Brussels, (Unib Rashid) __ On 4 March 2026, a stakeholder consultation meeting on the Rice Methane Reduction Project was held at the National Incubation Centre (NIC), Faisalabad, bringing together farmers, researchers, and policy stakeholders to discuss practical pathways for reducing methane emissions in rice production.

The consultation was organised by AgriCapture and SAWiE Ecosystems as part of the South Asia Methane Reduction Project, which aims to support climate-smart rice cultivation while improving water efficiency and farmer resilience. The consultation was originally planned to take place in Sheikhupura but was moved to Faisalabad due to security considerations.

The programme included technical presentations on the project design and implementation framework, as well as discussions on the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation technique, which has the potential to reduce methane emissions by up to 70% while lowering irrigation water use by 15–35%. Experts also discussed the integration of climate-smart and regenerative agricultural practices, along with the development of robust monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems aligned with the Verra VM0051 methodology for methane reduction in rice cultivation.

Opening remarks and project objectives were presented by Dr. Tasneem Khaliq (COO, SAWiE Ecosystems), while Ms. Sundas Abbas (Senior Project Manager, SAWiE) introduced the partnership between SAWiE Ecosystems and AgriCapture and moderated the discussions with stakeholders.Technical insights were provided by Mr. Waleed Tariq (Project Coordinator) on the implementation of the AWD irrigation technique. Prof. Dr. Abdul Wakeel (Climate smart agriculture and GHGs emission expert, University of Agriculture Faisalabad), who explained the need and role of AWD for rice in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from rice systems highlighting some the results of his recent trials.

Mr. Ashton Mody (AgriCapture) joined the consultation online and provided an overview of the South Asia Methane Reduction Project and its regional objectives.

A key policy perspective was shared by Mr. Arif Goheer, Executive Director of the Global Change Impact Studies Centre (GCISC), who outlined the Government of Pakistan’s commitment to climate mitigation under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). He emphasised that Pakistan is keen to see the implementation of practical, science-based climate mitigation projects in agriculture, particularly those that support farmers while contributing to national climate targets.

The consultation also featured active participation from researchers, project teams, and stakeholders including Dr Fahad Rasul (University of Agriculture Faisalabad) Hina Jabeen, Muhammad Ali Husnain, Mian Muhammad Rizwan, and several local farmers who contributed valuable feedback during the open discussion session.

The meeting concluded with remarks from Dr. Naveed Akhtar, Chief Scientist at the Agronomic Research Institute (AARI), who highlighted the importance of collaborative research and farmer engagement in scaling climate-smart rice production systems.

Rice is central to food security and rural livelihoods across South Asia, yet conventional flooded rice systems contribute significantly to methane emissions. Initiatives such as the Rice Methane Reduction Project aim to demonstrate scalable solutions that reduce emissions, conserve water, and strengthen climate resilience for smallholder farmers.

By connecting science, field innovation, and climate finance, the initiative seeks to support the transition toward low-emission, climate-resilient rice systems across the region.