Monday, 23 June 2025
Rice feeds more than half the world’s population and sustains the livelihoods of 144 million people globally—80 percent of them smallholder farmers. With demand expected to rise by 30 percent by 2050, rice is set to become a staple crop in times to come, says World Bank.
Today, the rice sector faces urgent challenges: slowing productivity, high emissions, climate vulnerability, and limited nutritional value. But change is underway. From Southeast Asia to South Asia, rice-producing countries are testing new technologies and transforming farming practices to boost returns, cut emissions, and enhance food security. Here’s how Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and India are growing rice differently—and showing the world what transformation looks like in practice.
Vietnam: Growing More with Less
In the Mekong Delta—Vietnam’s fertile “Rice Bowl”—rice cultivation has long thrived, but environmental degradation and climate change are threatening its future. Alarmingly, rice fields in this region emit nearly half of Viet Nam’s agricultural greenhouse gases.
To counter these risks, Viet Nam launched the “One Million Hectares of High-Quality Rice” program, aiming to reduce input costs and protect soil health. With support from the World Bank, over 155,000 households were trained in climate-resilient farming across 180,000 hectares from 2016 to 2022.
One standout technique is alternate wetting and drying, which saves water and reduces methane emissions—a greenhouse gas 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide. For farmers like Le Dong Phuong in Can Tho City, the impact has been tangible: “I’ve reduced production costs for seed, fertilizer, pesticide, and water. I can now provide for my children and cover my expenses more comfortably.” Phuong’s yields have risen to eight tons per hectare, far above the national average of six.
Indonesia: Smarter Irrigation, Bigger Yields
In Indonesia, where 77 percent of farmers depend on rice, irrigation is a lifeline. Yet many small-scale systems have deteriorated, limiting productivity. “We didn’t have enough water because the irrigation system wasn’t maintained. My crops simply used to fail,” recalls farmer Darta Ego.
In response, Indonesia is not only rehabilitating infrastructure, but also introducing irrigation service agreements—formal arrangements between farmers and water providers that improve accountability and ensure timely access to water.
These agreements have helped nearly 350,000 farmers grow fuller, more profitable crops. “Before, I had to pay someone to pump water, and it often came too late,” said Sukeni, a farmer in Jatimulya. “Now our paddy is fuller and more profitable.”
Bangladesh: A Bold Plan to Double Yields by 2050
Bangladesh has made remarkable strides in rice production—quadrupling output from 9.7 million tons in 1971 to 41 million tons today. Yet recent gains have slowed due to limited mechanization, post-harvest losses, and declining youth engagement in farming.
The government now aims to double rice productivity to six tons per hectare by 2050. This plan includes expanding cultivation of low glycemic index varieties, improving mechanization, and repurposing public spending to support research, extension services, and infrastructure.
The strategy is not just about volume, but also about nutrition, profitability, and climate resilience.
India: Transforming the World’s Second-Largest Rice Sector
India has 47.7 million hectares under rice cultivation—nearly equal to the entire arable land of Africa. While India is the world’s second-largest rice producer and a leading exporter, it still grapples with low productivity and environmental concerns.
India is now pursuing four key priorities: improving yields, increasing water efficiency, lowering emissions, and diversifying cropping systems. Technologies like direct seeding, organic soil conservation, and mid-season drainage are being scaled up to drive these changes.
Given India’s vast footprint in the global rice market, these improvements could significantly enhance global food security and reduce environmental stress.
Toward a Shared Future for Rice
To support these country-level transformations, the World Bank Group has launched the Scaling Next Generation Rice Impact Program—a global peer-learning platform that enables rice-producing countries to share innovations, co-develop strategies, and scale up sustainable practices.
As farmers begin to adopt new methods and see real gains in productivity, resilience, and income, the seeds of change are already taking root. With continued investment, cooperation, and innovation, the future of rice—and the millions who depend on it—could be far more sustainable, nutritious, and equitable than its past.
