Innovations for a sustainable and resilient Thai rice sector

Sarida Khananusit

Rice cultivation emits one-third of Thailand’s methane emissions and 8% of its total greenhouse gas emissions, which drive climate change. At the same time, rice cultivation is critically exposed to the impacts of climate change, which are expected to lead to reductions in current yields. Maintaining current rice yields to secure the livelihood of 4.4 million farm households involved in the crop’s production in Thailand and to meet growing demand for rice globally requires a new norm, with sustainable rice production at its core.

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives’ (MOAC) Rice Department and private sector partners, is implementing sustainable rice projects in six provinces in the Central Plains and four provinces in the Northeast to showcase that sustainable rice production not only is viable, but that it can help farmers, communities, and the sector to thrive.

Mainstreaming climate-smart technologies in the Central Plains

Through the Thai Rice NAMA project, MOAC-GIZ are supporting Thai farmers to adopt climate-friendly technologies to increase yields, save water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Central Plains.

A recent ‘Laser Land Leveling in Rice Demonstration Event’ held in Ayutthaya Province is part of a series of events aiming to catalyse Thailand’s rice production sector to apply new agricultural technologies and practices that result in less methane-emitting approaches in irrigated rice production areas.

Smallholder farmers interested in implementing the laser land levelling technology for increasing rice yields can apply for financial support from the Rice Department and the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives.

This is one of 19 demonstration sites across Chainat, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Suphan Buri, Ang Thong and Sing Buri that has enabled farmers and local agricultural officials to learn about sustainable and low-emission rice farming practices including Laser Land Levelling (LLL) technology, Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), Site Specific Nutrient Management, Straw and Stubble Management.

Shifting to these technologies will enhance smallholder farmers’ income, deliver livelihood improvements to farm households, and reduce the environmental impacts of rice production on-farm and for communities. The Thai Rice NAMA project aims to reach 100,000 farm households by August 2023.

Connecting farmers to sustainable rice supply chains in the Northeast

In Ubon Ratchathani, Roi-Et, Surin and Si Saket, the Market-Oriented Smallholders Value Chain (MSVC) project, also known as Better Rice Initiative Asia (BRIA II), is supporting rice farming communities to meet emergent requirements and regulations on quality, safety, sustainability, and traceability of rice that is trending among governments, businesses, and consumers.

Capacity building focuses on applying practices in the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation, the world’s first voluntary sustainability standard for rice. Practices include direct seeding technology to strengthen seedling health and pest resistance, know-how on good tillage or soil ploughing to improve soil health, rational use of fertilsers to reduce residues and lower input costs, and no-burning of agri-wastes to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

The results are clear. Farmers are harvesting high-quality rice grains that are in-demand by millers and rice buyers – and which are commanding commensurate prices that reflect trust in sustainable production practices and the resulting quality.

The MSVC (BRIA II) project is now working with 16,000 farmers to produce rice following the SRP Standard, and expects up to 60,000 tonnes of unmilled, export-quality Thai Hom Mali Rice to be distributed to the market this year.

Contact details: Sarida Khananusit Project Director, Mainstreaming Sustainable Rice through the Sustainable Rice Platform Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Tel: + 66 2 255 4202 sarida.khananusit@giz.de www.giz.de/thailand https://www.asean-agrifood.org/

Image credit: GIZ Agriculture and Food Cluster GIZ Agriculture and Food Cluster