Faced with the increasingly clear impacts of climate change, sustainable rice cultivation techniques that save water, reduce investment costs, reduce emissions and increase income are increasingly receiving more attention from the agricultural sector and localities in the province. In particular, the area of rice cultivation using alternating wet and dry irrigation, creating carbon credits, is continuing to be expanded.
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| Farmers in Yen Khang commune (Y Yen) implement a spring rice production model using the alternating wet and dry irrigation method, creating carbon credits. |
Initial results
In the 2024 crop season, the Department of Agriculture and Environment coordinated with the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture to pilot the project "Water-saving rice cultivation, creating carbon credits in sustainable rice cultivation". The project was implemented on a scale of 1,100 hectares in 6 communes, including: Trung Nghia, Yen Khang (Y Yen); Dong Son, Nam Cuong (Nam Truc) and Minh Tan, Vinh Hao (Vu Ban). Dr. Vu Duy Hoang, Deputy Director of the Center for Organic Agriculture (Vietnam Academy of Agriculture) said: The project has been implemented methodically and elaborately, with the active and responsible participation of the agricultural sector, local authorities, agricultural cooperatives and farmers. Through 6 technical training courses, knowledge and skills on the alternating wet and dry irrigation method have been provided and disseminated to 414 cadres and farmers participating in the model implementation; 6 experimental fields were arranged, including the project field applying the alternating wet and dry irrigation method and the control field to collect gas samples to calculate the amount of emissions; 9 sampling times were conducted, gas samples were analyzed... The results showed that the reduction in CH4 gas emissions was very positive, the reduction was very clear, although the conditions for producing summer-autumn rice encountered many difficulties due to heavy and prolonged rains, storms and floods causing flooding. Specifically, applying the alternating wet and dry irrigation method reduced the amount of CH4 gas by up to 60%, equivalent to 3-4 tons of CO2/ha. Comrade Ninh Van Quan, Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Y Yen district affirmed: "Applying the alternating wet and dry irrigation method helps rice plants grow and develop well, tiller better, the root system is large, deep and strong, the plant is strong, has few pests and diseases, is resistant to lodging and reduces the number of times of watering compared to the regular flooding method, while promoting the activity of beneficial organisms in the soil more than the traditional method". According to experts, the infrastructure and conditions for rice production using the alternating wet and dry irrigation method in localities are relatively favorable. Although the 2024 crop production was severely affected by storms and floods, the results of the project "Water-saving rice cultivation, creating carbon credits in sustainable rice cultivation" have confirmed that rice production using the alternating wet and dry irrigation method is completely suitable for the cultivation conditions of localities in the province. This cultivation method has brought many benefits both economically and environmentally.
Expanding area in spring crop 2025
With the initial results and benefits that the Project "Water-saving rice cultivation, creating carbon credits in sustainable rice cultivation" brings to local farmers, the Department of Agriculture and Environment is actively coordinating with the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture, localities, cooperatives and farmers to continue to expand rice production using the alternate wet and dry irrigation method. According to the plan, the water-saving rice cultivation model, creating carbon credits will continue to be applied and expanded in the spring crop of 2025 with an area of 5,000 hectares, an increase of 3,900 hectares compared to the summer-autumn crop of 2024, implemented in 24 communes of 5 districts: Vu Ban, Y Yen, Nam Truc, Truc Ninh and Nghia Hung.
To ensure the success of the model, the Department of Agriculture and Environment directed the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection to coordinate with the Institute of Crop Research and Development, the Center for Organic Agriculture, and Green Carbon Company (Japan) to organize training courses to continue raising awareness of the community and farmers to better understand the meaning, importance and benefits of emission reduction farming, thereby actively participating in and applying the alternating wet and dry irrigation method. Assign staff to implement the collection of data on area and number of households in the project area to guide the registration of carbon credits. Coordinate with agricultural cooperatives to measure and calculate emission levels; manage and operate water for fields and areas implemented locally; monitor and evaluate the growth and development of rice plants in complex weather conditions. Continue to select production areas with the potential to apply the alternating wet and dry irrigation method model to expand the scale in the following crops.
According to Dr. Vu Huy Hoang, continuing to expand the area of rice production to save water and reduce emissions is aimed at sustainable, environmentally friendly rice cultivation, creating carbon credits, contributing to increasing income for producers. This is consistent with the Government's commitment to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve zero net emissions by 2050. To realize this goal, on January 26, 2025, the Government issued Decision No. 232/QD-TTg approving the Project on establishing and developing the carbon market in Vietnam. Thus, developing and expanding the rice cultivation model to create carbon credits is a new direction in agricultural production because the amount of reduced CH4 emissions will be converted into carbon credits and can be sold on the market, increasing income for farmers. According to experts' calculations, Nam Dinh has an area of more than 70 thousand hectares of rice/crop. If the alternating wet and dry irrigation solution is applied synchronously, it will be able to create a large amount of carbon credits; at the same time, it will open up opportunities in developing green agriculture, safe and environmentally friendly agricultural products, increasing the value of rice and bringing large income to farmers.
Article and photos: Van Dai
Source: https://baonamdinh.vn/kinh-te/202503/nhan-rong-dien-tich-cay-luatheo-huong-tuoi-uot-kho-xen-ke-tao-tin-chi-carbon-cef7e69/
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