By Khaosod English

BANGKOK — Together with Thai partner networks, the BMZ Green Climate Fund is driving forward the reform of rice cultivation. A total of 118 million euros (approximately $127 million USD or 4.181 billion baht) is being invested as part of the “Thai Rice: Strengthening Climate-Smart Rice Farming Project.”

The aim is to improve the skills of 253,400 Thai farmers in 21 provinces and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2.44 million tons of carbon by 2028.

Dr. Timo Menniken, Country Director of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in Thailand, said that this project for climate-smart rice cultivation brings together a wide range of stakeholders. It is funded by the Green Climate Fund and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) under the develoPPP program, as well as contributions from international private sector partners such as Ebro Foods, Mars Food, Olam Agri and PepsiCo.

Thai Rice: Strengthening Climate-Smart Rice Farming Project launch event held under the motto “Rice is More: More Visions, More Actions, More People Benefit” at the Eastin Grand Hotel Phayathai on Feb. 26, 2025.
The project is also supported by various agencies, including the Rice Division and the Agricultural Extension Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP), the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and GIZ.

The initiative aims to shift rice cultivation in Thailand to new, climate-smart practices by introducing climate-smart agriculture technologies and guidelines for rice cultivation. This approach is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase agricultural production, increase farmers’ income, improve their quality of life and strengthen the market ecosystem in the rice sector over the five-year duration of the project (2024–2028).

One focus of the project is to give rice farmers access to 10 climate-friendly agricultural technologies and to use them in the cultivation of their rice fields. These include field-level water management, laser land leveling, alternate wet and dry water management, straw and stubble management, nutrient management, use of rice varieties suitable for specific areas and climates, dry seeding or no-till, integrated pest management, rice-focused cropping systems, and the use of weather forecast information for agriculture.

Thai Rice: Strengthening Climate-Smart Rice Farming Project aims to improve the skills of 253,400 Thai farmers in 21 provinces.
These technologies not only help to increase efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also strengthen the capacity for sustainable adaptation to climate change — through agricultural extension and access to financial support channels that can benefit smallholder farmers, households, communities and the Thai rice sector in the long term.

The project launch event took place at the Eastin Grand Hotel Phayathai under the motto “Rice is More: More Visions, More Actions, More People Benefit” The aim is to foster collaboration and build momentum to spread climate-smart agricultural practices in Thailand’s key rice-growing regions.

Participants from various sectors were invited to exchange ideas in policy discussions and explore opportunities for investment in Thai rice production, among others. The event brought together stakeholders in the rice sector and paved the way for greater collaboration.

The forum also served to set the vision and objectives for all parties involved and to create detailed operational plans for the project’s 21 target provinces , Thailand’s main rice-growing areas. Around 200 people from the government, private sector, farmer representatives and research institutions attended.

In his opening speech, Dr. Georg Schmidt, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Thailand, emphasized the importance of partnerships in tackling climate change:

“I am pleased to see the Thai government, international partners, the private sector and farmer representatives coming together with a shared vision. No single agency can drive this change on its own. Achieving big goals that benefit both people and the environment requires shared solutions, knowledge sharing and commitment to long-term goals.”

Thai Rice: Strengthening Climate-Smart Rice Farming Project launch event held under the motto “Rice is More: More Visions, More Actions, More People Benefit” at the Eastin Grand Hotel Phayathai on Feb. 26, 2025.
Anon Nontree, deputy director general of the Ministry of Rice, added that the concept of “Rice is More” reflects the project’s commitment to improving rice yields, farmers’ livelihoods and the market ecosystem for Thailand’s rice:

“‘Rice is More’ is our vision to promote Thai rice. Rice is not only an economic crop, but also an important tool for building a sustainable future. We must ensure that Thai rice stands for quality, standards and innovation and provides economic opportunities for Thai farmers to compete globally.”

Dr. Timo Menniken from GIZ concluded that working with Thai and international organizations will ensure that climate-friendly rice farming methods become mainstream and common practice in the rice sector, increasing farmers’ incomes while mitigating global warming in the coming years.

Published Date: March 1, 2025