Smart Rice Farming in Thailand Reduces Carbon Emissions by 44.5 Tons Over 12 Hectares

In 2025, the Thai Nguyen Sub-Department of Plant Production and Protection, in collaboration with Net Zero Carbon Company and the Hop Thanh Commune People's Committee, implemented a smart rice cultivation model over 12 hectares using Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation. This method reduced methane emissions and aimed to develop agricultural carbon credits.

Farmers adopted AWD and the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), leading to a 15% increase in rice yield compared to traditional methods. Costs decreased significantly, with seed costs cut by 50% and nitrogen fertilizer by 20%.

The project achieved a reduction of over 44.5 tons of carbon emissions, averaging more than 3.7 tons per hectare. The Thai Nguyen agricultural sector plans to scale up this model, while addressing challenges in irrigation systems and farmer adoption of new practices.