Adding economic value to rice straw in the low-emission rice value chain of the Mekong Delta

This study examines the conditions for transforming rice straw from a residue requiring disposal into a valuable input within the Mekong Delta’s low-emission rice value chain. Based on qualitative analysis of policy documents, empirical studies, and institutional reports, the study finds that the economic value of rice straw depends not only on processing technology but also on feedstock quality, collection services, off-take contracts, and the need to return organic matter to paddy soils. The study therefore proposes a segmented straw-market framework in which cooperatives serve as coordinating hubs, enterprises define market requirements, and mechanization support is linked to verified collection and sales commitments. This approach aims to balance economic value creation, circular resource use, soil fertility, and low-emission objectives.