Can we solve global water scarcity?
This is a great article!
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Email: frente.rescate.agricola@gmail.com
Facebook: Frente de Rescate Agrícola (FRA)
Management of Drip/Trickle or Micro Irrigation
By Megh R. Goyal, PhD, Professor in Agricultural and Biomedical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico
http://www.appleacademicpress.com
This important book—the only complete, one-stop manual on microirrigation worldwide—offers knowledge and techniques necessary to develop and manage a drip/trickle or micro irrigation system. The simplicity of the contents facilitates a technician to develop an effective micro irrigation system. Management of Drip/Trickle or Micro Irrigation includes the basic considerations relating to soil-water-plant interactions, with topics such as methods for soil moisture measurement; evapotranspiration; irrigation systems; tensiometer use and installation; principles of drip/ micro/trickle irrigation; filtration systems; automation; chloration; service and maintenance; design of drip irrigation and lateral lines; the evaluation of uniformity of application; and an economical analysis for selecting irrigation technology.
Agricultores podrían demandar a la Autoridad de Tierras
“Le han dado contrato a otras personas a $30 por cuerda cuando nosotros pagábamos $85 por cuerda”, dijo Hernández, quien tiene seis obreros en su finca.
Photos from UPRM Soil and Water Management Class field trip to a farm in the Coloso Valley in 2011.
CROP WATER USE ( HARGREAVES ET EQUATION) NEW WOLFRAM ALPHA WIDGET. Reference: Hargreaves, G. H. and Z. A. Samani, Reference Crop Evapotranspiration from Temperature. Appl. Eng. Agric., ASAE. 1(2). 1985,. pp.96-99.
Widget Application: Suppose you want to schedule irrigation by replacing the water evapotranspired by your crop each day. 1. Click on the appropriate link to get yesterdays solar radiation for your location: Puerto Rico or Northern Caribbean, 2. Check the internet for the average daily air temperature at your location (average = (minimum + maximum)/2), 3. Get the appropriate crop coefficient for your crop from this link, and 4. Finally, enter solar radiation, air temperature and crop coefficient into the widget to estimate ET. Multiply ET x acres x 1069.0663 to get the number of gallons of water you need to apply to your field.
Did you know that “…up to 75% of people living in developing countries rely on agriculture for their livelihoods and that over 90% of Africa’s agricultural production comes from small-scale production. Many of these farmers are women, who play a critical role in food and nutrition security and are responsible for growing, buying, selling and cooking the food. Between 60 and 80% of the food produced in most developing countries is produced by women and in sub-Saharan Africa, the figure is between 80 and 90 per cent. Yet less than 2% of land in sub-Saharan Africa is owned by women.”
“Across Africa, farmers are experiencing unpredictable growing seasons, making the age-old art and science of farming a guessing game. It is estimated that by 2050, up to 25% of world food production could be lost as a result of climate change, water scarcity and land degradation. This, combined with an expected population of 9 billion in 2050, paints a frightening picture of what may lie ahead for the next generation.”
Excerpt from GIMAC speaking notes for Mary Robinson President, Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice (MRFCJ)
Frente Rescate Agrícola – Dile NO a la pérdida de terrenos agrícolas
El Frente de Rescate Agrícola (FRA) es un movimiento de base popular que agrupa a diversas organizaciones civiles comprometidas con la agricultura y con un desarrollo sustentable del país. Este frente surge como propuesta a la preocupación colectiva de la pérdida desmedida de los terrenos agrícolas de Puerto Rico a causa de un desarrollo desenfrenado en beneficio de un supuesto progreso. El FRA se estará manifestando de diversas formas educando al pueblo y proponiendo alternativas para la preservación de los terrenos y para el progreso sostenible del país. Hemos llegado al punto donde la pérdida de una pulgada adicional de terrenos agrícolas representa una amenaza al sustento alimentario de las presentes y futuras generaciones.
Es momento ya de considerar la agricultura y los recursos naturales como pilar en el desarrollo del país. La crisis alimentaria que enfrenta Puerto Rico y agravada con la pérdida de terrenos agrícolas es un asunto de seguridad nacional y todo aquel que atente en contra de los terrenos está cometiendo una agresión directa al pueblo puertorriqueño.
PRAGWATER 
