Field Crop 2025, Vol.8, No.3, 154-165 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/fc 161 made based on local conditions. For instance, during the rainy season, the rice is naturally drained by rainwater, while during the dry season, regular drainage is carried out but timely re-irrigation is ensured to prevent the rice from being left dry. They also took the opportunity to look at the pests and diseases and changes in rice quality that farmers were concerned about. After a comprehensive assessment, it was found that AWD has considerable promotion value in Southeast Asia and also has practical significance for the sustainable development of agriculture (Tirol-Padre et al., 2018; Duong et al., 2024). 7.2 Monitoring results of rice yield and greenhouse gas emissions Many experiments have been conducted in Southeast Asia, and it has been found that as long as it is managed properly, the AWD irrigation method can indeed significantly reduce emissions and save water without basically affecting the output. In terms of output, studies from multiple countries have shown that the output of AWD is similar to that of continuous flooding. Sometimes it is slightly higher or lower, but the difference is not significant. Even if the weather is relatively hot, the output remains quite stable. Farmers actually don't need to worry too much about reduced production. The effect of emission reduction is more obvious. AWD can reduce methane emissions by 45% to 50% (Chidthaisong et al., 2018). Although there will be a slight increase in nitrous oxide, the amount is very small, and the overall greenhouse effect is still reduced. Overall, the greenhouse gas emission intensity of AWD fields is one-third or even half lower than that of continuous flooding (Figure 2) (Deepagoda et al., 2024). At the same time, it can also save a considerable amount of water. About 1 000 cubic meters of water can be saved per hectare per season, and the water use efficiency has increased by nearly 20%. To put it this way, AWD has achieved stable production, reduced emissions and water conservation in the rice-growing areas of Southeast Asia. It ensures food supply while alleviating environmental and resource pressures, providing a reliable reference for promoting climate-smart agriculture. Figure 2 Cultivation practice calendar for (a) wet and (b) dry season at the Bathalagoda/Sri Lanka site (Adopted from Deepagoda et al., 2024) 7.3 Experience summary and implications for regional agricultural policies The experience of promoting AWD in Southeast Asia has actually brought a lot of inspiration to agricultural policies and technology promotion. In practice, it was found that to apply it on a large scale, it still depends on the local conditions. Take it slow. First, set up some demonstration fields. Once the effect is seen, expand it. This way, the risk will be smaller. The promotion effect also depends on whether the supporting measures can keep up. For instance, if AWD, good varieties, scientific fertilization and pest and disease prevention are promoted together, farmers will be more likely to accept them. Cooperation between grassroots organizations and farmers is also quite crucial. For instance, cooperatives or water-using groups can manage water uniformly, measure water levels, and exchange information, which is much easier than individual households doing it on their own. Some countries
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzNA==