Partners Magazine November 2009 - February 2010

Partners Magazine November 2009 to February 2010 examines the issues of water management and agriculture, and how these impact on food security. This edition is also the first to be available in an electronic magazine format.

Since the global food crisis of 2008 food security has dominated much of the debate about development assistance. Many factors created that crisis, but water is the issue that is most likely to challenge agriculture into the future. Demand for water is increasing from urban and industrial users, and for use in environmental flows. Farmers are facing increased competition for water, and will be faced with a future that only increases that pressure. At the same time farmers will be expected to grow more food. Agricultural R&D is responding to this challenge, learning how to better manage crops in dryland conditions, and how to manage and preserve water resources.

In this edition we report on research initiatives tackling some of these issues, from managing water in river systems that span three Indian states to ensuring equity amongst agricultural practitioners in China. Also in China ACIAR-funded research is saving water, reducing fertiliser use and cutting greenhouse gases, an example of how appropriate and measured responses can help farmers tackle some of the biggest problems they face.

Water management on a smaller scale is also underway; in Vietnam new irrigation guidelines, using practical farm-based approaches, are saving water. In the Philippines overuse of groundwater threatens to drain aquifers, however ACIAR-funded research is helping farmers understand and take steps to reduce groundwater usage. Reports also cover how crops utilise water, how fishways can help migratory fish species in Laos navigate past small weirs, and efforts to help improve water management in Indonesia.

E-magazine

ACIAR is trialling a new e-magazine version of Partners magazine. Click on the link above to open it or you can access the pdf version below.

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