CGIAR Initiative on Asian Mega-Deltas

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/117906

Part of the CGIAR Action Area on Resilient Agrifood Systems

Primary CGIAR impact area: Climate adaptation and mitigation

https://www.cgiar.org/initiative/18-securing-the-asian-mega-deltas-from-sea-level-rise-flooding-salinization-and-water-insecurity/

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Mechanized wet direct seeding for increased rice production efficiency and reduced carbon footprint
(Journal Article, 2024-07-12) Nguyen, Hung; Thach, Tran Ngoc; Nguyen, Ngoc Hoang; Binh, Nuguyen Cao Quan; Dang Minh Tâm; Tran Tan Hau; Duong Thi Tu Anh; Trinh Quang Khuong; Vo Thi Bich Chi; Truong Thi Kieu Lien; Gummert, Martin; Rakotoson, Tovohery; Saito, Kazuki; Kumar, Virender
Crop establishment is one of the major rice production operations that strongly affects rice production, productivity, and environmental impacts. This research introduced a new technology and provided scientific evidence for the benefits of mechanized wet direct seeding (mDSR) of rice as compared with the other crop establishment practices commonly applied by farmers for wet direct seeded rice in Mekong River Delta in Vietnam, such as seeding in line using drum-seeder (dDSR) and broadcast seeding (bDSR). The experiment was implemented across two consecutive rice cropping seasons that are Winter-Spring season and Summer-Autumn season in 2020–2021. Treatments included (1–3) mDSR with seeding rates of 30, 50, and 70 kg ha− 1, (4) dDSR with 80 kg ha− 1 seed rate, and (5) bDSR as current farmer practice with seeding rate of 180 kg ha− 1. The fertilizer application was adjusted as per seeding rate with 80:40:30 kg ha− 1 N: P2O5: K2O with lower seed rate 30 and 50 kg ha− 1 in mDSR; 90:40:30 kg ha− 1 N: P2O5: K2O with medium seed rate of 70 to 80 kg ha− 1; and 115:55:40 kg ha− 1 N: P2O5: K2O with high seed rate of 180 kg ha− 1 in bDSR. Mechanized wet direct seeding rice with a lower seed rate of 30 to 70 kg ha− 1 and fertilizer rate by 22–30% reduced variation in seedling density by 40–80% and in yield by 0.1 to 0.3 t ha− 1 and had similar yield to bDSR. In consequence, N productivity was 27 and 32% higher in mDSR as compared to bDSR during the Winter-Spring season and Summer-Autumn seasons, respectively. The use of lower seed rate and fertilizer in mDSR also led to higher income and lower carbon footprint (GHGe per kg of paddy grains) of rice production than the currently used practices of bDSR. Net income of mDSR was comparable to that of dDSR and higher by 145–220 and 171–248 $US than that of bDSR in Winter-Spring season and Summer-Autumn, respectively. The carbon footprint of mDSR rice production compared to bDSR was lower by 22–25% and 12–20% during the Winter-Spring and Summer-Autumn seasons, respectively. Given the above benefits of farming efficiency, higher income, and low emission, mDSR would be a technology package that strongly supports sustainable rice cultivation transformation for the Mekong River Delta of Vietnam.
Rice to Sustainability: A systems thinking approach to advance sustainable rice
(Thesis, 2023-10-23) Edwards, Glory I.
Rice is important for global food security, serving as a staple food for over half of the world's population. Rice production needs to increase to meet increasing global demands. However, rice production systems face many challenges in achieving sustainable growth related to environmental factors (such as soil quality, water and nutrient availability), national and international policy initiatives and socio-economic issues such as price spikes, labour scarcity and increased competition for arable land. Moreover, climate change adaptation, greenhouse gas emissions mitigations and the resilience of rice communities must be ensured. This grand challenge presents tensions between different objectives. A comprehensive integrative analysis is therefore necessary to advance sustainable rice. This thesis applies a systems thinking approach through archetype analysis (to study past-to-present rice systems) and scenario planning (to explore future rice systems). The research findings are synthesised into a system map highlighting the interactions and interdependencies within rice systems.
Transforming Bangladesh's Agri-Food Systems: Workshop on Inclusive Governance for Climate Resilience
(Report, 2024-06-20) Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council
This report documents the results of the workshop on Transforming Bangladesh's Agri-Food Systems: Workshop on Inclusive Governance for Climate Resilience. The workshop aimed to bring together key stakeholders and initiate the co-development of an inclusive food systems governance framework focusing on the Southwestern deltaic part of Bangladesh. The workshop outcome was to identify actionable pathways to climate resilient food systems that prioritize food and livelihood security of the most marginalized in the face of escalating climate risks. This event was organized by the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, with support from the CGIAR Initiative on Asian Mega-Deltas.
Dataset of Boeng Sneh Community Fisheries (CFi), Boeng Ream Community Fish Refuge (CFR) and Tasoung Irrigation Scheme
(Dataset) Sithirith, Mak; Sok, Sao
The data was collected in two of Cambodia’s Mekong Delta Provinces, namely, Prey Veng and Takeo, as well as in Kampong Thom-a province located in the Tonle Sap Lake (TSL) region. The researchers utilized both qualitative and quantitative methods to gather primary and secondary data from the studied sites. The primary data were obtained through key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs).
Rice Field Fishery Database, 2012-2015
(Dataset) Sean, Vichet; Kim, Miratori; Brooks, Alan; Try, Vanvuth; MacDonell, Hillary
The current database is the result of the merging of three major databases containing Rice Field Fishery Enhancement Project data collected by WorldFish from November 2012 to January 2016. The project had the goal to increase the productivity and the sustainability of the rice field fishery system. Interventions and public awareness took place in forty community fish refuges (CFR) around the Tonle Sap Lake and among the communities living nearby those CFR. To evaluate the impact of the actions undertaken, biological surveys were conducted and households living nearby were interviewed on a regularly base about their livelihood. Other data are included in this database: rainfall during the project, physical characteristics of each CFR, interventions undertaken, fundraising, governance level and fish perception.
Scaling climate resilience: Local agro-climatic committees reach 6,000 more Cambodian farmers
(Case Study, 2024) Swaans, Cornelis; Soksophors, Yim
An additional 6,000 rice growing smallholder farmers (69% female) from 26 agricultural cooperatives (AC) across four districts of Prey Veng and Takeo provinces in the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) used seasonal agroclimatic advisories in their planning and decision-making for better climate-risk management. Agroclimatic advisories were developed based on Crop Decision Trees (CDTs) for different climate scenarios through Local Technical Agroclimatic Committees (LTAC).
The short-duration sweetpotato breeding in the Mekong Delta: Observation Trial Report
(Report, 2024-05) International Potato Center
Mekong Delta region has the largest sweetpotato production in Vietnam. In general, sweetpotato is moderately tolerant to salinity and heat and considered as a climate resilient crop. All parts of sweetpotato from vines to roots can be used for multiple purposes such as animal feeding, human consumption, biofuel, and various forms of processing. The global market for sweetpotato is growing, and there is a great potential for the Mekong region to increase sweetpotato production by incorporating it in the rice cropping system as well as utilizing the coastal sandy-soil zone. However, there are some challenges to promote sweetpotato for smallholder farmers in the Mekong Delta region. It takes 4-5 months to harvest sweetpotato, which is too long to incorporate into the rice cropping system. Currently, the rice-sweetpotato rotation is only implemented in some areas in Vinh Long province. Furthermore, there are specific trait preferences for Southeast Asia, such as purple flesh and yellow flesh with high dry matter content, which limit variety options for growers, resulting in the dependency on single sweetpotato variety and its informal seed systems. Third, there is an emerging disease in the region in which major varieties in the Mekong region appear to be susceptible. To address those challenges, International Potato Center (CIP) has initiated a breeding experiment under the CIP sweetpotato Asia short duration breeding pipeline (BP00052). The first batch of true seeds are orange flesh with high dry matter (above 29%). This short-duration genotypes have a great potential to be adopted in the rice cropping system as they can be harvested in 3 months instead of 5 months. It can be for exporting to China or domestic market if the traits meet local demand. True seeds with elite crosses (humid tropics) were sent from San Ramon, Peru to Vietnam in September 2023 and germinated at Potato, Vegetable, Flower Research Institute (PVFC) in Da Lat, Lam Dong Province, Central Highlands of Vietnam where the temperature is stable year around. The observation yield trial (OT) was conducted with 1324 genotypes from 9 families in the campus of the Cuu Long Rice Research Institute from late January to late April (90 days). The cuttings were sent from PVFC. Two checks were selected from locally available varieties for a comparison purpose: one is Khoai Lang Mat from Central Highlands which is Vietnam’s only commercial orange flesh variety. Another one is Khoai Sua, a white flesh local variety grown in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. The selection of genotypes for the next advanced trial was made based on the following steps: step 1: the number of marketable roots equal to or above 1.7; step 2: Vine vigor - score 2 or 3; step 3: Remarks about diseases (discarding all with the comment on diseases); step 4: the number of damaged roots by weevils, nematodes and/or pathogens; step 5: the number of marketable roots above 2.0 or above; step 6: high dry matter content (above 28%); step 7: disease damage 1 or above; and step 8: the number of marketable roots equal to or above 2.3. Step 9: the number of vines in their mother plants in Dalat equal or larger than five. Overall, 167 genotypes (10.7% of the total genotypes) were selected in consultation with partners and the next experiment will be planned starting in July to August when new planting materials and experiment fields are ready. This report outline the process and result of the observation trial, as well as other relevant activities such as stakeholder consultation and a household survey.
Practical guide for enumerators to better communicate with women respondents in a household survey
(Brief, 2024-06) Kawarazuka, Nozomi; Ibrahim, F.; Rahaman, E.H.M.S.
Technical report: Using Vietnam’s National Nutrition Surveillance (NNS) survey to explore the relationship between human mobility and food and nutrition security in the Mekong Delta
(Report, 2024-06-18) Vaselli, Alessandra; Nguyen, Tam Ninh; Savelli, Adam; Duong, Thanh Thi; Tuan, Phuong Thi Mai; Truong, Mai Tuyet; Huynh, Tuyen
The CGIAR Research Initiatives on Asian Mega-Deltas, Climate Resilience, and Fragility, Conflict, and Migration have partnered with the Vietnam National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) to advance impactful research for food and nutrition security in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta (VMD). The collaboration unites CGIAR’s research activities on nutrition-sensitive, climate-resilient deltaic development planning with NIN’s remit to support food and nutrition security throughout Vietnam. Through localized-, demand-driven research, the partnership aims to support the achievement of The National Nutrition Strategy for 2021-2030 by integrating human mobility components into NIN’s yearly National Nutrition Surveillance (NNS) survey. At the core of this project is an acknowledgement of the complex relationship between food and nutrition security (FNS) and mobility outcomes in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta (VMD). With an eye toward the evidence gap related to the human mobility-FNS nexus in the VMD, The Alliance and NIN have co-developed a list of key indicators, which were then validated through participatory workshops with local stakeholders and NIN experts in charge of implementing the NNS. An integrated survey is expected to bolster national efforts to achieve inclusive food and nutrition security in line with UN Sustainable Development Goal 2: “Zero Hunger.”
Strengthening agricultural sustainability in the Ganges Delta polders: a stakeholder-centric approach to hydrological modeling
(Blog Post, 2024-06-13) Jampani, Mahesh; Mizan, Syed Adil; Sena, Dipaka Ranjan; Matheswaran, Karthikeyan
A collaborative workshop brought together water management experts to tackle water and agricultural challenges in the Ganges Delta polders. These low-lying, protected areas are vital for agriculture but face threats from salinity intrusion and waterlogging. The workshop, organized by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and Institute for Water Modelling (IWM) Bangladesh, focused on using local-scale hydrological modeling to forecast salinity and inform agricultural decisions.
Risk-based evaluations of competing agronomic climate adaptation strategies: The case of rice planting strategies in the indo-Gangetic Plains
(Journal Article, 2024-06) Mkondiwa, Maxwell; Urfels, Anton
CONTEXT: Adjusting crop planting dates and variety durations is emerging as a crucial climate change adaptation strategy for many cereal systems. Such strategies include harmonizing crop planting with the onset of the rainy season or planting at specific recommended calendar dates. Evaluations of these strategies mostly consider yield and yield variability, but focus less on financial risks associated with different planting strategies and importance of risk aversion behaviour of the farmers in their decision to adopt the strategies. OBJECTIVE: Here, we present a novel framework that uses a computational spatial ex-ante approach for risk-based evaluations of agronomic adaptation options. This framework allows development agronomic adaptation recommendations that consider climate risks for risk-averse famrers. METHODS: We use a second order stochastic dominance approach that is paired with computational optimization—Golden section search algorithm. This approach allows a distributional assessment of risk and uncertainty by providing bounds at which even a risk averse would benefit from changing practices. This contrasts with conventional methods that do not consider farmers' risk aversion, e.g. mean-variance or conditional value at risk optimization methods. To demonstrate our approach, we compare the yield risks and economic risks associated with readily available gridded crop simulation outputs for various rice planting strategies across the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP)– a major region experiencing food insecurity and climate impacts. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The findings provide quantitative evidence about the riskiness of previously recommended rice planting date strategies. The risk-based assessment corroborates the recommendation for planting long-duration varieties at the monsoon onset with or without supplemental irrigation (covering about 22% of IGP area) in the Eastern IGP, and at state-recommended planting dates (covering about 38% of IGP area) in most of the Western and Middle IGP. Importantly, our risk-based assessment shows where the results are not as clear cut and which strategy is the least risky. This is especially important in the Middle IGP where farmers appear to have more flexibility to achieve comparable outcomes with several planting strategies. SIGNIFICANCE: In conclusion, the proposed approach provides a useful and novel tool for comparing different agronomic climate adaptation strategies from an economic risk perspective in a spatial framework.
Polder Tidings
(Other, 2023-07) Yadav, Sudhir; Mondal, Manoranjan K.; Batas, Mary Ann; Jagadish, S.V. Krishna; Mandal, M. A. Sattar; Ali, Mohammad; Sarker, Mou Rani; Singaraju, Niyati; Parvin, Rokhsana; Sarker, Shilpi Rani; Bhattacharya, Jayanta
This issue of Polder Tidings presents a comprehensive overview of the key accomplishments and lessons learned from the “Pathways of scaling agricultural innovations for sustainable intensification in the polders of coastal Bangladesh (SIIL-Polder: Phase II)” project. The publication highlights the project's achievements in leveraging the unique agro-ecological conditions of the polders to enhance agricultural productivity. The issue discusses the agroecological potential of coastal Bangladesh, emphasizing the need for innovative water management and irrigation technologies to enhance crop yields and agricultural productivity. It reflects on the lessons learned from seven years of adaptive research, noting the importance of integrating qualitative research to understand farmers' perspectives and the socio-economic dynamics influencing agricultural practices. Key articles delve into the impact of climate change on coastal agriculture, the role of technology in agricultural development, and the strategic importance of mega-infrastructure projects in driving economic growth in these regions. The magazine also features insights from stakeholders, the potential for youth engagement in agriculture, the significance of gender empowerment, and the experiences of SIIL scholars.
Exploring Women Empowerment Pathways in Water Governance for Better Livelihoods (GENERATE)
(Report, 2022-11-30) Singaraju, Niyati; Sarker, Mou Rani; Batas, Mary Ann; Akther, Rima; Dash, Mahanambrota; Mondal, Manoranjan K.; Puskur, Ranjitha; Yadav, Sudhir
The coastal polder zones in Bangladesh, home to around eight million people, see significant contributions from women in both domestic and production spheres. However, water management remains male-dominated due to limited female access to resources and restrictive social norms. This study examined gender and power dynamics in water governance and their impact on gender equality and women’s empowerment. From 139 polders, 56 water management groups (WMGs) were randomly selected in Khulna and Patuakhali, involving 1360 households. Findings showed that women engaged mainly in training and community service, while men handled infrastructure and production activities. Women actively participated in WMG meetings and decisions about sluice gate operations and membership fees, although leadership roles were male-dominated, with women rarely in critical positions like president or vice-president. Increased female participation improved agricultural production and household income, supported by government 30% quota policies. However, this did not translate into significant decision-making roles due to cultural norms and domestic burdens. Investing in women's technical and leadership skills can enhance their confidence and empowerment in community governance. Further research is needed to understand the impact of increased female participation on gender relations and power dynamics at household and community levels.
Agronomic monsoon onset definitions to support planting decisions for rainfed rice in Bangladesh
(Journal Article, 2024) Eunjin Han; Montes, Carlo; Hussain, Sk. Ghulam; Krupnik, Timothy J.
The usability gaps between climate information producers and users have always been an issue in climate services. This study aims to tackle the gap for rice farmers in Bangladesh by exploring the potential value of tailored agronomic monsoon onset definitions. Summer aman rice is primarily cultivated under rainfed conditions, and farmers rely largely on monsoon rainfall and its onset for crop establishment. However, farmers’ perception of the arrival of sufficient rains does not necessarily coincide with meteorological definitions of monsoon onset. Therefore, localized agronomic definitions of monsoon onset need to be developed and evaluated to advance in the targeted actionable climate forecast. We analyzed historical daily rainfall from four locations across a north-south gradient in Bangladesh and defined dynamic definitions of monsoon onset based on a set of local parameters. The agronomic onset definition was evaluated in terms of attainable yields simulated by a rice simulation model compared to results obtained using conventional meteorological onset parameters defined by the amount of rainfall received and static onset dates. Our results show that average simulated yields increase up to 7 – 9% and probabilities of getting lower yields are reduced when the year-to-year varying dynamic onset is used over the two drier locations under fully rainfed conditions. It is mainly due to earlier transplanting dates, avoiding the impact of drought experienced with early monsoon demise. However, no yield increases are observed over the two wetter locations. This study shows the potential benefits of generating “localized and translated” climate predictions.
Promoting Rice Field Fisheries in the Cambodian Mekong Delta
(Blog Post) Sean, Vichet; Sithirith, Mak; Bernardo, Eisen
In partnership with the Fisheries Administration (FiA) and GIZ, WorldFish recently conducted an exposure visit focusing on best practices for the management of rice field fisheries (RFF) in Kampong Thom province. The visit was attended by representatives from the Community Fish Refuges (CFRs) committee in the Mekong Delta and the upper Mekong provinces.
Benefiting 5000 fish farmers in Myanmar: Digital climate advisories with microfinance
(Case Study, 2024) Swaans, Cornelis; Khaung, Ye
From July 2023 to January 2024, 5,000 fish farmers from 20 townships in four regions, including Irrawaddy Delta, used aqua-climatic advisories in their planning and decision-making to reduce climate risks and obtain support to access credit. Within the context of the project DeRISK SE Asia and the CGIAR research initiative Asian Mega-Deltas, Village Link Company Ltd with support of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT provided climate advisory services and provision of loans to selected fish farmers by Microfinance Institutions (MFIs). Aqua-climatic advisories were developed based on the monthly and weekly weather forecasts and Decision Trees for different climate scenarios.
Digital climate advisories aid 5,000 monsoon rice farmers in Myanmar
(Case Study, 2024) Swaans, Cornelis; Khaung, Ye
In 2023, 5,000 rice-growing smallholder farmers from five townships in the Irrawaddy Delta used agroclimatic advisories in their planning and decision-making to reduce climate risks. In partnership with Village Link Company Ltd., DeRisk SE Asia and the CGIAR research initiative Asian Mega-Deltas initiated the pilot provision of climate advisories for monsoon rice farmers. The advisories were developed based on monthly and weekly weather forecasts following Crop Decision Trees for different climate scenarios.
Farmers’ adoption on potato zero-tillage and straw mulching in the Ganges Delta of Bangladesh
(Brief, 2024-04) Rahaman, E.H.M.S; Hossain, M.; Kawarazuka, Nozomi
CGIAR Research Initiative on Asian Mega-Deltas: Annual Technical Report 2023
(Annual Report, 2024-04) CGIAR Initiative on Asian Mega-Deltas
What monetary incentives are rice farmers willing to accept to stop straw burning? Evidence from a choice experiment in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam
(Journal Article, 2024) Cuong, Ong Quoc; Demont, Matty; Pabuayon, Isabelita M.; Depositario, Dinah Pura T.
Producing rice generates straw, which is often conveniently burned, causing substantial atmospheric pollution. Increasing straw utilization efficiency and reducing straw burning will improve the agricultural ecological environment and promote sustainable development of agricultural production. Little is known about farmers’ perceived costs of alternative straw management practices and what it would take for them to stop straw burning. We conduct choice experiments with 543 Vietnamese farmers in the Mekong Delta to elicit their preferences for improved straw management practices under varying monetary incentives and enabling environments of mechanization and governance. The attributes and levels used in this study include sustainable practice (i.e., incorporation of rice straw, partial removal, and complete removal), availability of machinery (i.e., low, medium, and high), governance (i.e., individual farmer, farmer organization, and local government), and monetary incentives (US$43–87/ha). Results from a mixed logit model suggest that farmers are willing to stop straw burning and adopt sustainable straw management practices in return for monetary incentives. Farmers require lower monetary incentives when machinery services for chopping and collecting rice straw are available and when rice straw management is governed collectively by farmer organizations or the local government. Policy makers can use these results to prioritize investments and design optimal policies for mitigating air pollution by diverting farmers away from straw burning towards sustainable rice straw management practices.

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