Low-emission rice production process must not exceed farmers' capacity

This issue was a central theme at the consultation meeting to finalize the Draft Low-Emission Rice Production Process and MRV Process (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification of emission reductions) on the morning of May 11. Many delegates noted that the greatest challenge does not lie in technology or calculation methods but in the feasibility of practical implementation.

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Hoang Trung, if the process is designed with excessive complexity, requiring numerous forms, technical procedures, or complicated monitoring mechanisms, it will be difficult to apply on a large scale, especially when  rice production in Viet Nam remains small-scale, fragmented, and highly variable across ecological zones. "If the process is issued but localities cannot implement it, then it should be considered a failure," said the Deputy Minister.

The current pressure to develop a low-emission rice production process stems from several major programs being implemented by the agriculture sector. Most notable among them is the Project on Sustainable Development of One Million Hectares of High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice Associated with Green Growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030.

According to the plan, the project will reorganize production across approximately 1 million hectares of rice in the Mekong Delta, implementing low-emission farming measures in sync, including water management, reduced seeding rates, optimized fertilizer use, mechanization, and post-harvest straw treatment.

In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is coordinating with localities, domestic and international organizations, industry associations, and enterprises to implement the Low-Emission Crop Production Project for the 2025-2035 period, with a vision to 2050. In this project, rice remains a priority commodity due to methane emissions from flooded fields, which account for a large share of agricultural emissions.

According to international studies, rice cultivation currently accounts for about half of total greenhouse gas emissions from Viet Nam's agricultural sector, primarily due to methane generated under prolonged flooding. Therefore, water management is considered the key solution for reducing emissions in the rice sector. This is also a core component of the draft production process currently under consultation.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, Deputy Director General of the Plant Production and Protection Department, said the draft proposes the application of alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation from around 20 days after sowing until 10 days before earing. During each crop, fields should be drained at least twice, with each dry period lasting at least 3 consecutive days to reduce methane emissions.

The draft also clearly specifies three stages during which drainage is not allowed: the early stage after sowing to control weeds and rodents; the period before and after earing to ensure pollination; and the period following fertilizer application to limit N₂O emissions.

According to Ms. Huong, the draft low-emission rice production process is designed to cover the entire cultivation cycle, from land preparation, seed selection, water management, and fertilizer use to post-harvest straw treatment. However, implementation will follow a phased roadmap, based on registration by localities and subject to further adjustments to align with actual conditions in each region.

Nevertheless, many delegates noted that the greatest challenge does not lie in developing technical processes but in the MRV system, the foundation for verifying actual emission reductions. Currently, many enterprises and international organizations involved in low-emission rice projects in Viet Nam have developed their own MRV processes. This has led to an increasing risk of data fragmentation and inconsistency in emission reduction verification, particularly as Viet Nam begins to move toward participation in the carbon market.

According to Mr. Mai Van Trinh, Director General of the Institute for Agricultural Environment, conducting large-scale direct methane measurements in the field would be very costly. Meanwhile, if the MRV process requires excessive forms, data entry, or continuous inspections, it will be difficult for farmers and local authorities to comply. "The MRV system must be reliable enough to support inventories and verify emission reductions but also simple enough for local authorities and farmers to implement," he said.

According to Mr. Trinh, the MRV system developed by the Institute consists of five steps and three levels of implementation. Project implementing units or consulting organizations are responsible for initial data collection; commune-level authorities compile data on area and production, which are then submitted to the Department of Agriculture and Environment before being uploaded to a centralized system managed by the Plant Production and Protection Department.

However, according to Deputy Minister Hoang Trung, the key issue is not only the calculation methods but also the implementation mechanism once the process is issued. He stressed the need to clearly define the responsibilities at each level for the confirmation, verification, and management of emission-reduction data.

Local authorities must take the lead in organizing, providing guidance, supervising, and synthesizing implementation efforts, while the Ministry and specialized agencies are responsible for guidance, verification, and data connectivity to ensure unified management. "Farmers cannot measure emissions by themselves; they must follow the prescribed process under the guidance of technical staff," said the Deputy Minister.

According to the Deputy Minister, if a national process is to be developed, it must be sufficiently flexible for localities to adapt to their specific ecological conditions and farming practices. The Red River Delta, Central Region, Northern mountainous areas, and the Mekong Delta cannot apply a similar approach.

He also noted that, in the immediate term, targets for carbon credits or complex financial mechanisms should not be set too high. Instead, the priority should be to develop a process that is feasible, easy to understand and implement, and supported by sufficiently reliable data. "Progress should be made step by step, ensuring solid results at each stage," Deputy Minister Hoang Trung emphasized.

To ensure rapid and effective implementation once the two processes are issued, Deputy Minister Hoang Trung assigned the National Agricultural Extension Center to coordinate with specialized agencies and local authorities to organize grassroots-level training. According to him, this is the force closest to farmers, playing a direct role in training, technical guidance, and serving as a bridge between management agencies and producers.

The draft low-emission rice production process encourages the use of varieties with short growth duration, compact canopy structure, and high root biomass. Seeding rates are specified by ecological region, with a maximum of 40 kg/ha for the Northern midlands and mountainous areas and the Red River Delta and no more than 80 kg/ha for other regions.

Regarding post-harvest straw, the draft emphasizes that open-field burning is not permitted. Instead, straw should be collected for mushroom production, organic fertilizer, or biochar. In cases where collection is not feasible, straw should be buried early, combined with biological products.