Monique Calon, Senior Policy Advisor for Food Security and Private Sector Development at the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, discusses in a video interview food security issues in the Sahel and the Netherlands’ approaches to ameliorating them. http://www.donorplatform.org/climate-change/interviews/732-monique-calon-on-new-partnership-for-resilience-in-the-sahel.html
EU Development Cooperation With Kenya
The EU development cooperation with Kenya focuses on transport infrastructure and agriculture & rural development. An example of a funded project in these areas include the Kenya Rural Development Programme, with 66.4 million Euros in funding focusing on research, knowledge acquisition, improving productivity, reducing PHL, and drought management http://www.theinformationdaily.com/2012/05/02/eu-development-cooperation-with-kenya
Updated Texas Agricultural Drought Losses Total $7.62 Billion
The recent Texas drought was the most expensive in history, with losses valued at $7.62 billion. Corn losses nearly doubled at $736 million, wheat lost $314 million, and sorghum nearly lost six times as much as usual at $385 million. Since August 2011, the USDA decreased the amount of Texas wheat acres for harvest by […]
Record Wheat Stocks Offset South American Drought
Despite the severe drought in South America, world wheat stocks have grown to record amounts this year, corn stocks are larger than expected, and India will also have a record rice crop. Brazil and Argentina both have lowered soybean harvest forecasts, both 2 million tonnes lower than the January estimate, thus bolstering US sales. http://www.canadiancattlemen.ca/news/record-wheat-stocks-offset-south-american-drought/1000894325/
Sahel’s Looming Food Crisis Gets Swift Response But No Long-term Answers
The drought affecting the Sahel region in Africa has led to quick responses by NGOs and government agencies. Other countries are learning to intervene before tragedy strikes and are investing in technologies and training that will help stabilize their futures. http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2012/jan/09/sahel-looming-food-crisis?newsfeed=true
La Nina Seen Near Peak as Dryness Parches Argentine Corn
The tropical storm that has brought dry weather to Argentina and increased rainfall in SE Asia is drawing to a close. The storm has caused dryness damage to corn and soybeans in South America, and flooded rubber and palm plantations in Malaysia and Thailand. Argentina’s corn output was expected to hit 29 million tons, but due […]
Floods: New Rice Seeds on the Way
Thai scientists have developed rice seeds that are resistant to flooding and other threats in response to the heavy amount of flooding seen throughout the Southeast Asian region this year. These new seeds come as a result of a research partnership with Hunan Agricultural University in China. http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/271525/floods-new-rice-seeds
UNISDR: Disaster Resilience Key to Green Economy
The United Nations Environment Programme met recently in Beijing, China, and said that $1.3 trillion should be spent in 10 areas to increase efficiency and create buffers against disasters. Agriculture is a priority, and in the report published by the programme, $108 billion will be set aside to green the sector, particularly for reducing PHL. http://www.preventionweb.net/english/professional/news/v.php?id=23583 […]
FAO Says Traditional Crops Key to Facing Climate Change
The FAO says traditional crops need protection from climate change. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture celebrated its 10th anniversary, and a ‘benefit-sharing fund’ has been set up in order to help farmers and breeders in 21 countries adapt crops to problems associated with climate change, such as floods, droughts, […]
Kenyan Farmers Beat Drought – And Then Battle Pests
Kenyan farmers are dealing with extraneous factors such as drought and pests and to lower the impact on PHL, they are using special varieties of maize and metal storage silos. http://www.trust.org/item/?map=kenyan-farmers-beat-drought-and-then-battle-pests