According to the Bank’s website, the proposed TA aims to advance sustainable and resilient food systems transformation in Asian Development Bank (ADB) operations by identifying the transformative solutions in rice sector, a key agriculture subsector in the region. The TA will support upstream activities and capacity development to accelerate the transition to sustainable and resilient rice sector to ensure food and nutrition security, achieve climate goals, and improve livelihood of vulnerable population, leading to the development and preparation of an impactful and innovative project pipeline. The TA will also help strengthen enabling environment for carbon credit market in rice sector through application of satellite and other high-level technologies.

Developing sustainable and resilient rice sector is central to sustainable and resilient food systems in Asia which ensures long-term food and nutrition security. Rice is the single most important staple in the region. Approximately 90% of rice is produced and consumed in Asia. Hundreds of millions of smallholder farmers in Asia depend their livelihood on growing rice. Rice cultivation is responsible for 24% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission from agriculture in Asia. For example, in Viet Nam, GHG emission from paddy fields is half of agriculture sector, which is larger than the emission from transport sector. Three quarters of the region are water insecure, while rice production is water intensive, accounting for more than half of freshwater resources.

ADB's DMCs are facing an increasing challenge to improve rice productivity with minimal impacts on climate and environmental quality. While global rice demand is projected to increase 30% by 2050, Asia's rice productivity growth is falling. Yields increased by an annual average of only 0.9% in 2012-22, down from 1.3% in 2002-12. With the increased frequency and intensity of climate conditions negatively impacting rice production, along with degraded natural resources, achieving rice productivity growth is becoming increasingly challenging. In major rice growing areas, months of higher incidence of typhoons fall on the major cropping season which caused substantial crop losses. The potential demand and supply gap can lead to high rice prices in the medium to long term. Moreover, insufficient investment in post-harvest infrastructure leads to quality deterioration of paddy rice and prevents the development of rice value chains. At the same time, gender disparities in the rice sector undermine resilience and productivity, as women farmers often face barriers such as limited access to land, credit, and technology, which hinders their ability to adopt sustainable and resilient practices.

Developing enabling environment for carbon markets through effective Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system is key for scaling up low carbon rice farming practices with private sector investment. It would also allow the government to assess the contribution of reduced emission from rice farming to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The emerging satellite remote sensing and other high-level technologies is providing opportunities for DMCs to lower the cost of developing effective MRV system.

According to the Technical Assistance Report, the Risk Categories are:

Environment: Not Applicable
Involuntary Resettlement: Not Applicable
Indigenous Peoples: Not Applicable

The TA financing amount is $3.80 million, of which (i) $1.0 million will be financed on a grant basis by ADB’s Technical Assistance Special Fund ($300,000 from TASF 8 and $700,000 from TASF-other sources), (ii) $2.0 million will be financed on a grant basis by the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific (JFPR), and (iii) $800,000 will be financed on a grant basis by the High-Level Technology Fund (HLT Fund). The JFPR and the HLT Fund will be administered by ADB.

Project Officer: Shingo Kimura
Designation: Principal Natural Resources and Agriculture Economist - Asian Development Bank
Email: shkimura@adb.org

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

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ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF ADB

The Accountability Mechanism is an independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by an Asian Development Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Accountability Mechanism, they may investigate to assess whether the Asian Development Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can learn more about the Accountability Mechanism and how to file a complaint at: http://www.adb.org/site/accountability-mechanism/main.