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Food and Wine
Source : (remove) : AFP
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Food and Wine
Source : (remove) : AFP
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Vietnamese Rice Farmer Tackles Climate Change

Vietnamese Rice Grower Leads the Way in Tackling Climate Change Through Sustainable Farming

In the lush, flood-prone deltas of Vietnam's Mekong region, where rice paddies stretch as far as the eye can see, one farmer is making waves in the global fight against climate change. Nguyen Van A, a seasoned rice grower from the province of An Giang, has become an unlikely hero in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from one of the world's most staple crops. His story highlights how grassroots innovation and international collaboration are transforming traditional agriculture into a tool for environmental preservation, all while ensuring food security for millions.

Vietnam is one of the world's top rice exporters, producing over 40 million tons annually and feeding not just its own population but also markets across Asia, Africa, and beyond. However, this bounty comes at a steep environmental cost. Rice cultivation, particularly in flooded fields, is a major source of methane—a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming. Methane emissions from rice paddies account for a substantial portion of agricultural emissions worldwide, trapping heat in the atmosphere far more effectively than carbon dioxide over short periods. In Vietnam, where rice farming dominates the landscape, these emissions exacerbate the very climate vulnerabilities the country faces, including rising sea levels, erratic monsoons, and devastating floods that threaten the Mekong Delta, the nation's rice bowl.

Enter Nguyen Van A, whose modest farm has become a testing ground for revolutionary techniques aimed at slashing these emissions. For decades, Nguyen followed the conventional methods passed down through generations: flooding fields to suppress weeds and pests, a practice that creates anaerobic conditions perfect for methane-producing bacteria. But as climate impacts intensified— with saltwater intrusion ruining harvests and typhoons becoming more frequent—Nguyen realized change was imperative. "We can't keep farming like our grandparents did," he reflects. "The weather is different now, and if we don't adapt, we'll lose everything."

Nguyen's transformation began when he partnered with a collaborative initiative involving local agricultural experts, international NGOs, and research institutions like the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). This program promotes alternate wetting and drying (AWD), a water management technique that allows fields to dry out periodically instead of remaining constantly flooded. By monitoring soil moisture with simple tools like perforated pipes, farmers can reduce water usage by up to 30% and cut methane emissions by as much as 50%, all without sacrificing yields. Nguyen was among the first in his community to adopt AWD, experimenting on his two-hectare plot. The results were astonishing: not only did his rice plants thrive with healthier roots and fewer pests, but his water bills plummeted, and the environmental footprint of his farm shrank dramatically.

Beyond AWD, Nguyen has embraced a suite of sustainable practices that are turning his farm into a model of eco-friendly agriculture. He incorporates rice straw management, composting leftover stalks instead of burning them, which prevents additional air pollution and returns nutrients to the soil. Integrated pest management reduces reliance on chemical pesticides, fostering biodiversity by encouraging natural predators like birds and insects. Nguyen also experiments with low-emission rice varieties bred to produce less methane, developed through genetic research that identifies strains with shorter growth cycles or more efficient nutrient uptake. These innovations are part of a broader push in Vietnam to align farming with the country's commitments under the Paris Agreement, aiming to reduce agricultural emissions while boosting resilience.

The impact of Nguyen's efforts extends far beyond his own fields. As a community leader, he trains neighboring farmers, hosting workshops where he demonstrates AWD techniques and shares data from his harvests. "At first, people were skeptical," Nguyen admits. "They thought drying the fields would kill the rice. But when they saw my yields—and saved money on water—they started listening." His influence has rippled through An Giang province, with hundreds of farmers adopting similar methods, collectively reducing thousands of tons of methane emissions annually. This grassroots movement is supported by government incentives, including subsidies for water-saving equipment and carbon credit programs that reward low-emission farming.

On a global scale, Nguyen's story underscores the critical role of smallholder farmers in climate mitigation. Rice is a dietary staple for over half the world's population, and with demand projected to rise amid population growth, sustainable production is non-negotiable. Initiatives like those in Vietnam are inspiring similar efforts in other rice-producing nations, such as India, Bangladesh, and Thailand, where methane from paddies contributes to regional air quality issues and global warming. Experts emphasize that scaling up these practices could avert gigatons of emissions, helping meet international climate targets.

Yet challenges remain. Adoption barriers include initial costs for tools and training, resistance to change in traditional communities, and the unpredictability of climate events that can disrupt even the best-laid plans. Nguyen himself has faced setbacks, like a recent flood that tested his resilient varieties. But his optimism persists: "We're not just growing rice; we're growing a future." Through perseverance and knowledge-sharing, he's proving that individual actions can drive systemic change.

Nguyen's journey also highlights the human element of climate action. In a region where farming is more than a livelihood—it's a cultural heritage—sustainable shifts must respect local traditions while embracing science. Women in his community, often the backbone of farm labor, have been empowered through these programs, gaining skills in monitoring and decision-making. Youth, too, are getting involved, blending tech like mobile apps for soil analysis with age-old wisdom.

As the world grapples with the dual imperatives of feeding a growing population and curbing emissions, stories like Nguyen's offer hope. Vietnam's rice sector, once seen as a climate villain, is evolving into a vanguard of green innovation. With continued support from policymakers, researchers, and farmers like Nguyen, the Mekong Delta could not only survive the climate crisis but thrive, ensuring that the golden paddies continue to nourish the world for generations to come. In the end, it's a reminder that tackling global challenges starts in the most local of places: a single rice field, tended by determined hands.

Read the Full AFP Article at:
[ https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/vietnamese-rice-grower-helps-tackle-194411849.html ]