Improving Rice Production For The Future!

Rice is eaten by billions of people. It is a major source of calories for half of the world's populations. Rice cultivation also provides employment and income for hundreds of thousands of people all around the world.

This tiny grain provides enormous benefits for many societies, however all is not well in the world of rice.

Rice requires a great deal of fresh water and fossil fuels. In fact, about one-quarter to one-third of the world's annual supply of water goes to rice production. With the demand for water continuously rising (by 30% by 2030) this poses a major issue. Already nearly 3 billion people live in areas where the supply of water is much lower than the actual demand.

So, although many thousands of people rely on rice as their daily food or income, rice farming uses up large amount of precious recourses and emits greenhouse gases.

Thankfully, there are solutions, Sustainable Rice Intensification is one.

SRI is a set of alternative management practices that were developed in Madagascar. It increases the value of resources used to grow rice. Essentially, less resources are needed to produce rice and at the same time increases yields. Its pretty amazing!

SRI has been proven to be successful in over 40 countries globally and local governments are even beginning to support the method. Oxfam is working with communities in East and South Asia as the World Bank is assisting farmers in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

-Gabrielle Gurian

SOURCE: OXFAM

International World Water Day

Today we celebrate the International World Water Day. This event has been celebrated every 22nd March since it was designated so by the UN General Assembly in 1993, as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and sustainable management of water resources.

Each year the International World Water Day highlights one particular aspect of water. This year it regards water and urbanisation, with the motto "Water for Cities: responding to the urban challenge." In the past years, other subjects were treated, such as water scarcity, sanitation, water quality, transboundary waters, disasters, or water and culture. More than 800 events are taking place today to commemorate this day, being the main one located in Capetown, South Africa. A number of agreements and treaties are being signed this day too, like a Memorandum of Understanding to face water challenges between Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick.

- David Nebreda

SOURCE: UN WATER

Regulation of Africa’s Illicit Diamond Trade

The IMF is initiating a new project in 16 sub-Saharan African countries that produce and deal diamonds to crack down on money laundering, smuggling, and terrorist financing.

Africa produces an estimated US$ 19 billion in gold per year and US$ 6 billion in diamonds. But an unknown amount is laundered or siphoned each year for criminal purposes.

The project has two stages – the first is an awareness-raising program that will take place in Tunis. The awareness campaign will feature regional workshops and representatives different government departments in each country.

The second stage is assistance for interested countries to develop their national security methods of handling money-laundering, terrorist financing, and other related issues. Experts believe that increased transparency of transactions could prevent a majority of the corruption and greatly contribute to greater macroeconomic stability in these regions.

-Michelle Leung

Source: Afrol News