Climate-smart water technologies for rice production in the Lancang-Mekong Region

Mission:

To enhance technical exchange and cooperation and build capacity in adopting climate-smart technologies and innovations for sustainable water resources and rice production.

Vision:

To build climate-resilient water resources and rice farming systems in the Mekong-Lancang Region.

Objectives:

• Facilitate the exchange of technical and practical knowledge in climate-smart water technologies for improved water management in rice farming systems.
• Strengthen the knowledge and capacity of local agencies, experts, and farmers to implement climate-smart water technologies through training programs.
• Promote implementing climate-smart water technologies through joint research, pilot studies, and collaboration between Thailand, Lao PDR, and China, incorporating reliable technologies from various countries.
• Foster cooperation among Mekong-Lancang countries to advance climate-smart water technologies in water resources management for rice farming systems, emphasizing public-private partnerships.

1. Showcasing good practices: Showcase proven techniques and good practices of climate-smart water technologies and innovations in rice farming systems across all six Mekong-Lancang countries. Engage with practitioners, experts, enterprises, and relevant government agencies to disseminate knowledge.
2. Capacity building of farmers and government agencies: Conduct field training and provide support from private sectors to empower farmers and government agencies in Thailand and China to adopt climate-smart water technologies. Promote changes in farming practices.
3. Demonstrating, monitoring, and evaluating pilot studies in Thailand and China: Conduct joint research to enhance knowledge and capacity. Translate research outputs into actionable recommendations.

Year 1:

• Conduct a joint review and engage with experts to identify good practices and barriers using climate-smart water technologies in rice farming systems across all six MLC/LMC countries.
• Organize a regional workshop for knowledge exchange among stakeholders.
• Hold national consultation meetings in Thailand and China to select case study sites and technologies.
• Identify collaboration opportunities with Lao PDR.
• Install selected climate-smart water management systems in the case study sites.
• Produce communication products to raise awareness.

Year 2:

• Conduct on-site and online training for farmers and government agencies on climate-smart water technologies and techniques.
• Monitor and collect data from installed systems in case study sites.
• Conduct joint research comparing water use efficiency and rice production with and without climate-smart water management systems.
• Organize a regional workshop for sharing lessons learned and seeking technical cooperation.
• Prepare recommendations for public-private partnerships in investing in climate-smart water technologies.

Key deliverables

• State of Knowledge Report on climate-smart water technologies in rice farming systems.
• Exchange of knowledge as workshop and meeting proceedings.
• Demonstration sites in Thailand and China using climate-smart water technologies.
• Joint research papers.
• Policy briefs.

Gender Equality and Social Equity

The project considers gender equality and social equity throughout its design and implementation. It aims to ensure equal opportunities and benefits for all stakeholders, contributing to achieving SDGs 2, 5, 6, 13, and 17.

• Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR), Thailand
• Environmental Research Institute (ERIC), Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
• China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR), China
• Hubei University of Economics, China Changjiang River Scientific Research (CRSR), China
• Lao National Mekong Committee (LNMC), Lao PDR
• National University of Laos (NUOL), Lao PDR