IIT Roorkee Pioneers India's First Large-Scale Carbon Credit Farming Initiative in Western Uttar Pradesh
In a groundbreaking move to enhance farmers' incomes while promoting environmental sustainability, carbon credit-based farming is poised for launch from the upcoming kharif season across three districts in western Uttar Pradesh: Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, and Shamli.
Project Leadership and Scale
The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT-R) has been entrusted with leading this ambitious project, which is being hailed as the country's first large-scale, state-level carbon credit programme for farmers. Professor AS Maurya, from the Department of Earth Sciences at IIT-R and the nodal officer for the scheme, confirmed that the UP agriculture department has authorized the institute to spearhead this initiative.
During the initial phase, paddy cultivation utilizing carbon credit practices will be implemented on nearly five lakh hectares of land across the three districts. This extensive coverage is expected to benefit approximately three lakh farmers spread across 1,771 gram panchayats within the Saharanpur division.
Funding and Corporate Partnerships
An investment of around Rs 100 crore has been channeled into the programme, with five private companies jointly providing the funding. The collaborating companies include:
- Proclime Services (Chennai)
- Tryambhu Tech Solutions (Sangareddy)
- AccelESG India (Rangareddy)
- Compliance Kart (Noida)
- Satt Global Services (Udaipur)
Implementation and Monitoring Process
Monitoring activities are scheduled to commence in the upcoming kharif season, which typically runs from May to June, specifically for the paddy crop. The comprehensive process will involve several key steps:
- Soil Testing: Initial assessment of soil conditions to tailor farming practices.
- Laser Land Levelling: Precision leveling of land to optimize water usage and crop growth.
- Super Seeder Usage: Sowing paddy in small, evenly spaced pits to enhance efficiency.
- Weed, Water, and Soil pH Management: Integrated management strategies to maintain crop health.
- Sensor-Based Monitoring: Advanced technology to track methane emissions and other environmental metrics.
Sustainable Practices and Benefits
Post-harvest, crop residue, commonly known as parali, will be intentionally left in the field. A significant advantage of this approach is that the same field can be reused for rabi crops, such as wheat, without the need for conventional tillage.
Kavin Kumar Kandasamy, CEO of Proclime Services, explained, "This is known as the mulching process. The residue acts as an organic fertiliser and can reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers by over 30%." This method not only promotes soil health but also contributes to carbon sequestration, aligning with the broader goals of the carbon credit programme.
By integrating modern technology with traditional farming, this initiative aims to create a sustainable agricultural model that boosts farmers' incomes through carbon credits while mitigating environmental impact. The success of this pilot in western UP could pave the way for similar programmes across India, marking a significant step towards greener and more profitable farming practices.
