Support policymakers and farmers in green agriculture reform: Rice production in Vietnam

Vibrant green rice plants growing in a muddy field.
Map of Vietnam

Overview

This project aims to support policymakers and farmers in Vietnam in green agriculture reform, specifically in rice production, to inform government agencies, businesses, and farming households about reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the economic benefits and costs of the one-million-hectare rice production program.

Vietnam's rice sector, a vital part of the country's food supply, emits approximately 40-50 million tonnes CO2e annually. The Vietnamese government aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and is initiating the one-million-hectare program in the Mekong Delta, where rice farmers adopt low-emission farming techniques to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from rice production. However, there is a lack of information on economic incentives for farmers to adopt low-emission techniques and limited insight into policy options to promote rice farmers' efforts to reduce emissions from their production.

This project will investigate the financial incentives for rice farmers in adopting climate change mitigation options, promoting adaptation and resilience while offering market-oriented opportunities through low-emission.

Activities

  • Deliver an economic analysis: Investigating the economic incentives for low-emission techniques and quantifying how adopting these techniques will change the cost structure and profitability of rice farmers relative to the reduced emissions.
  • Develop a certification process including guidelines for rice farmers to have their emission reduction practices certified by recognized organizations and generate carbon credits ready for trade in carbon markets.
  • Propose a policy framework to promote rice farmers to generate carbon credits and earn income in reference to Vietnam’s climate targets, policies, and institutional settings.
  • Organise a workshop in Vietnam where the research team will present the research outcomes to stakeholders, including policymakers, industry representatives, and environmental organisations.

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