The global cost of disasters is growing: The economic burden of disasters is intensifying. While the direct costs of disasters averaged $70–80 billion a year between 1970 and 2000, between 2001 and 2020 these annual costs grew significantly to $180–200 billion. But the real cost is far higher. Disaster costs …
A looming drought is manageable. Long-term changes to the monsoon might be catastrophic THE dizzying midday heat of India’s northern plains cracks the earth. Farmers slump on the charpoys on which they sleep outdoors. It should be raining, yet the sky is clear. Prithi Singh, lean and wrinkled, says his …
As US crops wither in drought, researchers are turning to symbiotic fungi to help crops survive extreme conditions without resorting to genetic engineering
The most extensive drought in five decades intensified this week across the US midwest and plains states that produce most of the county's corn, soybeans and livestock, a report from climate experts showed on Thursday. Almost 30% of the nine-state midwest was suffering extreme drought, nearly triple from the previous …
IMPHAL: The cabinet sub-committee formed to monitor the scanty rainfall and make necessary recommendations was not happy with the insufficient rains this season. The ministers who made extensive tour of the paddy fields in the four districts of the valley recommended the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi to take steps for …
Scorching heat and the worst drought in nearly a half-century are threatening to send food prices up, spooking consumers and leading to worries about global food costs. On Wednesday, the government said it expected the record-breaking weather to drive up the price for groceries next year, including milk, beef, chicken …
Electricity availability to increase by 250 MW, power cuts to go down * New supply schedule being announced today JAMMU: In order to provide respite to the people from the acute power crisis, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today sanctioned Rs 200 crore for purchase of additional power and Rs 12 …
PMK leader S. Ramadoss on Sunday wanted Tamil Nadu to be declared drought-hit, as it was going through a period of severe crisis following the failure of South West monsoon and failure of Karnataka to release Cauvery water for Kuruvai cultivation. He also wanted the State to waive crop loans …
The 2012 drought will dent farm profits and push up food prices THE drought of 2012 started innocently enough, with a little less snow in the winter and a pleasantly early start to spring. But as the summer has rolled on a string of heat records have been set across …
Sugarcane FRP set at Rs. 170 per quintal for 2012-13 From now on, damage to crops due to extreme cold or frost will be considered a natural calamity and the affected farmers will be eligible for financial relief from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) or the State Disaster Response …
2,407 out of 2,449 tanks are completely dry and wells have very little water With the dry spell continuing in the district and the storage level in the major reservoirs going down alarmingly due to poor precipitation in the catchment areas, farmers have appealed to the State Government to declare …
Scientists aided by supercomputers are trying to unravel one of Mother Nature's biggest mysteries -- the vagaries of the summer monsoon rains that bring life, and sometimes death, to India every year. In a first-of-its-kind project, Indian scientists aim to build computer models that would allow them to make a …
Washington The United States is facing “worst drought” in 25 years which could fuel food price inflation in the country, a top Obama Administration official said here. As many as 61% of the land mass of the United States is currently being characterised as being impacted by this drought, the …
Karnataka on Tuesday sought interim relief of over Rs. 2,000 crore from the Centre to deal with deficient Monsoon rains leading to acute scarcity of drinking water and fodder in the state. "We explained about drought-like situation in Karnataka. We have asked Centre's help. We have requested interim relief of …
With more than half the continental US experiencing a severe drought, global food prices have skyrocketed in recent days. Separately, long-term projections just released by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) expect prices to remain high over the coming decade …
With more intense heat on the way, the USA is in the middle of its worst drought in more than 55 years, data released Monday by the National Climatic Data Center show. How bad is it? Based on one index, 55% of the contiguous USA is in a drought, "the …
The state government is ready to spend as much as `2,625 crore to tackle the drought-like situation in the various talukas. Relief and rehabilitation minister Patangrao Kadam on Wednesday made this announcement in the legislative Assembly. “The government is with the people of the state and will ensure that it …
America declared a natural disaster in more than 1,000 drought-stricken counties in 26 states on Thursday. It was the largest declaration of a national disaster and was intended to speed relief to about a third of the country's farmers and ranchers who are suffering in drought conditions. The declaration from …
Andhra Pradesh is not likely to get any water for its projects based on the Krishna river or its basin unless and until Maharashtra and Karnataka receive a quantity of 203.8 tmcft to fill theirs own projects first to combat semi-drought conditions reportedly prevailing there also. Rainfall deficit Sources said …
Climate change increased the odds for the kind of extreme weather that prevailed in 2011, a year that saw severe drought in Texas, unusual heat in England and was one of the 15 warmest years on record, scientists reported on Tuesday. Overall, 2011 was a year of extreme events - …
Protecting householders from devastating floods of the kind seen over the last few weeks across the UK will cost at least £860m by 2015, the government's climate change advisers have warned. Since the start of May, more than 3,000 properties have been flooded, while 55,500 properties have received a flood …
