05/03/2026
What do rice farmers need to shift to low-emission practices? We asked them.
Three insights stood out:
• Incentives work, especially simple, direct ones. In Thailand, 80% of farmers preferred direct cash payments; average acceptable compensation clustered around THB 1,200/ha, varying widely by province. The data showed that incentives worked best when calibrated to local realities.
• Short contracts beat long promises. Across countries, farmers favoured 5–7 year commitments over decade-plus terms, even at higher prices, implying carbon programs should prioritise flexibility and renewal options.
• Training de-risks adoption: Skills support and extension boost willingness to adopt Alternate Wetting and Drying, Direct-Seeded Rice (DSR), and improved straw management, especially when paired with fair, on-time payments.
A Climate & Clean Air Coalition-funded project, implemented by the IRRI, worked with farmers in the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam to inform policies and incentives that support low-emission rice farming.
Read more about the project: https://www.ccacoalition.org/news/cutting-methane-and-boosting-rice-farmer-data
