading partner, and total exports to the UAE grew 47 percent between 2016‐2017.
https://www.thenational.ae/uae/farming-secrets-from-new-zealand-to-future-proof-uae-food-demand-1.761433
Heatwave brings early harvest for German and French winemakers
12 Aug,
2018
German and French vintners are harvesting their grapes weeks ahead of schedule following the heatwave that has affected much of Europe. While many German farmers have complained that the hot and dry climate has damaged their crops, with yields of some, such as wheat, expected to be down by as much as 50%, vintners have seen reason to celebrate.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/aug/12/heatwave-brings-early-harvest-german-french-winemakers
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CLIMATE CHANGE
2018 will be fourth-hottest year on record, climate scientists predict
14 Aug, 2018
The temperatures and wildfires witnessed this summer are set to become the new normal - yet much of the world is unprepared for life on a hotter planet, scientists are warning. In California, firefighters are racing to control what has become the largest fire in state history. Harvests of staple grains like wheat and corn are expected to dip this year, in some cases sharply, in countries as different as Sweden and El Salvador.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/climate-change-global-warming-records-2018-heatwave-a8489151.html
To beat hunger and combat climate change, world must ‘scale-up’ soil health: UN
13 Aug,
2018
More than 2,000 scientists gathered recently in Rio de Janeiro under the theme “Soil Science: Beyond food and fuel,” for a week of exploring the increasingly complex, diverse role of soils; grappling with resilient agriculture practices to address environmental and climatic changes; and confronting threats to food security and sovereignty.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/08/1016902
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DROUGHTS
Australia boosts aid by US$1.32 billion for drought-hit farmers
19 Aug,
2018
Australia's federal government announced a AUS$1.8-billion (US$1.32-billion) increase in funding for drought-afflicted farmers, with parts of the country's east coast suffering the driest conditions in living memory. The government said new funding would be made available for infrastructure projects, while tax breaks and low-interest loans of up to AUS$2 million for farmers were also part of the package. Money would also be directed to the Bureau of Meteorology to develop more localized weather guides to help farmers plan.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/australia-boosts-aid-dry-farm-billion-drought-hit-farmers-10631000
Drought raises food security fears in Afghanistan
12 Aug, 2018
A shortage of precipitation during the winter months, both rain and snow, left much of Afghanistan with a severe scarcity of water and a decimated winter harvest. The situation has not improved during the drier spring and summer months, and the wheat harvest is likely to be the lowest since 2011, according to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, set up by USAID in 1985.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/08/drought-raises-food-security-fears-afghanistan-180812063301371.html
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FLOODS
Rain abates in flood-hit Kerala, focus now on rehabilitation: India
9 Aug,
2018
As Kerala state finally gets some respite from rains after nearly two weeks, the government will now focus on the rehabilitation of over lakhs of people who have been moved to several relief camps across the state. Red alert has been withdrawn from all the districts of the state. With the lull in heavy rain on Sunday, focus began to shift to providing for the more than 600,000 people sheltering in relief camps, with shortages of medicine, fuel and fresh water reported. The centre and states have pledged to contribute to the flood relief.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/rain-abates-in-flood-hit-kerala-focus-now-on-rehabilitation-key-developments/articleshow/65463852.cms
Costa Blanca hit by torrential rain and flash floods as heatwave washed away: Spain
18 Aug, 2018
Costa Blanca has been submerged under water after parts of Spain were swallowed up by flash floods following a severe weather warning that brought a swift end to the summer heatwave. The huge downpour saw drains become blocked with thick, muddy water that went on as far as the eye can seem promoting locals and holidaymakers to upload their shocking videos of the storm onto social media.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1004879/spain-weather-costa-blanca-floods-alacante-Benidorm-storm-ernesto-rain-heatwave
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FOOD SECURITY
Nexus of climate and conflict exacerbates Sahel food security crisis
13 Aug, 2018
As a result of poor rainfall, livestock losses and pasture shortages are threatening food security across six West African Sahel countries. An estimated 7.1 million people in Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Mali, Senegal, Chad, and Niger are in need of urgent food and livelihood assistance. The Sahel “lean season” — the period between harvests — typically begins around June as a precursor to the rainy season, which runs from July through September.
https://www.devex.com/news/nexus-of-climate-and-conflict-exacerbates-sahel-food-security-crisis-93160
"Milestone" wheat gene map could help food security and allergies
17 Aug, 2018
Scientists announced they have mapped out more than 94% of the genome of Chinese Spring bread wheat — adding that by manipulating its genetic code, people could eventually improve global food security and possibly alleviate some immune disorders like celiac disease or wheat allergies.
https://www.axios.com/wheat-gene-map-could-improve-food-security-and-allergies-666b75fd-5452-428b-a0cc-042414b9e4ed.html
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IRRIGATION
Odisha to implement Rs. 1150 crore groundwater recharge project in 15 districts: India
10 Aug,
2018
The Odisha state government inked a MoU with the national bank for agriculture and rural development (NABARD) to take up an ambitious groundwater recharge project in 15 water-stressed districts. As part of the programme, over 10,000 existing ponds will be renovated in accordance with a design prepared by the state water resources department from MGNREGS fund for shortage of adequate rain water.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/odisha-to-implement-rs-1150-crore-ground-water-recharge-project-in-15-districts/articleshow/65357752.cms
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WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Caspian Sea: Five countries sign deal to end dispute
12 Aug, 2018
Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan - all bordering the Caspian Sea - have agreed in principle on how to divide it up.
Their leaders signed the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea in the Kazakh city of Aktau. It establishes a formula for dividing up its resources and prevents other powers from setting up a military presence there.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-45162282
Scientists warn of the imminent depletion of groundwater in Chile’s Atacama Desert
14 Aug, 2018
Eighteen national science prize-winners in Chile have called for a halt to the over-extraction of water in the four regions over which the Atacama Desert spreads in the north of the country, a problem that threatens the future of 1.5 million people. According to the experts, the current rate of water extraction for mining, agriculture, industry and cities “is not sustainable.”
http://www.ipsnews.net/2018/08/scientists-warn-imminent-depletion-groundwater-chiles-atacama-desert/
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS
9th International Micro Irrigation Conference (IMIC), 16-18 January 2019, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India on the theme: Micro Irrigation in Modern Agriculture.
Website: http://micro-irrigation2019.com/
Hurry!! Call for abstracts extended to 31 August 2018
Paper presentation will have to fall under the purview of any one of the topics within the sub-themes specified for the conference. Kindly access the link https://imic2019.ivyleaguesystems.com/ for online submission of abstract/ synopsis for the Conference.
For more details, please visit: http://micro-irrigation2019.com/paper-submission/
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/
5th International Symposium on Dam Safety, 27-31 October 2018, Istanbul, Turkey
Website: http://www.damsafety2018.com/
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 Productivity Mapping of Major Indian Crops 2018, published by NABARD
The study on Water Productivity Mapping of Major Indian Crops presents for the first time, maps on the water productivity of ten major Indian crops across cultivating districts and states. It builds on the expectation that if key decisions regarding irrigation, cropping patterns, input pricing, and incentive structures are predicated on water productivity of crops, it would ensure that water in agriculture is distributed more widely, water-use efficiency is enhanced, and Indian agriculture becomes more sustainable and productive in the long run. Thus, the study seeks to inform targeted policies and investment interventions for meeting the twin objectives of har khet ko pani (water to every field) and ‘more crop per drop’. The report will encourage policy makers to take note of and trigger an effective response to the looming water crisis faced by the agriculture sector in India. The book has been released as an Open Access and may be downloaded @ http://icrier.org/pdf/Water_Productivity_Mapping_of_Major_Indian_Crops.pd
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/aug/12/heatwave-brings-early-harvest-german-french-winemaker |