Gideon Sadikiel Mmbando

1. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is essential for global food security, providing daily nutrition for over half of the world’s population, especially in Asia. It accounts for 50–80% of the dietary calorie...

Drought and salt stress pose serious problems for rice farmers in Tanzania, endangering both agricultural output and food security. Information about the current availability and development of rice varieties that can withstand these environmental stresses is limited. This review screened a total of 192 peer‐reviewed articles from the Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed and Google Scholar databases to identify current research on salt‐ and drought‐tolerant rice varieties in Tanzania. This review examines the current situation regarding drought stress and high salt levels, as well as methods of dealing with them, with a view to improving the adaptability of rice farming in Tanzania. The challenges ahead and new ways to overcome them were discussed in depth, as were traditional farming methods and genetic approaches to developing salt‐ and drought‐tolerant rice varieties. Implementing these strategies could strengthen the agricultural industry, improve farmer livelihoods and ensure the sustainability of rice production in the face of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. This study provides valuable insights that can be applied to enhance rice farming in Tanzania and other regions facing similar challenges worldwide.

Global climate change poses a severe threat to the productivity of rice ( Oryza sativa ). This is due to the simultaneous increase in temperature, greater variability in rainfall and an increased frequency of extreme weather events. However, recently developed climate‐resilient approaches to increasing crop yields have not yet been fully established. This review documents recent progress in climate‐resilient agronomic practices aimed at maintaining and improving rice yields under stressful conditions. The study examined various adaptive management strategies, including using stress‐tolerant rice varieties and employing water‐saving techniques such as alternate wetting and drying (AWD), as well as integrated nutrient management and modified crop establishment methods, such as direct seeding. It explains how these practices support resilience by improving water utilisation efficiency, alleviating heat and drought stress and enhancing soil health. It also explains how these practices can be implemented together in sustainable intensification systems. Implementing these specific agronomic management practices is crucial for ensuring rice security. This study provides valuable information for establishing a robust agricultural system capable of coping with current and future climate‐related challenges.

Rice ( Oryza sativa L.) is a vital food crop, but producing it releases significant quantities of methane (CH ₄ ) and nitrous oxide (N ₂ O), which are both potent gases. Therefore, urgent action is needed to mitigate these emissions and make agriculture more sustainable and climate‐resilient. This review summarises recent advances in reducing emissions and enhancing sustainability. Key innovations include improvements in water management, such as the use of sensors in alternate wetting and drying techniques and improved drainage systems; second‐generation nutrient management strategies, including the use of novel, enhanced‐efficiency fertilisers, precision application techniques and the use of biochar; and novel approaches to crops and soils, such as breeding cultivars with reduced methane production and optimising the use of crop residues. Promising emerging solutions include microbial interventions and digital technologies. The review also discusses the efficacy of mitigation (significant CH ₄ reduction and variable N ₂ O effects), critical cobenefits (e.g., water conservation, improved nitrogen use efficiency and soil health) and persistent challenges (e.g., scalability, economic viability and policy incentives). The best way to achieve low greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable rice systems is to combine and adjust these practices to specific situations. However, it is still important to overcome the limits to adoption for global use.