Farmers, researchers and aid experts met at a four-day IFAD workshop in Dhaka to push practical ways to cut methane from farming, and they agreed that turning lab findings into simple field steps is the fastest route to real change. Experts showed that techniques like alternate wetting and drying or AWD can cut methane by up to 40 percent while protecting yields when paired with short-duration rice varieties, good water control and careful irrigation timing. Speakers stressed that science alone will not change farms: clear guides, hands-on training, functioning extension services, and practical monitoring tools must follow research so farmers can try methods with confidence. Bangladesh Rice Research Institute staff shared trials and evidence, and plant scientists explained greenhouse gas behavior in paddies and how AWD saves water and lowers emissions without hurting production. IFAD and its partners urged three priorities: simple AWD guidance that trainers can teach and farmers can follow, stronger systems to deliver training and manage irrigation, and better data systems to track results and help programs improve. Participants said demonstration plots, farmer-to-farmer exchanges and light monitoring are vital to build trust quickly, and they called for local examples that show results in real conditions. The workshop highlighted the need for clear signals from irrigation and good land levelling so water can be managed easily, and for low-cost tools that extension workers and farmer groups can use to check progress. Organizers also pointed to the benefits for livelihoods: water savings, stable yields and lower input use can help households and communities adapt to changing weather. Experts recommended partnerships across government, research institutes, NGOs and financing bodies so guidance reaches small farms, women farmers and marginalized groups who often miss out on new practices. They also urged simple monitoring that feeds national reporting and helps policy makers support effective programs. The tone was practical and hopeful: small, steady steps that match local realities can scale into big gains if farmers test ideas, trainers keep learning and funders back on-the-ground action. By focusing on turning proven research into clear training, easy monitoring and visible local demonstrations, workshop participants left with a roadmap to reduce methane from rice production while protecting food and water security and boosting farmer incomes. They agreed to follow up with field trials, training modules and pilot monitoring to make the ideas real where they matter most. Speakers highlighted that access to small grants, affordable pumps and local credit can help farmers adopt AWD faster, and they urged donors to fund hands-on training and village demonstration funds. They asked extension teams to include youth and women as trainers and recommended that success stories be shared across districts so effective approaches spread quickly and equitably for impact.
