http://www.icid.org 3 September 2018

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

AGRICULTURE

Environmentally friendly farming practices used by almost 30% of world’s farms
29 Aug, 2018
Nearly one-third of the world’s farms have adopted more environmentally friendly practices while continuing to be productive, according to a global assessment by 17 scientists in five countries. The researchers analyzed farms that use some form of “sustainable intensification,” a term for various practices, including organic farming, that use land, water, biodiversity, labour, knowledge and technology to both grow crops and reduce environmental impacts like pesticide pollution, soil erosion, and greenhouse gas emissions.
https://www.eurasiareview.com/29082018-environmentally-friendly-farming-practices-used-by-almost-30-percent-of-worlds-farms/

26 Jharkhand farmers to learn high-tech farming in Israel: India
27 Aug, 2018
A delegation of 26 farmers has been sent from Jharkhand state to Israel for training in technologically advanced farming techniques to enable other farmers in the state to overcome the challenges posed by lack of irrigation facilities and generate better produce like Israel, which also faced similar challenges. On their return, the farmers would be appointed as master trainers and entrusted with the responsibility of imparting knowledge of hi-tech farming techniques to farmers in various parts of the state.
http://www.india.com/news/agencies/26-jharkhand-farmers-to-learn-high-tech-farming-in-israel-3258056/

Helping plants remove natural toxins could boost crop yields by 47%
8 Aug, 2018
As climate changes and the population grows, meeting the demand for food will become more difficult as arable land declines. In the short term, the problem is likely to get worse as the global population grows, diets change and urban sprawl forces farmers to produce more food on less land. The goal of 'Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency' is to increase the efficiency of photosynthesis – the process plants use to convert energy from the sun into the food we eat.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/science-crops-plants-biomedical-research-toxins-a8419831.html

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CLIMATE CHANGE

Global warming is intensifying El Niño weather
29 Aug, 2018
As humans put more and more heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere, the Earth warms. It’s making otherwise natural cycles of weather more powerful. Perhaps the most important natural fluctuation in the Earth’s climate is the El Niño process. El Niño refers to a short-term period of warm ocean surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific, basically stretching from South America towards Australia.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2018/aug/29/global-warming-is-intensifying-el-nino-weather

Melt-rate of West Antarctic ice sheet highly sensitive to changes in ocean temperatures
13 Aug, 2018
Melting of ice shelves in West Antarctica speeds up and slows down in response to changes in deep ocean temperature, and is far more variable than previously thought, according to new research published in the journal Nature Geoscience. Scientists studying seawater temperatures in the Amundsen Sea - part of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) - found a cycle of warming and cooling in the ocean over the 16 years of their observations.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-08/bas-mow081318.php

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DROUGHTS

UK summer 'wind drought' puts green revolution into reverse
27 Aug, 2018
Britain’s long heatwave threw the country’s green energy revolution into reverse and pushed up carbon emissions this summer, leading experts to stress the need for a diverse energy mix. The weather proved a boon for staycations, garden centres and solar panel owners, but windfarms suffered. They usually provide four times as much power as solar each year.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/27/uk-summer-wind-drought-puts-green-revolution-into-reverse

Europe drought reveals 'Hunger Stones' in Czech river
27 Aug, 2018
A drought in the Czech Republic is causing a major river to dry up and expose rocks which are some of the oldest hydrological landmarks in Central Europe. While the drought might prove a boon for some researchers, high temperatures and low rainfall in other parts of Europe are expected to cause higher food prices.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/08/europe-drought-reveals-hunger-stones-czech-river-180827162434851.html

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FLOODS

With 77 cases so far, Leptospirosis threat looms over Kerala after floods: India
29 Aug, 2018
On August 28, a notice issued by the state health department said that any type of fever must be immediately checked for leptospirosis. With flood waters receding and Kerala slowly getting back up, tackling the threat of epidemic is the next task at hand. The total number of people who have been admitted with suspected leptospirosis has touched 77. Most of those affected are in the Kozhikode district, which had witnessed the deadly Nipah outbreak a few months ago. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection which is spread through the urine of dogs, rodents and other animals. 
https://www.news18.com/news/india/as-leptospirosis-threat-looms-after-floods-kerala-plots-30-day-micro-plan-1860783.html

Myanmar dam breach floods 85 villages, drives thousands from homes
30 Aug, 2018
As many as 85 villages were flooded in Myanmar after a dam failed, unleashing waters that blocked a major highway and forced more than 63,000 people from their homes. The disaster spotlights safety concerns about dams in Southeast Asia after last month’s collapse of a hydroelectric dam in neighbouring Laos that displaced thousands of people and killed at least 27.
https://indianexpress.com/article/world/myanmar-dam-breach-floods-85-villages-drives-thousands-from-homes-5332106/

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FOOD SECURITY

FAO offers tech-driven support to counter fall armyworm outbreak in Asia
23 Aug, 2018
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has issued an alert about the spread of the fall armyworm (FAW) to India – the first time the pest has been detected in Asia – offering its expertise to Asian governments based on its experience in supporting African countries that have been battling a FAW invasion since early 2016.
http://sdg.iisd.org/news/fao-offers-tech-driven-support-to-counter-fall-armyworm-outbreak-in-asia/

Mutation breeding of rice increases food security across Asia
29 Aug, 2018
The use of radiation in improving crop varieties offers an effective means of adapting agricultural crops to changing weather conditions, while also increasing yields to feed a growing population, agreed speakers at a session at the International Symposium on Plant Mutation Breeding and Biotechnology. Speakers from several countries shared success stories on the contribution and impact of mutant varieties developed through irradiation on agricultural productivity and therefore food security. Irradiation induces changes in the DNA and speeds up the natural process of mutation in plants, increasing the diversity in crop varieties available to farmers. These new varieties possess favourable traits – some including stronger climate resilience and higher yields. 
https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/mutation-breeding-of-rice-increases-food-security-across-asia

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IRRIGATION

Jain Irrigation Systems bags Rs 127 cr contract for irrigation development from Rwanda
29 Aug, 2018
Jain Irrigation Systems (JISL) has received a contract worth Rs. 127 crore (USD 18.7 million) from the Rwandan government for developing irrigation and watershed facilities. The project, which will be executed near Rusumo (Rwanda —Tanzania border), is financed by the EXIM Bank of India under the government's Line Of Credit (LOC) programme. This is an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract and JISL aims to complete the project in next 18 months. The total area under irrigation will be 1,220 hectare. 
http://www.newindianexpress.com/business/2018/aug/29/jain-irrigation-systems-bags-rs-127-crore-contract-for-irrigation-development-from-rwanda-1864523.html

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WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Arab region faces the challenge of water scarcity
29 Aug, 2018
With only two percent of the Arab region covered by wetlands and 94 percent of those vulnerable to climate change, water will play a crucial role in the future functioning of the region’s ecosystems. Regional and global decision-makers, scientists and experts discussed the challenges and potential solutions at this year’s World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden from 26-31 August 2018. Hosted and organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), the 23rd edition focuses on water, ecosystems and human development.

IBM Researchers in Africa helping to harness safe water for remote parts of Kenya
30 Aug, 2018
IBM scientists in Kenya have unveiled a water management service platform (WMaaSP) to address the needs of approximately three million Kenyans living in the remote northern regions of the country. The IBM Cloud-hosted platform was developed in collaboration with various private and public sector partners, as well as representatives of the local governments in the northern counties of Kenya. The project was presented for the first time at the World Water Week conference in Stockholm, Sweden from 26-31 August 2018.
https://www.cio.co.ke/news/ibm-researchers-in-africa-helping-to-harness-safe-water-for-remote-parts-of-kenya/

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FORTHCOMING EVENTS

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/

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/

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
 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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9th International Micro Irrigation Conference, 16-18 January 2019, Aurangabad, India, Website: http://micro-irrigation2019.com/

3rd World Irrigation Forum (WIF3) & 70th IEC Meeting, 1-7 September 2019, Bali, Indonesia, Website: https://icid2019.com/