The research was led by Mega Amelia Putri, a lecturer in agribusiness at Politeknik Pertanian Negeri Payakumbuh, West Sumatra, with co-authors Syafruddin Karimi, Endrizal Ridwan, and Fajri Muharja from the Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Andalas, Padang. The authors analyzed more than five decades of national data to understand how agricultural practices and climate policies have influenced methane emissions over time.
Why agricultural methane matters
Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas with a warming impact far greater than carbon dioxide in the short term. Although it remains in the atmosphere for a shorter time, cutting methane emissions can deliver rapid climate benefits. Agriculture is the largest human-made source of methane globally, particularly in tropical countries where flooded rice fields and ruminant livestock dominate food systems.
Indonesia is one of the world’s largest rice producers and home to millions of smallholder farmers. Traditional paddy farming relies on continuous flooding, which creates oxygen-poor soil conditions that generate methane. Livestock, especially cattle and buffalo, add to emissions through digestion and manure. Understanding how these sources behave over time is essential for designing policies that reduce emissions without undermining food production.
How the research was conducted
The research team used annual national data from FAOSTAT, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s official database, covering 1970–2022. Instead of focusing on a single year or snapshot, the study examined long-term trends and short-term fluctuations.
In simple terms, the researchers compared changes in methane emissions from:
- Rice cultivation
- Enteric fermentation from livestock digestion
- Manure management
They then assessed how these sources affected total agricultural methane emissions over time. The analysis also examined whether Indonesia’s major climate policy shift after 2008—marked by initiatives such as REDD+ and the National Action Plan for Greenhouse Gas Reduction (RAN-GRK)—altered emission patterns.
Key findings at a glance
The results clearly identify rice farming as the dominant source of agricultural methane in Indonesia.
- Rice cultivation is the largest contributor. A 1% increase in methane emissions from rice paddies is linked to a 0.72% rise in total agricultural methane emissions over the long term.
- Livestock digestion plays a major role.Methane from enteric fermentation accounts for a 0.22% increase in total emissions for every 1% rise.
- Manure management has a smaller but significant effect.While its impact is lower than rice or livestock digestion, poorly managed manure still adds measurably to emissions.
- Climate policies after 2008 triggered structural change.The analysis detects a clear shift in emission dynamics after 2008. Short-term reductions followed early policy interventions, but long-term emissions continued to grow, suggesting uneven or incomplete implementation.
The study also shows that agricultural emissions respond to shocks—such as climate variability or management changes—by gradually returning to long-term trends, highlighting the system’s sensitivity to both policy and environmental conditions.
What this means for policy and practice
The findings point to rice farming as the most strategic entry point for methane mitigation in Indonesia. Techniques such as Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD)—where fields are periodically drained instead of continuously flooded—can significantly reduce methane emissions without reducing yields. Similar benefits can come from better irrigation scheduling and soil management.
In the livestock sector, improved feed quality, dietary supplements, and better manure handling can cut methane emissions while improving productivity. These measures are particularly relevant for smallholder farmers, who dominate Indonesia’s agricultural landscape.
The researchers note that Indonesia’s post-2008 climate policies produced early gains but struggled to deliver sustained long-term reductions. This highlights the need for stronger coordination between national policy goals and local implementation, as well as incentives that make low-emission practices attractive and affordable for farmers.
Author insight
According to Mega Amelia Putri of Politeknik Pertanian Negeri Payakumbuh, the results underline the importance of targeted action. She explains that rice cultivation “remains the most influential source of agricultural methane in Indonesia, making water management practices a critical leverage point for climate mitigation without sacrificing food security.” This perspective reflects the study’s broader conclusion that climate-smart agriculture must align environmental goals with farmers’ economic realities.
Broader relevance beyond Indonesia
While focused on Indonesia, the study offers lessons for other tropical agricultural economies such as Vietnam, Bangladesh, and the Philippines, where rice and livestock play similar roles. The long-term, data-driven approach provides a model for evaluating how agricultural practices and policies shape methane emissions over decades.
As countries update their climate pledges and seek faster emission reductions, the evidence reinforces a clear message: cutting methane from agriculture—especially rice farming—can deliver meaningful climate benefits, provided policies are sustained, inclusive, and grounded in real farming conditions.
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