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

AgriCord, FAO join forces to enhance support to farmers’ organizations 
27 Feb, 2018 
FAO and AgriCord, a global alliance of agri-agencies mandated by farmers' organizations, are joining efforts to facilitate the engagement of family and smallholder farmers in decision making and policy dialogue, increase their institutional and organizational capacities and improve their access to markets and finance. Doing so will unleash their potential in improving livelihoods and combatting climate change, FAO and AgriCord said. 
https://reliefweb.int/report/world/agricord-and-fao-join-forces-enhance-support-farmers-organizations 

Farm support payments to be used to help the environment after Brexit 
27 Feb, 2018 
As the UK leaves the EU, Environment Secretary wants to end the Common Agricultural Policy system of “direct payments” based on the amount of land farmed and move to a new arrangement rewarding farmers for “public goods” such as environmental enhancements and investment in sustainable food production. Up to £150 million in support payments could be redirected from the richest farmers to projects to improve the environment after Brexit. 
https://www.independent.ie/business/farming/agri-business/eu/farm-support-payments-to-be-used-to-help-the-environment-after-brexit-36647854.html 

IFT 2018 to showcase latest invention in agriculture 
28 Feb, 2018 
The fourth International Farming Technology (IFT) Exhibition will be held from 26-28 September 2018 at the JIExpo Kemayoran in Jakarta, Indonesia. IFT 2018 is expected to provide a platform for the introduction of high-tech solutions and innovations that are much needed to meet future challenges. The exhibition will explore the latest invention in the agriculture and farming industries and provide networking opportunities for various industry players from across the globe. 
http://www.fareasternagriculture.com/events/event-news/international-farming-technology-exhibition-to-showcase-latest-invention-in-agriculture-and-farming-industries 

[ Top ] 

CLIMATE CHANGE 
Global warming prompts Norway to strengthen its doomsday seed vault 
26 Feb, 2018 
Global warming has prompted Norway to invest about $13 million to strengthen its 10-year-old doomsday seed vault, in which about a million crop varieties are stored on a remote ice-covered island. 
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/02/26/global-warming-prompts-norway-strengthen-its-doomsday-seed-vault/372274002/ 

Arctic warming: scientists alarmed by 'crazy' temperature rises 
27 Feb, 2018 
An alarming heatwave in the sunless winter Arctic is causing blizzards in Europe and forcing scientists to reconsider even their most pessimistic forecasts of climate change. Although it could yet prove to be a freak event, the primary concern is that global warming is eroding the polar vortex, the powerful winds that once insulated the frozen north. 
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/feb/27/arctic-warming-scientists-alarmed-by-crazy-temperature-rises 

Climate change puts king penguins on path to extinction 
28 February, 2018 
Global warming is on track to wipe out 70 percent of the world's king penguins by century's end, putting the regal birds on a path towards extinction, researchers have warned. As climate change drives away the fish and squid upon which the flightless creatures depend, the penguins must swim further afield to find sustenance for their hungry hatchlings on land. 
http://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/climate-change-puts-king-penguins-on-path-to-extinction

  [ Top ]  

DROUGHTS 
Cape Restaurant launches drought-friendly menu to save water 
1 March, 2018 
World-renowned restaurant The Test Kitchen has introduced an innovative ‘Drought Kitchen’ menu aimed at saving water. The Woodstock restaurant has implemented several water-saving measures, such as using melted ice bucket water for cleaning the floors and fitting water saving taps. 
http://ewn.co.za/2018/02/28/cape-restaurant-introduces-drought-friendly-menu-to-save-water 

Drought worsens across US Southwest, southern Plains 
24 Feb, 2017 
Dry conditions nationwide have led to an expansion of drought conditions across the United States during the past six months. This winter has continued this dryness trend for many areas in the western half of the United States leading to deepening drought in late winter. 
http://earthsky.org/earth/drought-worsens-across-us-southwest-southern-plains 

[ Top ] 

FLOODS 
Drivers battle through floods in fresh UK weather chaos 
4 Mar, 2018 
Britain's motorists are battling through intense flooding this morning after a sudden rise in temperatures has led to 55 flood alerts throughout the country - with deadly black ice also forming. Forecasters warned that the fallout from the Beast from the East and Storm Emma will bring its own challenges as the mercury shoots up. 
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5719038/uk-weather-forecast-today-snow-melt-flooding-flood-alerts-latest/ 

[ Top ] 

FOOD SECURITY 
London Museum to help India identify alternate crops, tackle food security 
20 Feb, 2018 
The recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and the London-based Natural History Museum, can help India to identify alternate wild species of food crops, officials said. 
https://www.hindustantimes.com/dehradun/london-museum-to-help-india-identify-alternate-crops-tackle-food-security/story-2eYJpDHTiBkoZaIIbwzLCL.html 

Future of world’s food supply could be found within cow’s stomach 
1 March,  2018 
Research into the contents of a cow’s stomach could not only help us boost the world’s food supply, but create biofuels, too. The study involved 43 cows and identified 913 diverse strains of microbes living in the rumen. 
https://www.siliconrepublic.com/innovation/future-worlds-food-supply-found-within-cows-stomach 

[ Top ] 

IRRIGATION 
Californian engineering and irrigation companies enter partnership 
13 Feb, 2018 
Andros Engineering, the California based company that manufactures the single-use drip tape recycling system, has partnered with RDO Water to expand their current offering. The company supplies the machinery to collect the drip tape and haul it off for recycling. They have noted that, with increasing labor costs, particularly in California, growers can save time and money by utilizing the system. 
http://www.freshplaza.com/article/189347/Californian-engineering-and-irrigation-companies-enter-partnership 

[ Top ] 

WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 
Nigerian Govt launches National Standard for drinking water quality 
22 Feb, 2017 
The Federal Government on Thursday launched the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality to promote the availability of safe drinking water for all Nigerians. The Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality sets limits for water contaminants that are hazardous to health and also provides guidelines for meeting the mandatory limits for safe water. 
https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2018/02/22/nigerian-govt-launches-national-standard-drinking-water-quality/ 

Officials break ground on 1.6 bln gallon recycled water reservoir in South Orange County: California  
18 Feb, 2018 
A reservoir capable of holding 1.6 billion gallons of recycled water is set to sustain south Orange County by the end of 2019. Once completed, the Trampas Canyon Reservoir will store enough excess treated water in the winter months to meet irrigation demands in the region during the summer. It will also be the largest surface water reservoir in south Orange County, with the capacity to hold more than one-half of the recycled water the district will generate from its nearby Chiquita Water Reclamation Plant, officials said. 
https://www.ocregister.com/2018/02/22/officials-break-ground-on-1-6-billion-gallon-recycled-water-reservoir-in-south-o-c/ 

[Top] 

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

[Top]

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 

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.

INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE 
48 Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021, India, Tel: 91-11-2611 5679, 2611 6837 
Fax: 91-11-2611 5962; E-mail: icid@icid.org, Website: http://www.icid.org 
Follow us on:              

8th Asian Regional Conference, 2-4 May 2018, Kathmandu, Nepal, Website: http://nencid.org.np/ 
69th IEC & Regional Conference, 12–17 August, 2018, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, Website: http://www.icid2018.org/