When rice fields become the starting point of low-emission agriculture

Small changes in rice fields, from irrigation methods, straw collection to input management, open up new directions for Vietnamese agriculture in the journey to reduce emissions.

In the Mekong Delta, the alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation model is increasingly expanding, replacing the continuous water retention method that generates a lot of methane. Reducing the number of irrigation pumps helps farmers save costs, while significantly cutting the amount of gas emitted from the field. Localities also encourage not burning rice straw but collecting it for organic compost or as a substrate for growing mushrooms.

Winter-spring rice planting in Bac Ninh province. Photo: Ba Thang.

The biggest highlight of this approach is the birth of the 1 million hectares of high-quality low-emission rice project, when farmers were first instructed to fully record the amount of water, fertilizer, and pesticides according to emission reduction standards. Input management was tightened thanks to the project to develop production and use biological pesticides, helping rice fields gradually reduce their dependence on chemicals.

When working with the Mekong Delta provinces, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam pointed out that the pilot models showed reduced costs, increased productivity, reduced emissions, and increased profits. More importantly, farmers have changed their mindset from agricultural production to agricultural economics.

This observation shows that rice is not only a commodity, but also an "opening point" of the entire green transformation process.

From rice, solutions have spread to livestock – another major emitter. On many farms, solid-liquid separation and manure treatment with biogas are no longer uncommon. Biogas is used to run small generators, reducing oil and coal consumption in large-scale livestock farming. Some places have begun to adjust rations, adding enzymes to help reduce intestinal methane in livestock.

Industrial dairy and pig farms also reuse manure as organic fertilizer, creating circular farming models, reducing greenhouse gases on site and reducing operating costs. This shows that reducing emissions in livestock farming is not only about technology but is closely linked to the problem of economic efficiency.

In mountainous areas, forestry plays a distinct role: absorbing carbon and balancing the total emissions of the agricultural sector. Localities are promoting sustainable forest management, granting FSC or equivalent certification, protecting natural forests and digitizing forest areas using remote sensing technology. REDD+ continues to be expanded to gradually participate in the carbon credit market.

If the Mekong Delta farmers are considered the “spearhead” of emission reduction, then forests are the “safety net” that helps Vietnam offset the difficult-to-reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock and aquaculture.

Farmers in the Mekong Delta use straw to make organic fertilizer for the soil. Photo: Le Hoang Vu.

In aquaculture, many green solutions have also appeared. In Ca Mau, Can Tho or Vinh Long, the recirculating shrimp farming model (RAS) is being applied to limit waste discharge, reduce pollution and save water. Farmers are instructed to reduce the feed conversion ratio (FCR) - a factor that determines the amount of indirect emissions from the industrial feed production industry. Many households have installed rooftop solar power to operate aeration fans, replacing part of the grid power source, thereby cutting costs and the amount of CO₂ generated.

Less mentioned but fundamental factors are irrigation and mechanization. Traditional irrigation systems consume a lot of electricity, while digital irrigation, regulating water with sensors and software, is helping many localities significantly reduce irrigation pumping energy. In the post-harvest stage, some agricultural processing plants have switched to using energy-saving machinery, even installing solar panels in cold storage - the largest electricity consumer in the value chain.

When put side by side, these solutions all aim to achieve a common goal: reduce emissions without increasing production costs. From rice fields to farms, forests to shrimp ponds, the new models are emerging not for policy decoration but to create real benefits: saving on inputs, reducing environmental risks, opening up markets that demand green standards.

Rice fields, where changes are clearly visible from crop to crop, are therefore the starting point for low-emission agriculture. As “green” rice finds its place, the rest of the sector will have more momentum to follow, creating a comprehensive transformation for the entire agricultural sector.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/khi-ruong-lua-thanh-diem-khoi-dau-cua-nong-nghiep-phat-thai-thap-d784849.html