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Archive for November 6th, 2012
Asian farmers failing to use pest-resistant rice
Posted by SciDevNet: Talent Ng'andwe on November 6th, 2012
SciDevNet: Rice farmers in China and South-East Asia are neglecting to adopt new pest-resistant cultivars, preferring to rely on excessive use of insecticide to combat pests, according to a leading rice scientist.
This has led to outbreaks of pests and disease in rice, affecting thousands of farmers, mainly in China, Indonesia and Thailand, K. L. Heong, a senior scientist at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), in the Philippines, told SciDev.Net.
Heong was speaking following his presentation...
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Climate change may lead to failure of Indian monsoons
Posted by Zee News: None Given on November 6th, 2012
Zee News: Global warming caused by extensive human interference in the environment will likely result in failure of Indian monsoon in the next 200 years threatening food supplies, a new study has warned.
The study suggests that increased human activity like burning of fossil fuels and related shifts in tropical air flows, which has lead to drastic climate change, could result in collapse of monsoon rains about every fifth year between 2150 and 2200.
India being an agrarian society entirely depends on...
Water supply ‘at weather’s mercy’
Posted by BBC: Roger Harrabin on November 6th, 2012
BBC: A new report blames the government for leaving the UK's water resources at the mercy of the weather.
The document from 16 leading environmental organisations says it took the wettest ever summer to avert serious drought.
It warns that another series of dry winters would put Britain back on drought alert.
The government said its draft Water Bill would build resilience into the UK's water infrastructure.
The Blueprint for Water report measures the Government's performance against 10 steps...