100% organic Sikkim shortlisted for FAO's Future Policy Award 11 Oct, 2018 Sikkim’s
achievement in becoming the world’s first totally organic agriculture
state has gotten it a place on the shortlist of the UN Food and
Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Future Policy Award. The FAO said that
the award “will celebrate policies that create enabling environments
that advance” a transition to sustainable food and agriculture systems
that are crucial to achieving sustainable development and climate
resilience. https://www.sentinelassam.com/news/100-organic-sikkim-shortlisted-for-food-and-agriculture-organisations-future-policy-award/
Key to boost nitrogen efficiency in rice found 2 Oct, 2018 Nitrogen
use in soils is among the most important activities that determine crop
health and productivity. For generations, the efficient use of
fertiliser nitrogen content by plants has been limited due to various
challenges. In a significant finding, Indian researchers have identified
the key to breaking this barrier in the rice crop. https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/key-to-increasing-nitrogen-efficiency-in-rice-found/article25103098.ece
Research team develops corn that can grow in dry conditions 5 Oct, 2018 There
is a crop in Australia that researchers think has all the key elements
to become the food and fuel of the future. An international research
team has found they can increase corn productivity by targeting the
enzyme in charge of capturing CO2 from the atmosphere. Maize, or corn,
is a staple food for billions of people around the world, with more
maize grown annually than rice or wheat. https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/climate-change/research-team-develops-corn-that-can-grow-in-dry-conditions/news-story/f15cbfc38f90eb86658f320576203226
[Top] CLIMATE CHANGE
We have 12 years to limit climate change catastrophe, warns UN 8 Oct, 2018 The
world’s leading climate scientists have warned there is only a dozen
years for global warming to be kept to a maximum of 1.5C, beyond which
even half a degree will significantly worsen the risks of drought,
floods, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/08/global-warming-must-not-exceed-15c-warns-landmark-un-report
Polar Bears may soon feast on Whale carcasses due to global warming 10 Oct, 2018 Climate
change is bringing the heat for polar bears—and things are not looking
good. The latest development is a shift in their diet, which may soon
include regular gorging on blubbery whale carcasses, scientists say. The
planet’s rising temperatures are steadily melting northerly sea ice,
which Arctic polar bears depend on to access their favorite
seal-flavored suppers. During the warmer months, when the ice sheets
shatter, some bears simply fast on land, waiting until hunting bridges
freeze again. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/polar-bears-may-soon-feast-whale-carcasses-global-warming-blame-180970506/ 10 ways to accelerate progress against climate change 10 Oct, 2018 Climate
scientists told in a long-awaited United Nations report that limiting
global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius would require a gargantuan global
effort and that we have roughly 12 years to do it. One bright spot in
the report is that we already have the tools we need. The emissions we
need to focus on now are the ones at the industrial, corporate level,
not at the individual level. https://www.vox.com/2018/10/10/17952334/climate-change-global-warming-un-ipcc-report-solutions-carbon-tax-electric-vehicles
[Top] DROUGHTS Australia issues El Nino alert, warns drought conditions may worsen 10 Oct, 2018 Australia
has a 70 percent chance of being affected by the El Nino phenomenon by
the end of the year, which would aggravate the severe drought suffered
by several parts of its territory, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology
(BOM) has said. The experts warned of the effects of a positive Indian
Ocean dipole, in which the warmer waters near Africa will drag moisture
away from Australia. https://www.thestatesman.com/world/australia-issues-el-nino-alert-warns-drought-conditions-may-worsen-1502695118.html
Link between gastro bug and drought investigated by ANU study 11 Oct, 2018 Suffering
gastro is far from the most enjoyable experience — and now research has
shed some light on the weather conditions that cause more people to
endure it. An 11-year Australian National University study of gastro
cases in the ACT and parts of Queensland along the Murray Darling Basin
found cases dropped 84 and 57 percent respectively when the big drought
ended in 2009. Lead researcher Doctor Aparna Lal said low river volume
and flow during dry conditions causes a high concentration of the
pathogens that cause the illness. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-11/drought-leads-to-far-higher-cases-of-gastro-anu-study-finds/10361762 [Top] FLOODS
Heavy rains and flash floods hit Spain’s Mallorca, killing at least 8 10 Oct, 2018 The
Spanish island of Mallorca was hit by heavy rains and flash floods on
Tuesday night, leaving roads destroyed and at least eight dead. Rescuers
are searching for several people still missing following torrential
rain which has cut off the town of Sant Llorenc des Cardassar in the
east of the island, the worst-affected locality. https://globalnews.ca/video/4532353/heavy-rains-and-flash-floods-hit-spains-mallorca-killing-at-least-8
At least 22 killed in Indonesia floods, landslides 13 Oct, 2018 At
least 22 people have died and many are missing after heavy rain
unleashed flash floods and landslides in western Indonesia, an official
said Saturday. Heavy downpours since Wednesday triggered flooding and
landslides that hit several districts on Sumatra island. At least 17
people were confirmed killed in the last three days in North Sumatra
province, while five others were killed in West Sumatra, authorities
said. https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/around-22-killed-in-indonesia-floods-and-landslides-1931545
Rising seas are swallowing Scotland's Stone Age ruins 7 Oct, 2018 Scotland’s
Orkney Islands contain some of the best remaining examples of
structures from the Neolithic Period. These Stone Age buildings have
drawn archaeologists and tourists because there are very few similar
sites left in the world. Unfortunately, many of these 5,000-year-old
remnants won’t be around for too much longer. A recent report said that
many of the sites on the Orkneys are under threat due to climate
change. https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/climate-weather/stories/rising-seas-are-swallowing-scotlands-stone-age-ruins
[Top] FOOD SECURITY
Empowered women farmers can help fight malnutrition 4 Oct, 2018 Nutrition
has been a focal point of the human development efforts in India for
the right reasons. However, for women, it attains special importance
because of the intergenerational carry over of the impacts through
children. The nutritional status of women can make or mar entire
generations, thereby carving a deep furrow on the nation’s human
resources pool over time. https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/empowered-women-farmers-can-help-fight-malnutrition/story-bauYMRfT8sAQc2zCGHHsFP.html
'Flexitarian' diets key to feeding people in a warming world 11 Oct, 2018 If
the world wants to limit climate change, water scarcity and pollution,
then we all need to embrace "flexitarian" diets, say scientists. This
means eating mainly plant-based foods, and is one of three key steps
towards a sustainable future for all in 2050, they say. Food waste will
need to be halved and farming practices will also have to improve,
according to the study. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-45814659
[Top] IRRIGATION
Drip irrigation market size is projected to be around US$ 7 billion by 2024 9 Oct, 2018 The
Global Drip Irrigation Market is expected to exceed more than US$ 7.14
Billion by 2024 at a CAGR of 11.60% in the given forecast period. Dripper water system is the best technique to utilize the least amount
of water for higher yield. The point is to empower little scale and
poor farmers to use proficiently peripheral amounts of water and to
develop home patio nurseries and other land for the generation of nourishment required for the family and some trade. https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/drip-irrigation-market-size-is-projected-to-be-around-us-7-billion-by-2024-2018-10-09 [Top] WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
E. coli bacteria present in 80pc of water taps in Bangladesh: World Bank 11 Oct, 2018 A
World Bank report recently released found that E. coli bacteria was
present in 80 percent of private piped-water taps sampled across the
country, a similar rate to water retrieved from ponds. It said though 98
percent of Bangladesh population has access to water from
technologically improved water sources, the water quality is
poor. According to health experts, most E. coli strains are harmless,
but some serotypes can cause serious food poisoning in their hosts, and
are occasionally responsible for product recalls due to food
contamination. http://unb.com.bd/category/Bangladesh/e-coli-bacteria-present-in-80pc-of-water-taps-in-bangladesh-world-bank/4025
Facing water risk head-on with IoT enabled technology 10 Oct, 2018 Anglian
Water, a utility operator serving six million customers in England, is
addressing water risk by implementing a new smart water solution that
will help the company pinpoint leaks quickly and meet regulatory goals
of reducing leakage targets by at least 15% by 2025. The new, web-based
solution leverages the Internet of Things (IoT) to gather information
from a variety of data sources, allowing Anglian to compare real-time
information with historic data to pinpoint water leaks quickly. https://www.environmentalleader.com/2018/10/178512/
[Top] FORTHCOMING EVENTS
5th International Symposium on Dam Safety, 27-31 October 2018, Istanbul, Turkey Website: http://www.damsafety2018.com/
9th International Micro Irrigation Conference (9IMIC), 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/
[Top] 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 @ https://bit.ly/2Q6OU |
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