Smart Net-Zero

Climate finance can do more than fund irrigation systems, climate-smart rice varieties, and digital technologies—it can also determine who has the capacity to adapt to climate change. Building more resilient and equitable rice systems requires investment in farmers’ access to climate information, decision-making power, local institutions, and knowledge networks, particularly for women who often face barriers to land, finance, extension services, and technology. One emerging priority is climate intelligence, which helps farmers turn locally relevant weather and climate information into practical decisions on planting, irrigation, fertilization, pest management, and extreme weather preparedness. By investing in people and institutions alongside technology, climate finance can strengthen farmers’ ability to anticipate, respond to, and recover from climate shocks.

Content adapted from Rice Today (IRRI) | Image source: Rice Today (IRRI)