Overview

Thailand’s rice sector is one of the most established in Southeast Asia, ranking as the world’s second-largest rice exporter in 2024. That year, the country produced approximately 30 million metric tons of paddy rice across over 10 million hectares, with an average yield of 3 metric tons per hectare. The rice sector supports millions of rural livelihoods and plays a vital role in national food security and global supply.

Despite its strength, Thailand’s rice production faces several complex challenges. Climate change has intensified droughts, floods, and temperature extremes, leading to declining yields, soil degradation, and reduced grain quality. Additionally, socio-economic shifts, such as rising labor costs and an aging rural population, contribute to labor shortages. While mechanization could help address these issues, most rice farmers are smallholders who have limited access to advanced technologies and markets.

As a major rice-producing country, Thailand also contributes to agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. Although national policies increasingly prioritize mitigation, translating plans into scalable action remains challenging.

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) supports Thailand through strategic partnerships with the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and the Rice Department. Collaborations include the development of climate-smart national roadmaps, enhancing Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems, and establishing policy frameworks for low-emission practices and access to carbon markets. IRRI also supports research on Direct Seeded Rice (DSR), drone-based mechanization, and the valorization of rice straws.

Current initiatives focus on expanding farmer access to digital tools, scaling precision water management, and facilitating public-private investment in sustainable innovations. IRRI also works to engage youth, promote biodiversity, and integrate climate-smart agriculture data into national statistics.

Through these initiatives, IRRI aims to align policy, research, and grassroots adoption to build a more resilient and sustainable rice sector in Thailand.