Home / Environment / Farmers Paid for Soil Carbon: A Climate Win
Farmers Paid for Soil Carbon: A Climate Win
13 Sep
Summary
- 2,500+ farmers in Punjab and Haryana receive financial incentives.
- Adoption of direct seeding and low tillage saves water and reduces emissions.
- Carbon credits earned will fund sustainable agriculture initiatives.
In a pioneering move, over 2,500 smallholder rice farmers in Punjab and Haryana are being awarded carbon credits for adopting environmentally sustainable practices. These initiatives, implemented between 2019 and 2022, include direct seeding and low tillage residue management, which significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance soil carbon storage.
Farmers are receiving financial incentives, typically between Rs 3,000 and Rs 15,000 each, disbursed digitally by Grow Indigo. This program covers approximately 30,000 acres and has generated over 50,000 carbon credits. The approach is audited under the Verra carbon standard, a globally recognized protocol for greenhouse gas reduction programs.
Grow Indigo is actively engaging with over 100,000 farmers across one million acres in these regions, promoting sustainable farming and encouraging a shift from water-intensive rice cultivation to crops like maize. The company aims to generate one million carbon credits annually by 2027, supported by corporate demand for carbon offsets.
