Rice cultivation is shifting toward high-efficiency and low-emission models
Rice is the primary food source for over half the global population and supports the livelihoods of 144 million people—most of them smallholder farmers.
With demand projected to grow by 30% by 2050, rice remains essential to global food security, according to the World Bank.
However, the sector is under pressure. Challenges such as stagnant yields, high emissions, climate threats, and low nutritional value are driving the need for urgent transformation.
Across South and Southeast Asia, countries are adopting innovative technologies and practices to make rice production more sustainable, productive, and climate-resilient.
In Vietnam’s Mekong Delta—known as the nation’s “Rice Bowl”—climate change and environmental decline threaten rice farming, which is also a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.
To tackle this, the government launched the “One Million Hectares of High-Quality Rice” initiative. Supported by the World Bank, it has trained over 155,000 farming households in climate-smart practices across 180,000 hectares from 2016 to 2022.
One impactful method is alternate wetting and drying, which reduces methane emissions and conserves water. Farmers like Le Dong Phuong in Can Tho have benefited: “I’ve cut costs for seed, fertilizer, pesticides, and water.
Now I can support my family more easily.” His yield has reached eight tons per hectare—well above the national average.
Indonesia, where rice supports 77% of the farming population, faces irrigation challenges due to deteriorated infrastructure. “We used to have water shortages and crop failures,” says farmer Darta Ego.
The government is now upgrading irrigation and introducing irrigation service agreements to ensure reliable water access. These agreements have improved conditions for nearly 350,000 farmers. “Now our fields are fuller and more profitable,” says farmer Sukeni from Jatimulya.
Bangladesh has increased its rice output from 9.7 million tons in 1971 to 41 million today. But progress has slowed due to limited mechanization, post-harvest losses, and youth disinterest in farming.
The government now plans to double yields by 2050 through improved technology, better varieties, and reallocated public investment in research and infrastructure.
The focus is not just on quantity, but also on quality, climate resilience, and income generation.
India cultivates rice on nearly 48 million hectares—comparable to Africa’s total arable land. As the world’s second-largest producer and leading exporter, India still faces low yields and sustainability concerns.
The country is focusing on four priorities: boosting productivity, conserving water, cutting emissions, and diversifying crops.
Techniques like direct seeding, organic soil care, and mid-season drainage are being promoted nationwide. Given India’s size, these reforms could reshape global rice security.
To accelerate these transformations, the World Bank Group has launched the Scaling Next Generation Rice Impact Program, a platform for global collaboration, innovation sharing, and strategy co-development among rice-producing countries.
As farmers adopt these new approaches and begin to see improved yields, resilience, and incomes, the shift toward a more sustainable rice sector is already underway.
With continued global cooperation and investment, rice farming can evolve into a more equitable, climate-smart, and nutrition-focused system.
Meanwhile, UkrAgroConsult, with nearly three decades of agricultural market expertise, has developed AgriSupp—a dynamic online platform providing market intelligence for grains and oilseeds across the Black Sea and Danube regions. AgriSupp offers real-time data, reports, and historical trends, supporting informed decision-making in global agri-trade.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is climate-resilient farming in 2025?
Climate-resilient farming refers to techniques and technologies that help farmers adapt to climate change impacts like irregular rainfall, droughts, and floods. In 2025, it includes water-saving irrigation, improved crop varieties, and practices like alternate wetting and drying (AWD) to reduce emissions and preserve soil health. This is crucial for rice farmers in regions like the Mekong Delta, Vietnam.
What is alternate wetting and drying (AWD)?
AWD is a water-saving technique used in rice farming that allows fields to dry intermittently rather than staying flooded. This method, now widely adopted in Southeast Asia, reduces water use and significantly lowers methane emissions—making it a core climate-smart solution in 2025’s sustainable agriculture strategies.
What are irrigation service agreements in agriculture?
Introduced in places like Indonesia, irrigation service agreements are formal partnerships between farmers and water providers to ensure timely and equitable water distribution. In 2025, these agreements are becoming more common in climate-sensitive regions to boost productivity, accountability, and efficient use of water resources.
What is the One Million Hectares High-Quality Rice program?
Launched by Vietnam and backed by the World Bank, this 2025 program trains farmers in sustainable rice cultivation across one million hectares. Its goals include reducing input costs, protecting soil health, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions—supporting global climate targets while enhancing farmer incomes.
How is Bangladesh improving rice productivity in 2025?
Bangladesh aims to double its rice yield to six tons per hectare by 2050, focusing on mechanization, low-GI rice varieties, and improved extension services. In 2025, these efforts are part of a broader push to make rice production more profitable, nutritious, and climate-smart while attracting the youth back to farming.
What is direct seeding in rice farming?
Direct seeding eliminates the need for traditional transplanting by sowing seeds directly into the soil. In 2025, India and other countries are promoting this method to reduce labor costs, water use, and emissions. It’s seen as a practical step toward more efficient, eco-friendly rice cultivation.
What is the Scaling Next Generation Rice Impact Program?
This is a World Bank initiative launched to support knowledge sharing and innovation among rice-producing countries. In 2025, it acts as a global platform helping governments co-develop strategies, pilot climate-smart technologies, and scale up sustainable practices to meet rising food demands.
Why are greenhouse gas emissions from rice farming a concern in 2025?
Rice fields are a major source of methane—a greenhouse gas 80 times more potent than CO₂. In 2025, global climate goals are pushing countries like Vietnam and India to adopt practices that cut emissions from rice paddies, making sustainable agriculture critical in climate policy frameworks.
What role does mechanization play in rice farming today?
Mechanization refers to using machines for planting, harvesting, and post-harvest processing. In 2025, it’s vital for improving efficiency and reducing labor shortages, especially in countries like Bangladesh, where manual farming is still widespread and youth participation is declining.
How is India balancing rice exports with sustainability in 2025?
As a top global exporter, India faces pressure to produce more rice while managing its environmental footprint. In 2025, the government is scaling up practices like mid-season drainage and organic soil care to improve yields and reduce water and carbon intensity, aligning trade goals with climate commitments.
