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NAMA Facility Funding approved to support the implementation of the Thai Rice NAMA

August 7, 2018
Four Thais on rice field

The German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU); the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS); the Danish Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate (EFKM) and the European Commission have approved funding to support the implementation of an ambitious NAMA in Thailand. 

NAMA Facility Donors have agreed to support the progression of the Thai Rice NAMA, with a funding commitment of EUR 14.9 million, beyond the Detailed Preparation Phase and into Implementation as a fully fledged NAMA Support Project.

The NAMA Facility will continue to support developing countries and emerging economies in implementing the most ambitious NAMAs that contain a high potential for transformational change towards a low-carbon development trajectory. 

About the Thai Rice NAMA

This project aims to spark the transformation of Thailand’s rice production sector, replacing current practices with more sustainable, less methane-emitting approaches. This shift towards low-emission rice production will be effected through the implementation of new technologies and practices, including a combination of technical support, policy dialogue and investment. This shift will strengthen levels of sustainable development by creating jobs and improving the livelihoods of farmers with better economic conditions and increased health levels through reduced fertilizer use.

The project’s approach to this transformation of rice production is comprised of three components:

i) technical assistance and training;

ii) the initial capitalization of a revolving fund that will provide liquidity for a range of services intended to reduce GHG emissions from rice agriculture including Laser Land Levelling (LLL), the management of straw and other harvest by-products, alternate paddy-field wetting and drying (AWD) and management of fertilizer application; and

iii) policy formulation and supporting measures promoting low-emission production on national political level.

The project intends to target 100,000 farmers and 420 service providers across six provinces located in the central plains region (CAPSAS)1. The project will also support the implementation of an innovative Thai GAP++ certification, a new voluntary standard to verify rice quality and ensure farmer safety, as well as certify the application of low-emission practices.

The involved Support Project stakeholders include the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), and in particular its Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP), the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC), the Rice Department and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC). Technical experts from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Sustainable Rice Production (SRP) will support the project with additional technical assistance.

Find out more about the project from the Thai press release.


[1] Chainat, Ang-thong, Pathum Thani, Singburi, Ayuthaya, Suphanburi (CAPSAS).