Rice cultivation is deeply rooted in Thai culture, tradition, and economy and Thailand is one of the world’s leading rice producers. Agriculture is the second largest contributor to Thailand’s greenhouse gas emissions (52 million tCO₂e, or 20% of the total emissions) and rice cultivation is the main contributor to the agricultural sector (50% of total agricultural emissions). Traditional rice farming in Thailand is based on extended flooding periods, leading to considerable methane emissions.

This activity aims to promote the use of climate-smart agriculture through Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) for rice cultivation, improving water management practices and reducing methane emissions. Rice yields will be improved through the introduction of modern rice farming techniques. The scope of the activity is to implement AWD practices in 8 provinces, covering a total area of nearly 200,000 hectares and involving up to 30,000 farmers.

The activity will ensure that AWD communities are established to operate as centres of excellence for AWD farming practices, collaborating with local government authorities and providing training to farmers. An application called FieldCompanion has been developed and will be used to guide farmers in implementing AWD practices, as well as to collect pictures and field-related data. In addition, the sophisticated digital monitoring set-up will involve also the use of satellite images and mathematical modelling to accurately and conservatively derive emissions reductions from methane and nitrous oxide.

With the purchase of ITMOs (Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes), the KliK Foundation makes the activity financially viable. Carbon revenue is used to incentivise farmers to adopt AWD practices instead of the traditional full flooding methods. The successful adoption of AWD in Thailand relies on building massive awareness, capacity building and training activities over a sustained period of time.   

The activity is being developed in close collaboration with several Thai authorities such as the Royal Irrigation Department, the Rice Department, Thailand Greenhouse Gas Organisation and Department of Climate Change and Environment. Close contact with the Thai authorities ensures that the activity is developed in line with the Thai NDC and falls entirely outside the NDC target.

The application of AWD practices is considered state of the art in rice farming. In addition to reducing emissions, the activity will result in other environmental and social benefits such as:

• Reduced water usage: Water use is reduced by up to 30% (Climate & Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), 2014). The activity will enable farmers to cope with water scarcity and increase the reliability of downstream irrigation water supply.

• Climate adaptation benefits: Improved water management practices can help crops to withstand drought and support better nutrient and water uptake.

• Improved soil structure: ADW increases soil aggregation and soil micro-porosity.

• Root and tillering development: Rice root depth/density is often enhanced with AWD, which promotes nutrient uptake and greater resistance to flooding.

• Disease and human well-being: Rice systems have traditionally been associated with mosquito-borne diseases, particularly malaria and Dengue fever. When rice fields are dried, as in AWD, the mosquito larvae die and fewer adult mosquitoes are produced in the rice fields, resulting in potentially lower incidence of malaria and Dengue fever.