When rice fields become model for low-emission agriculture

In the Mekong Delta, the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) model is increasingly expanding, replacing the continuous flooding method that generates significant methane. Reducing the number of irrigation pumps helps farmers save costs while substantially cutting emissions from the fields. Localities are also encouraging farmers not to burn straw but instead collect it for organic composting or use as a substrate for mushroom cultivation.

The biggest highlight of this approach is the launch of the One Million Hectare High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice Project, where farmers are, for the first time, instructed to fully document the amount of water, fertilizer, and plant protection products used, in accordance with emission reduction standards. Input management is being tightened further through the Project on Developing the Production and Use of Biological Plant Protection Products, which helps rice fields gradually reduce their dependence on chemical inputs.

While working with the Mekong Delta provinces, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam, clearly stated that pilot models show reduced costs, increased productivity, lower emissions, and higher profits. More importantly, farmers have shifted their mindset from agricultural production to agricultural economics.

This assessment indicates that rice is not just a commodity sector, but also the "opening point" for the entire green transition process.

From rice, solutions are spreading to livestock, another major emission source. In many farms, solid-liquid separation and manure treatment using biogas are no longer unfamiliar. The biogas is used to run small generators, reducing oil and coal consumption in large-scale farming. Some areas have begun adjusting feed rations, supplementing enzymes to reduce enteric methane in livestock.

Industrial dairy and pig farms are also reusing manure to create organic fertilizer, establishing circular farming models that reduce on-site greenhouse gases and lower operating costs. This demonstrates that reducing emissions in livestock is not only about technology but is also closely tied to the equation of economic efficiency.

In mountainous regions, 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 farming households in the Mekong Delta are considered the "spearhead" of emission reduction, then forests are the "safety net" that helps Vietnam offset the greenhouse gases that are difficult to cut from livestock and aquaculture.

In aquaculture, many green solutions have also emerged. In Ca Mau, Can Tho, and Vinh Long, the Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) model is being applied to limit discharge, reduce pollution, and save water. Farmers are guided to lower the Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), a factor that determines the amount of indirect emissions from the industrial feed production sector. Many households have installed rooftop solar power to operate aeration fans, replacing a portion of grid electricity, thereby cutting costs and CO₂ emissions.

A less frequently mentioned but foundational element is irrigation and mechanization. Traditional irrigation systems consume a lot of electricity, while the digital transformation of irrigation, using sensors and software for water regulation, is significantly helping many localities reduce pumping energy. In the post-harvest stage, some agricultural processing plants are switching to energy-saving machinery, and even installing solar panels on cold storage facilities, the biggest electricity consumers in the value chain.

When placed side by side, these solutions all aim for a common goal: reducing emissions without increasing production costs. From rice fields to farms, forests, or shrimp ponds, the new models emerging are not mere policy decorations but are creating tangible benefits: saving inputs, reducing environmental risks, and opening doors to markets that demand green standards.

The rice field, where every change is clearly visible season after season, thus becomes the starting point for low-emission agriculture. As "green" rice grains find their footing, the remaining sectors will gain further momentum to follow suit, creating a comprehensive transformation for the entire agricultural industry.

The shift toward low-emission farming methods is proving to be a net economic gain for Vietnamese farmers. Initial data from the Mekong Delta indicates that adopting practices like Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) in rice cultivation typically reduces production costs by 10-15% due to lower water and input consumption.