Cambodia estimates climate footprint in rice fields with IRRI training

May 27, 2025, Phnom Penh, Cambodia - In a crucial step towards a greener future, Cambodian agricultural experts have sharpened their skills in calculating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from rice cultivation, thanks to a recent intensive training led by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). This activity is part of the Accelerating Scaling of Low-Emissions Rice in Southeast Asia (AcceLER) project supported by the Global Methane Hub. It aims to empower Cambodia and its neighbors to significantly cut methane emissions from rice farming – a bold 15% by 2030.

The training, in collaboration with Cambodia’s General Directorate of Agriculture (GDA), welcomed 35 key technical officers, researchers, and policymakers to gain insights into sustainable agriculture and climate action. IRRI’s experts, including Dr. Bui Tan Yen and Ms. Trang Vu, shared practical knowledge and supporting tools to inform policy and practices that promote low-emission rice farming.

“This training underscores the significant role of rice cultivation in global methane emissions,” stated Dr. Bui Tan Yen. “A thorough understanding of both the sources and the quantification methodologies for GHGs is crucial in formulating effective strategies to mitigate these emissions and achieve sustainable progress,” he added.

Key topics discussed included a detailed identification of the sources and impacts associated with the emissions of different GHGs from rice fields, a comprehensive introduction to globally accepted quantification methods, and the sharing of best practices for effectively reducing GHG emissions while sustaining yields. The participants also learned to use tools such as SECTOR (Source-selective and emission-adjusted GHG calculator for cropland) and FarMoRe (Farm Activity Monitoring and Reporting) to estimate emissions from rice farming activities. While trying out the tools, they could see the importance of accurate activity data in generating reliable estimations.

The training underscored a vital message for government officials: accurate GHG calculation is not just an academic exercise but a powerful tool for informed decision-making and adherence to global climate agreements like the Paris Agreement’s Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF). This expertise will be a foundation for Cambodia as it develops its robust system to track and verify its progress in reducing methane emissions from its rice fields.

According to Dr. Nurmi Pangesti, the IRRI Country Representative to Cambodia, “This training is important for empowering local experts in quantifying GHG emissions, which will ultimately inform policy and enhance Cambodia’s capacity to report mitigation outcomes in compliance with international standards.” The training has enabled Cambodia to advance climate-smart rice production and contribute to the global effort to combat climate change. 

In his closing message, Dr. Yorn Try, Deputy Director General of GDA, expressed gratitude to IRRI Cambodia and stakeholders for the high-level GHG training, emphasizing its crucial role in equipping technical personnel to understand and manage GHG emissions in Cambodia, a timely and essential initiative. While appreciating the training output, he stressed the importance of achieving tangible outcomes (participant understanding) and long-term impact (policy alignment), hoping for future training series and government policy integration.

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