As climate change intensifies, it is imperative for policymakers to address the escalating loss and damage it inflicts on vulnerable communities in developing countries. In India's Maharashtra state, these impacts are forcing rural families into life-altering decisions and migrations to work in sugarcane fields, where exploitative practices by contractors, including …
South Africa, the continent’s biggest corn producer, may reap the largest harvest of the grain in 36 years as rains improved yields and boost the crop’s size by 83 percent from last year, the Crop Estimates Committee said. Growers will probably produce 14.3 million metric tons of corn in the …
BREAKTHROUGH - University of Copenhagen and the global player Bayer CropScience have successfully developed a new oilseed crop that is much more resistant to heat, drought and diseases than oilseed rape. The breakthrough is so big that it will feature as cover story of the April issue of Nature Biotechnology, …
South Africa has been experiencing its most severe drought in over 35 years. More than half of the population have experienced water shortages or supply interruptions, while rising food prices and income insecurity are making hunger a daily reality for a growing number of families. This report argues that the …
Sulugodu farmer Sooraj thrives by making best use of little rain received In spite of the district experiencing drought and deficit rainfall for three consecutive years, a green carpet is spread in a field at Sulugodu in Virajpet taluk. With a focus on improving the water table in barren pockets …
This annual statement confirms that 2016 was the warmest year on record, approximately 1.1 °C above the pre-industrial period, and 0.06 °C above the previous highest value set in 2015. Noteworthy extreme events in 2016 included severe droughts that brought food insecurity to millions in southern and eastern Africa and …
Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Release of MGNREGA funds to drought hit states, 20/03/2017. The details of drought declared by various states is at Annexure. The Government approved the provision of additional employment of 50 days over and above 100 days per household under MGNREGA in the drought notified …
Bhadra backwaters attract wild animals as other water bodies dry faster With the Malnad region reeling under its worst drought situation, the district where five rivers take birth is experiencing water crisis. The backwaters of the Bhadra reservoir, situated on the periphery of the Bhadra reserve forest, are slowly drying …
Countries in East Africa in conjunction with their multilateral partners must invest in vibrant early warning systems to enhance their response to recurrent droughts, a senior UN environment official said. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Deputy Executive Director Ibrahim Thiaw also blamed climate change for the current drought that poses …
Dozens of Spiny Devils have been captured by villagers in the Changara District, Tete province, where lack of food and access to clean water are already threatening the lives of many. "They are eating our crops," a woman from the Changara community told IBTimes UK during a visit in the …
Cape Town - The City of Cape Town said on Monday disaster planning was underway to ensure measures were in place for the possibility of an extended drought. "[We] continue planning for the implementation of contingency and emergency measures in conjunction with the National Department of Water and Sanitation," MMC …
Trying to flee the worsening drought, he trekked thousands of kilometers with a herd that once numbered 1,200. But hundreds perished during the arduous trip to Puntland, in northern Somalia, in search of greener pasture. The land here dried up not long after he arrived, leaving his animals weak from …
The worst drought in five years has pushed 900,000 people in Sri Lanka into "acute food insecurity", the World Food Programme (WFP) says. An unpublished survey conducted by government agencies and relief organisations in February found that both food insecurity and debt were rising sharply among families hit by drought, …
The UK Government has announced it will fund a £16 million programme to help avert famine in Somalia over the coming months. It will support more than 450 000 people with life-saving interventions and particularly food and water support. The £16 million allocation is part of a wider UKAid drought …
The newly launched United Nation Food and Agriculture Cadre Harmonisé report has revealed that 9million people in 16 northern states may face food insecurity between June-August, 2017. The report carried out in 16 states of Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Kastina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Gombe, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Niger, Taraba, Zamfara, Benue, …
A senior police officer trains Kenya Police reservist recruited at Rumuriti in Laikipia county . The number of people in need of relief food in the county has risen by 1,800 to 3,300, according to the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS). The society's regional manager, Anwar Said, who spoke during …
Water insecurity—ranging from chronic water scarcity to lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation services, to hydrological uncertainty and extremes (floods and droughts)—can cause severe disruptions and compound fragilities in social, economic, and environmental systems. Untangling the role of water insecurity in contributing to fragility is difficult, yet …
While there were 2,489 instances of forest fires as per satellite images, the Telangana forest department listed only 234. Hyderabad: Despite lakhs of rupees in funds being spent on fire lines this year, over 312 incidents of fire are reported every day in the forests across Telangana state. According to …
Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Impact of Erratic Climate on Agricultural Production, 10/03/2017. There has been a significant fluctuation in production (as compared to trend) in important foodgrain crops grown in the country during last 10 years (between 2005-06 and 2014-15) due to erratic climatic behaviour (rainfall/droughts). Rice production …
Cultivar selection, planting geometry, and plant population are the key factors determining grain sorghum yields in water deficit areas. The objective of this study was to investigate whether clump geometry (three plants clustered) improves microclimate within crop canopy when plants are grown under varying water levels. In a 2-yr sorghum …
Pretoria – As the Western Cape faces a serious drought due to poor rainfall during winter, the Department of Water and Sanitation has informed the agricultural sector of 10 percent additional water restrictions. The demand for water in the province has steadily increased due to the growing population and economy. …
