India to host the 8th International Conference on Agricultural Statistics in New Delhi
15 November 2019
The 8th International Conference on Agricultural Statistics (ICAS-VIII) will be organized by the Ministry of Agriculture in New Delhi from 18th to 21st November 2019. Addressing the media here today, Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra DG ICAR & Secretary DARE informed that the conference will be inaugurated by the Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar and Chief Guest will be Bill Gates.
https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=194492
 

Land accumulation essential to apply innovation in agriculture
14 November 2019
Across Việt Nam, there are 76 million small and scattered farming land lots. Their spread out and small nature slow the application of technology, stop companies from investing in agriculture and hinder the establishment of concentrated production areas.
https://vietnamnews.vn/opinion/op-ed/538394/land-accumulation-essential-to-apply-innovation-in-agriculture.html#bU2d12dxEBzfJYYY.97
 

Three essential ingredients to resilient agriculture supply chains
13 November 2019
Some of corporations' most challenging water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) issues lie within their supply chains, particularly in agriculture. Our booklet helps provide a starting point for action, explaining why WASH management should already be part of business as usual and offering the first practical steps companies can take to improve access to WASH in their supply chains.

https://washmatters.wateraid.org/publications/water-sanitation-hygiene-resilient-agriculture-supply-chains

 
[Top] 

CLIMATE CHANGE 








Venice Flooding Reveals A Real Hoax About Climate Change - Framing It As “Either/Or”
16 November 2019
The flooding in Venice this past week was extraordinary. According to my Forbes colleague Eric Mack, “On Tuesday, rains helped bring the seasonal high tides known as acqua alta to near record levels, just seven centimeters short of what was seen during the historic floods of 1966.”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/marshallshepherd/2019/11/16/venice-flooding-reveals-a-real-hoax-about-climate-changeframing-it-as-eitheror/#c47e59a3a129

 

What would the world look like in 2030 if we stopped climate change?
16 November 2019
The World Economic Forum (WEF) asked members of their Global Future Councils to “imagine a better world in 2030.” (It sure makes a nice change from dystopia.) Their logic? “Only by thinking about where we want to be tomorrow can we prompt the action we need today.”
https://electrek.co/2019/11/16/climate-crisis-weekly-climate-change-venice-jane-fonda-amazon-greta-thunberg/
 

Bangladesh declares climate change a “planetary emergency”
15 November 2019
Bangladesh on Wednesday declared climate change to be a “planetary emergency” and called on the world to work “on a war footing” to combat it and reduce its impacts. (Report from UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction).
https://reliefweb.int/report/world/bangladesh-declares-climate-change-planetary-emergency 

[Top] 

DROUGHTS 





Egypt to host new round of talks on Nile dam issue
17 November 2019
During a meeting in Washington on Nov. 6, foreign ministers of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan agreed to hold four technical governmental meetings at the level of water ministers, and the World Bank and the United States would support and attend the meetings as observers. The ministers also discussed how to deal with possible droughts, protracted drought and the refill situation, in addition to tackling the coordination mechanism between the three countries, where each country presented its views on these elements, according to the statement.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-11/17/c_138560875.htm
 

Science Matters: Forming bonds in times of crisis
16 November 2019
The climate and ecological crises touch each of us to varying degrees. Some carry the emotional weight of worrying about what kind of diminished, unstable world we're leaving for our children while others are directly, physically affected by climate-fuelled disasters like storms, wildfires, droughts and changing wildlife patterns.
https://www.bclocalnews.com/opinion/science-matters-forming-bonds-in-times-of-crisis/
 

Istanbul under threat of drought as dams dry up
15 November 2019
Water levels at dams providing water to Istanbul were reduced to critically low levels after long periods without rain, recent data from Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (İSKİ) has shown.
https://www.dailysabah.com/istanbul/2019/11/15/istanbul-under-threat-of-drought-as-dams-dry-up

[Top] 

 FLOODS






Fires and Floods Make Saudi Aramco IPO a Hard Sell
18 November 2019
Saudi Aramco may boast that it holds the rights to the largest reserves of crude with the lowest carbon footprint to extract, but that rather misses the point. The climate concerns around oil are not about the carbon cost of getting it out of the ground, but of what is done with it afterward. Storms and floods are not new, but they are becoming more severe, more frequent and causing more damage as sea levels rise and the climate changes — developments that are linked, at least in part, to the burning of fossil fuels.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/energy/fires-and-floods-make-saudi-aramco-ipo-a-hard-sell/2019/11/17/aeb03e92-0908-11ea-ae28-7d1898012861_story.html
 

Following Days Of Destructive Floods, Italy Declares A State Of Emergency In Venice
14 November 2019
The Italian government declared a state of emergency Thursday in Venice following the city's worst flooding in over 50 years. On Tuesday, high tides allowed the high-water mark to reach 6 feet, 2 inches, just 2 inches less than the record measurement in 1966.
https://www.npr.org/2019/11/14/779479948/following-days-of-destructive-floods-italy-declares-a-state-of-emergency-in-veni
 

30,000 stranded in northeastern DR Congo after floods
14 November 2019
About 37,000 people, including 24,000 children, are still stranded in Zongo due to floods, an official said Saturday. The disaster was triggered by heavy rains which hit the area in northeastern DR Congo since October and the situation worsened after the Ubangi River burst its banks, said Zongo Mayor Placide Kumugo Soko. In Somalia, 370,000 have been displaced and plantations destroyed after rivers overflowed.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/30-000-stranded-in-northeastern-dr-congo-after-floods/1640504

[Top]

FOOD SECURITY 
 





Why we need to achieve gender equality to achieve sustainable development goals by 2030
18 November 2019
Gender equality is one of the fastest growing and most progressive social movements of the 21st century. Although many governments and organisations claim to be tackling the issue, there are still approximately 1.4 billion women and girls who are still victims of discrimination, violence, and sexism. This statistic was highlighted by the inaugural Equal Measures 2030 partnership, which was used to measure the set of targets established by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in June.
https://yourstory.com/herstory/2019/11/gender-equality-sustainable-development-goals

Scholars hail role of research, innovations in food security
17 November 2019
Top scholars led the 14th JKUAT Scientific, Technological, Industrialisation Conference and Exhibition, a two-day event that concluded yesterday at the Juja-based institution. Other key presentations revolved around recycling of wastes, reducing water wastage, enriching the soil with organic nutrients and production of renewable energy.
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001349680/scholars-hail-role-of-research-innovations-in-food-security
 

Can the new key to photosynthesis meet our food security demands?
16 November 2019
Scientists are optimistic about the possibility of meeting food security demands with their latest success in finding the structure of one of the key components of photosynthesis. The study led by the University of Sheffield reveals the structure of cytochrome b6f — the protein complex that acts as catalyst in the plant growth via photosynthesis.
https://english.khabarhub.com/2019/16/55328/ 

[Top]

IRRIGATION







Rwanda looks to Japan for sustainable irrigation schemes
18 November 2019
As Rwanda scales up efforts to increase irrigated farmland, it is seeking to learn from the Japanese on building effective and sustainable irrigation schemes, the Director-General of Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) has said.
https://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/rwanda-looks-japan-sustainable-irrigation-schemes 

Centre-pivot irrigation leading pastoral industry attempts to drought-proof WA's north
17 November 2019
There are more centre-pivot irrigation systems along Western Australia's Kimberley coast than any other region in Australia, as pastoralists attempt to grow the northern cattle industry. However, it's not just about turning more beef into bucks, but also an attempt by pastoral stations between Port Hedland and Broome to drought-proof their properties.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2019-11-17/wa-pastoralists-attempt-to-drought-proof-using-centre-pivots/11663698
 

Smart Sprinkler Irrigation Systems Market Breakdown, Development and New Market Opportunities & Forecasts
16 November 2019
The Smart Sprinkler Irrigation Systems Market report provides an unbiased and detailed analysis of the on-going trends, opportunities/ high growth areas, market drivers, which would help stakeholders to device and align Smart Sprinkler Irrigation Systems market strategies according to the current and future market The Smart Sprinkler Irrigation Systems Market report covers the Global market and regional market analysis.
https://www.floridamorningpost.com/market-research-forecast/38629/smart-sprinkler-irrigation-systems-market-breakdown-development-and-new-market-opportunities-forecasts/

[Top]

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 





 

Transnational policies for water governance in South Asia stressed
17 November 2019
Speakers at an international conference here on Saturday laid emphasis on transnational policies for water governance in the South Asia. The two-day conference on key water issues titled ‘Himalaya Water Conference 2019: Highland-Lowland Interactions’ began seeking a solution to water crisis that looms large over the countries in the Himalayan region.
http://www.newagebd.net/article/90885/transnational-policies-for-water-governance-in-south-asia-stressed
 

‘Department of Water’ potentially a good idea
17 November 2019
THE creation of a single agency to oversee the management of water utilities in the country is obviously a popular idea in Congress, as 35 separate bills that would create a Department of Water Resources (DWR) have been filed. The idea took a positive step toward realization this past week when two House committees sitting as a joint panel approved a bill consolidating the separate measures.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2019/11/17/business/columnists-business/department-of-water-potentially-a-good-idea/656555/
 

Israeli Tech Tackles Water Crisis
16 November 2019
In the last two decades, Israel has been transformed from a thirsty country in the Middle East to a leading international exporter of water-treatment technologies, eyed by neighboring nations and those in Africa for its tackling of one of the world’s biggest problems.
https://www.aish.com/jw/me/Israeli-Tech-Tackles-Water-Crisis.html

[Top]

The International Conference on Food, Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA),
1-3 December 2019, Cairo, Egypt; Ms. Sara Youssef Conference Coordinator fnssa@food-conference.org,
Website: https://www.food-conference.org/events/food-nutrition-security-and-sustainable-agriculture-1st#objectiveoftheconferencehttps://www.food-conference.org/events/food-nutrition-security-and-sustainable-agriculture-1st#objectiveoftheconference

Water Pollution 2020: 15th International Conference on Monitoring, Modelling and Management of Water Pollution, 13-15 May 2020, Valencia, Spain. For more details, please visit: https://www.wessex.ac.uk/conferences/2020-conferences/water-pollution-2020; Email: wit@wessex.ac.uk

24th ICID International Congress & 71st IEC Meeting, 22-28 September 2020, Sydney, Australia
Website: http://www.icid2020.com.au

MinWat 2020: 3rd International Multidisciplinary Conference on Mineral Waters: Genesis, Exploitation, Protection and Valorisation, 31 March-3 April 2020, Caserta, Italy. For more details, please visit: https://iah.org/events/minwat-2020; Email: segratario@iahitaly.it

6th IWA International Symposium on Water, Wastewater and Environment in Ancient Civilizations: Traditions and Cultures
28-30 April 2020
the 6th IWA International Symposium which will be Co-organized by the Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey and the Hellenic Open University, Patra, Greece. It will take place at the Bogazici University (28 & 29 April) and in the Conference Hall of the Theological School of Halki in the island of Heybeliada, Istanbul, Turkey (30 April).
https://iwa-network.org/events/iwa-regional-symposium-on-water-wastewater-and-environment-traditions-and-cultures/
 

24th ICID International Congress & 71st IEC Meeting, 22-28 September 2020, Sydney, Australia. For more info contact: Mr. Bryan Ward, Chief Executive Officer, Irrigation’s Australia Limited (IAL) (Incorporating IACID); Email: bryan.ward@irrigation.org.au, info@irrigation.org.au; Website: http://www.icid2020.com.au

 [Top]

Mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals in Developing Countries by Chris Dickens, Sibusiso Nhlengethwa and Brown Ndhlovu
Published by International Water Management Institute
The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development promises to achieve change in almost every aspect of life on Earth. Encompassing 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets, the Agenda marks the first time in history when all nations have agreed on how to chart their future. The SDGs are not just a global reporting exercise, however, but rather involve a global program that embraces country-led efforts. Guided by the ideas contained in the 2030 Agenda, each nation must seek to become more prosperous and sustainable, while contributing to the global effort at the same time. If all the countries achieve this, we will have a sustainable planet and a secure future for all. This document offers guidance on how developing countries can adapt the SDGs to their own contexts and priorities. It indicates important areas for developing countries to consider when creating their own program to achieve the SDGs, and provides examples of success to demonstrate concrete possibilities for progress.