This chapter aims to analyze the rice production system at the Baixo Mondego Valley to understand the main concerns. Field research and field trials were carried out to analyze rice production, marketing systems, and different irrigation alternatives. An analysis on the worries was made, and a correlational attempt was done. The results show a production system oriented by agri-environmental policies. The problems related with rice irrigation are water scarcity, environmental impacts on water quality, agroecosystems, and methane emissions. To reduce water demand, the alternate wetting and drying flooding method, and the improvement of the precise land levelling were studied on the scope of MEDWATERICE Project. About 12-14% of water saving was observed, with impact on production lower than 3.5%, allowing period of 11-19 days of dry soil, expecting positive implications for greenhouse gas emissions. Innovation in the irrigation system may help to reduce some of the farmers' concerns and help to better adapt this crop to the new needs of agriculture in terms of environmental competitiveness.
The impacts of paddy field conversion and climate change on rice production in Tegal Regency, Indonesia