Phnom Penh & Prey Veng, Cambodia – July 30-31, 2025 — Mekong Institute (MI), in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, convened regional experts, innovators, and farmer representatives from South and Southeast Asia for a two-day workshop focused on accelerating climate-smart, low-emission rice cultivation. Supported by GIZ’s Fund for the Promotion of Innovation in Agriculture (i4Ag), the initiative engaged stakeholders from key rice-producing countries—Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Cambodia, Thailand, and Viet Nam— to validate practical solutions, foster cross-border learning, and strengthen pathways for large-scale adoption.
The first day centered on validating knowledge products related to “Prioritizing Low-Emission Rice Cultivation Techniques”, with emphasis on farmer-led innovation and scalable solutions.
“Rice is central to our region’s identity, economy, and food security,” said H.E. Kao Muy Thong, Deputy Secretary General of the Council for Agriculture and Rural Development. “Collaboration can translate research into practical benefits for farmers.”
Echoing this, Lukas Waldmann, Agricultural Economist and Project Manager at GIZ Cambodia, underscored the importance of cross-country partnerships in addressing climate impacts on rice systems. MI’s Director of Finance and Operations, Rithy Buth, noted that cost and technical support challenges continue to limit adoption of low-emission technologies among smallholder farmers.
MI Principal Consultant Htain Lin introduced a suite of climate-smart practices such as Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), Zero Tillage (ZT), Short Duration Rice Varieties (SDRV), and the Potato–Zero Tillage Model (PZTM). While PZTM has shown promise in India, its feasibility remains limited in Southeast Asia due to differing cropping patterns. Country representatives shared experiences on these practices, highlighting barriers such as water scarcity, labor shortages, fragmented infrastructure, and high upfront costs.
Digital innovations were also in the spotlight. Experts demonstrated farm management platforms that connect farmers to advisory services, markets, and peer networks. By helping farmers track irrigation schedules, optimize fertilizer use, and plan planting and harvest timing, these tools can directly lower greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining productivity. Farmers shared firsthand insights on using technology to balance efficiency, climate resilience, and sustainability.
On the second day, participants traveled to Prey Veng Province for a field learning session facilitated by GIZ Cambodia. They observed early-stage AWD adoption and community-driven water management systems that optimize irrigation, reduce water stress, and stabilize production.
The workshop concluded with a strong regional commitment to scale climate-smart rice practices, leverage digital innovation, and strengthen policy frameworks. MI and GIZ called on policymakers, research institutions, development partners, and agri-business stakeholders to support farmer-led innovation, integrate proven techniques, and invest in digital solutions to secure food systems, reduce emissions, and build climate-resilient futures across Asia.
