{"id":115261,"date":"2026-07-26T10:04:39","date_gmt":"2026-07-26T04:34:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=115261"},"modified":"2026-07-26T12:10:39","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T06:40:39","slug":"rice-fields-methane-sources","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/rice-fields-methane-sources\/","title":{"rendered":"India&#8217;s Rice Fields Among World&#8217;s Top Methane Sources &#8211; Study Findings"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Rice Fields Latest News<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A new study published in <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nature Food<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has found that greenhouse gas emissions from paddy fields worldwide have doubled since the 1960s, with eastern India&#8217;s rice fields emerging among the global methane hotspots.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Methane Emissions from Rice Cultivation<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Methane (CH\u2084) is a potent greenhouse gas, approximately 25 times more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Agriculture is one of the largest anthropogenic sources of methane, and rice cultivation is the primary agricultural contributor.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>How Rice Fields Produce Methane<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rice is typically grown in flooded (submerged) fields, which create low-oxygen (anaerobic) conditions in the soil. Under these conditions:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Methane-producing microbes (methanogens) thrive.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They decompose organic matter in the soil and release methane as a by-product.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The gas escapes into the atmosphere through the water column and the rice plants themselves.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The longer a field remains flooded, the more methane it produces. Continuous irrigation, a common practice in intensive rice farming, significantly amplifies emissions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Other Contributing Factors<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Incorporation of crop residues such as leftover stalks, leaves, and stubble into the soil provides additional organic matter for microbes to decompose.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increased use of nitrogen fertilisers stimulates microbial activity and plant growth, indirectly enhancing methane production.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Loss of soil organic carbon reduces the soil&#8217;s ability to store carbon, turning fields from carbon sinks into carbon sources.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>India&#8217;s Position<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India is the world&#8217;s top rice producer. The <\/span><b>area under paddy cultivation has increased by approximately 25% since the 1970s and currently covers 55% of India&#8217;s rainfed harvested area<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0This expansion, combined with intensive farming practices, has made India&#8217;s rice fields a major contributor to global agricultural emissions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>News Summary: Key Findings of the Study<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Global Emissions Have Doubled<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2011-2020: Paddy fields worldwide produced around 1.1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO\u2082-e) emissions annually.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This represents an increase of 90.4% compared to annual emissions in 1961-1980.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Loss of Soil Organic Carbon <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; Around half the increase in emissions was driven by the loss of soil organic carbon:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1961-1980, paddy fields removed 289 million tonnes of CO\u2082-e emissions annually.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By the 2010s, over a third of paddy fields worldwide had begun losing carbon rather than storing it.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Methane from Eastern India<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paddy fields in eastern India were identified among the global methane hotspots.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Irrigated paddy fields in India release approximately 3.9 million tonnes of methane per year, slightly more than the annual methane emissions of Germany.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Future Projections<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; The study projected that between 2031 and 2050:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Annual emissions will increase by a quarter (25%).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This rise will be fuelled by global warming, erratic rainfall, and intense use of agricultural inputs.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Comprehensiveness of the Study <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; The study stood out for its comprehensive approach, integrating:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A global meta-analysis of more than 1,200 field experiments.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Process-based ecosystem modelling.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Artificial intelligence approaches to quantify greenhouse gas emissions from rice cultivation worldwide.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>India&#8217;s Mitigation Efforts<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While India has not set specific goals to reduce emissions from agriculture, several techniques and incentives are available to farmers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>System for Rice Intensification (SRI)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; The National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project recommends the System for Rice Intensification (SRI) technique:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Young seedlings are transplanted precisely.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fields are not continuously flooded during irrigation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This reduces both water use and methane emissions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Other Recommended <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Practices &#8211; Experts suggest that a combination of the following measures could reduce global rice-related greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 10% by mid-century, even under a warming climate:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improved irrigation practices, including alternate wetting and drying (AWD).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Optimised fertiliser use to reduce excess nitrogen application.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Residue management to control the decomposition of organic matter.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduced tillage to preserve soil carbon.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Challenges in Adoption<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite the availability of mitigation techniques, farmers remain reluctant due to several barriers:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Labour shortages for precision techniques like SRI.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lack of technical knowledge and awareness.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Changes in rainfall patterns make alternative methods risky.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regional variation in emission reduction potential, which current methods do not adequately address.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Regional Approaches and Innovations<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>The KERA-AWD Project<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The KERA-AWD project, led by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), is working to establish processes for cultivating low-emission rice systems in Kerala&#8217;s Thrissur kole lands &amp; Palakkad Malampuzha canal regions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The project uses a multi-pronged approach, including:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increasing soil organic carbon.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understanding hydrology and aligned irrigation systems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Managing agricultural inputs and residue.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Studying soil microbes and farmer preferences.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One innovation involves replacing a portion of lime with phosphogypsum to neutralise acidic soils, which has shown a positive impact on reducing emissions in the subsoil surface.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Case for Crop Diversification<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experts have emphasised that crop diversification is essential for long-term emission reduction:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Farmers continue to dedicate large areas to paddy despite India&#8217;s agro-climatic diversity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paddy has the largest area under cultivation, often at the cost of regional indigenous crops.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An integrated intervention for alternative grains must include:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Extension and training services.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Involvement of self-help groups.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Procurement support for alternative crops.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Policies must also prevent further expansion of paddy fields to curb emissions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Significance for India&#8217;s Climate Goals<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Agricultural Emissions and Climate Commitments<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India&#8217;s agricultural sector contributes significantly to total greenhouse gas emissions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While India has committed to reducing emission intensity under the Paris Agreement, agriculture remains a challenging sector to address.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rice cultivation alone accounts for a substantial share of agricultural methane emissions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Food Security vs Emission Reduction<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India must balance food security concerns with climate commitments.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rice is a staple food for over half of India&#8217;s population.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any reduction in paddy cultivation must be accompanied by alternative crop support and procurement guarantees.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>State-Level Variation<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emission reduction potential varies widely between states due to differences in Topography \/ Soil type \/ Irrigation infrastructure \/ Cropping intensity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A regional approach that considers these factors is crucial for effective mitigation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source:<\/b> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/science\/india-irrigated-rice-fields-world-top-methane-sources\/article71241002.ece#google_vignette\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TH<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>India&#8217;s rice fields rank among the world&#8217;s largest methane emitters due to continuous irrigation, fertiliser use, and expanding paddy cultivation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":115265,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[60,8976,22,59],"class_list":["post-115261","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","tag-mains-articles","tag-rice-fields","tag-upsc-current-affairs","tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs-tag","no-featured-image-padding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115261","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=115261"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115261\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":115264,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115261\/revisions\/115264"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/115265"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=115261"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=115261"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=115261"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}