PROJECT BACKGROUND
Agriculture remains a foundation of food security and livelihoods across South and Southeast Asia. Yet traditional rice farming methods—especially continuous flooding—remain a significant source of methane (CH₄), contributing up to 10% of global agricultural emissions. Transitioning to climate-resilient, lowemission cultivation practices is essential to meet climate goals, protect ecosystems, and ensure the long-term viability of farming communities.
In response, Mekong Institute (MI), in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and with funding support from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) under the Fund for the Promotion of Innovation in Agriculture (i4Ag), has led a regional learning initiative to promote low-emission rice cultivation technologies. In 2024, the initiative covered Cambodia, Thailand, Viet Nam, Bangladesh, India, Lao PDR, and Indonesia, producing a comprehensive inventory report and hosting a regional knowledge sharing workshop. These efforts mapped existing practices, identified barriers and enablers, and created a baseline for regional collaboration on low-emission agriculture.
OBJECTIVES
1. Support the implementation of existing national low-emission agriculture strategies by sharing practical insights, field-based evidence, and adaptable technology options.
2. Facilitate peer learning among government officials, researchers, and practitioners to exchange experiences in scaling low-emission practices in diverse agroecological and institutional contexts.
3. Strengthen institutional and technical capacity to contextualize and mainstream proven innovative technologies into national and subnational programs.
4. Promote regional collaboration and cross-country alignment to enhance the collective impact of ongoing climate-smart agriculture initiatives.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
1. Participants identify and share practical recommendations to support the implementation of low-emission practices within their respective national programs and contexts.
2. Cross-country networks are strengthened, fostering ongoing collaboration and knowledge exchange among practitioners, researchers, and policymakers.
3. Field-based insights and demonstration learnings inform national and subnational efforts to operationalize existing strategies for climate-smart
agriculture.
4. Workshop outputs—such as summary briefs, good practice examples, and participant feedback—serve as inputs for national dialogues and regional coordination on low-emission agriculture.
EVENT STRUCTURE
Day 1: Knowledge-sharing sessions, expert panels, and interactive workshops
with regional policymakers, researchers, and practitioners.
Day 2: Site visits to Cambodian farms showcasing real-world application of
low-emission technologies
TARGET PARTICIPANT
- Government officials from ministries of agriculture, environment, and
planning - Agricultural researchers and extension officers
- Farmer cooperatives, agri-tech companies, and private sector actors
- Civil society organizations and international development partners
