The Thai RICE NAMA Project will contribute to Thailand’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) by transforming the entire rice sector into low-emission production.

The Rice Department (RD), Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC), and GIZ in cooperation with government agencies, international organisations and private partners, are preparing a full project proposal for the Thai Rice NAMA project to request financial support of 15 million euro from the NAMA Facility. The project will contribute to Thailand’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) by converting the whole rice sector to low-emission production.

The Thai Rice NAMA project is in the Detailed Preparation Phase (DPP) and seeks to respond to MoAC policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Thailand’s agricultural sector.

It targets 6 provinces in the central plain of Thailand, namely Chainat, Ang Thong, Pathum Thani, Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, and Sing Buri. The project can be regarded as a model for developing sustainable, low-emission rice farming both in this country and Southeast Asia as a whole.

On 25 July 2017, the Ministry issued an Executive Order to establish two executive committees for the detailed project proposal preparation.

The Policy Advisory Committee will provide policy advice as well as oversee, monitor and support cooperation from partners, and approve the full proposal for submission to the NAMA Facility.

The Policy Advisory Committee is headed by General Chatchai Sarikulya, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, as chairperson, and Ms. Chutima Boonyaphaphasorn, his Deputy Minister, as vice chairperson. The committee members include the President of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives; the Secretary General of the Office of Natural Resources, and Environmental Policy and Planning; the Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension; the Director General of the Royal Irrigation Department; the Director General of the Land Development Department; the Secretary General of the Office of Agricultural Economics; the RD Director General; and the Country Director of GIZ Thailand.

The Steering Committee is responsible for providing guidance, supporting cooperation from partners, following up, monitoring and supporting the work of working groups, and reporting progress and results to the Policy Advisory Committee.

The Steering Committee is made up of the Permanent Secretary of MoAC as chairperson and the Deputy Permanent Secretary of MoAC and the RD Director General as vice chairpersons. The Director of the Climate Change Management and Coordination Division, Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning; the President of Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives; the assigned Deputy Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension; the assigned Deputy Director General of the Royal Irrigation Department; the assigned Deputy Director General of the Land Development Department; the assigned Deputy Secretary General of the Office of Agricultural Economics; Dr. Matthias Bickel, GIZ Programme Director for Agriculture and Food; Mr. Satish Thampy, Olam International; Dr. Reiner Wassmann, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI); Dr. Wyn Ellis, Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP), are committee members with the assigned RD Deputy Director General serving as committee member and secretary.

Endorsement of GIZ as NAMA Support Organization of the Thai Rice NAMA Project
GIZ has been designated as NAMA Support Organization (NSO). NSOs are responsible and accountable for the proper delivery of funds and/or services, the financial and administrative management of the NAMA Support Project, reporting to the Technical Support Unit (TSU) and donors for monitoring. Eligible NSOs can submit outlines and proposals for NAMA Support Projects to the NAMA Facility. The TSU functions as the NAMA Facility Secretariat and supports the Facility Board in all aspects related to Facility management.

The Detailed Preparation Phase covers a period of 6 months starting from 19 May 2017. The deadline for submission of the full proposal is 19 November 2017. On 19 August 2017, the Interim Report was submitted to the NAMA Facility to report the progress.