Paddy Methane in India: Nature Food Study on Rice Emissions
Why in the news
A study in Nature Food reported a 90.4% jump in paddy emissions over 1961-1980 levels. India, the top rice producer at 154 million tonnes in 2025-26, is a major methane source.
Key facts
- Global emissions: 1.1 billion tonnes CO₂e yearly in 2011-2020.
- India: about 3.9 million tonnes of methane from irrigated paddy; Odisha’s paddy fields give most of the state’s GHGs.
- Causes: continuous flooding creates anaerobic conditions, plus residue incorporation and more nitrogen fertiliser.
- Soil carbon: many fields turned from sinks into net emitters; about half the rise in emissions links to soil carbon loss.
Mitigation options
| Practice | Benefit | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Alternate Wetting and Drying | Methane down 30-70%, water saved 15-30% | Needs dependable irrigation |
| Direct Seeded Rice | Lower methane, water and labour use | Weeds and need for level fields |
| System of Rice Intensification | Young seedlings, wider spacing, intermittent irrigation; higher yield, less water and methane | Labour-heavy, needs training |
| Crop diversification | Shift to millets, pulses, oilseeds, maize where paddy is unsuitable | MSP, assured procurement and cheap power favour paddy |
Further options: Soil Health Cards, PM-PRANAM, nano urea and neem-coated urea for leaner fertiliser use, less tillage, biochar, straw handling and carbon credits.
Policy challenge
- Rice supports PDS and NFSA.
- Agriculture is outside India’s NDC mitigation targets.
- Global rice emissions may fall only about 10% by mid-century even with better practices.
Key terms
- Odisha Millet Mission (Shree Anna Abhiyan): launched 2017; seed systems, training, millets in PDS and mid-day meals.
- NMSA: among the eight national missions of the 2008 climate action plan.
- Phosphogypsum: phosphoric acid by-product, a soil amendment trialled in place of lime in acidic Kerala soils.
Exam angle
- Which method cuts methane 30-70%: AWD.
- Global Methane Pledge: India not a member.