Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: FP
Context: In Vietnam, where rice cultivation contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, some farmers are embracing innovative techniques to mitigate methane production.
Traditionally, rice paddies emit substantial amounts of methane due to the anaerobic conditions created by flooding. However, farmers are adopting alternate wetting and drying (AWD) methods, which reduce water usage and methane emissions.
What is AWD?
It stands for Alternate Wetting and Drying, a water-saving technique used in rice cultivation. Instead of continuously flooding rice fields, AWD involves alternating periods of flooding and drying, allowing the soil to partially dry out between irrigation cycles. This method helps to reduce water usage in rice paddies while also decreasing methane emissions, as the intermittent drying reduces the anaerobic conditions that promote methane production.
