Alternate wetting and drying rice farming – Climate-smart agriculture practice catalogue
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This catalogue presents Alternate Wetting and Drying as a water-efficient and climate-adaptive practice for irrigated rice cultivation. Instead of keeping fields continuously flooded, farmers allow the soil to dry for specific periods before reapplying a shallow layer of water.The document highlights powerful benefits. This method can lower methane emissions from rice paddies by thirty to fifty percent while reducing water usage by up to thirty percent. Farmers save money on pumping costs, and yields remain stable when following "safe" guidelines. The practice also promotes deeper root systems, improving drought resilience and reducing lodging risk.A simple methodology is provided: after initial flooding for seedling establishment, farmers monitor water levels using a perforated tube. They re-irrigate only when the water falls fifteen centimeters below the soil surface, repeating this cycle until the flowering stage.The catalogue includes a demonstration plot design, guidance on field levelling, and practical answers to common questions about yield impacts, weed management, and soil suitability. While challenges exist—such as the need for precise water control and potential weed pressure—the adoption potential is high in irrigated rice systems.Designed for extension workers and farming communities, this tool supports climate mitigation and adaptation simultaneously, making rice production more sustainable, cost-effective, and resilient to water scarcity.