Farmers have long been at the forefront of feeding the world, but did you know they can also be climate change heroes? With carbon trading in agriculture, farmers can get paid for doing their part to fight climate change by adopting sustainable land management practices. From conservation tillage to agroforestry, these practices not only minimize greenhouse gas emissions but also promote carbon sequestration. It's a win-win situation for the planet and for farmers looking to boost their bottom line. So, why not join the growing movement of eco-conscious farmers and be a part of the solution to combat climate change with carbon trading!

Benefits of Carbon Trading

Additional Income: Participating in carbon offset programmes can provide additional cash for farmers and through sale of carbon credits.

Climate Change Mitigation: Adopting carbon-reduction agricultural techniques can help to sequester carbon in the soil, which can assist to reduce greenhouse gas releases and improve the consequences of climate change.

Soil Health Improvement: Many carbon-reduction farming strategies, such as conservation tillage and agroforestry, can enhance soil health, leading to higher crop yields and better water retention.

Biodiversity Conservation: Some carbon-reduction agricultural strategies, such as agroforestry, can also boost biodiversity and help wild species survive.

Sustainable Land Use: Carbon offset initiatives can assist farmers adopt sustainable land-use practises, which can help conserve natural resources and decrease environmental consequences.

Rural Development: Carbon trading in agriculture may also help rural development by establishing jobs and income-generating possibilities in rural regions, as well as by assisting in the growth of small and medium-sized firms in the sector.

In August 2022, India amended its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The amended NDC includes a 50 percent cumulative increase in non-fossil fuel-based electric generation installed and an extra carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide corresponding through forest and tree cover by the year 2030. Parliament enacted the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which requires the discovery and use of non-fossil fuel energy sources, as well as the formation of a national carbon marketplace. The Bill is also forward-thinking in terms of attaining net zero emissions by 2070.

What's The Catch

• Difficulty of Accurately Measuring and Verifying Carbon Sequestration: This is owing to the complexity of the carbon cycle in soils, as well as the difficulty in differentiating the impacts of certain agricultural techniques from other factors like as weather and soil type.

• Issue of Revenue: The predicted increased revenue and the influence on crop productivity must also be addressed as a result of the deployment of carbon abatement methods. A farmer will adopt a carbon-reduction technique if he believes that the money from the sale of carbon credits will cover the loss in crop production, if any, caused by its implementation.

• Lack of Reliable Data: The absence of precise and consistent data on carbon sequestration by agricultural methods makes quantifying and trading carbon credits problematic.

• Complex Regulations: The legislative framework for carbon trading in India is complicated and not yet completely evolved, making participation in carbon markets challenging for farmers and other stakeholders.

• High Transaction Costs: The expenses of measuring, validating, and trading carbon credits can be prohibitively expensive, making participation in carbon markets difficult for small farmers and other stakeholders.

• Limited Demand: The agriculture industry currently has low market for carbon credits, making it difficult for farmers and other stakeholders to find customers for their credits.

• Lack of Awareness: Many Indian farmers and other stakeholders are unaware of the prospects and advantages of carbon trading, as well as how to engage in carbon markets.

Catching The Catch

• Transparent Process of Quantification and Verification: The first step in developing a market for sequestered carbon is to develop a transparent mechanism for quantifying and verifying the excess carbon produced by various agriculture operations. Artificial intelligence and remote sensing can be used to calculate the amount of carbon sequestered.

• Facilitating Participation in Carbon Trading: Individual farmers find it difficult to sell carbon credits in the voluntary carbon market. Nonetheless, collectives such as Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and cooperatives that may organise farmers to adopt carbon abatement methods and sell the accumulated carbon credits on their behalf can enable their involvement in carbon trading. Several agro-tech firms, such as 'Boomitra' and 'Nurture. Farm,' organise farmers through intermediaries to ease their participation in voluntary carbon markets.

• Creating Awareness among Farming Communities: There is a need to raise awareness among farming communities about the advantages of adopting better agricultural techniques and participating in carbon markets.

Conclusion

The implementation of carbon trading in the agriculture sector is a promising strategy to combat climate change in India. By providing financial incentives to farmers for adopting sustainable land management practices, carbon trading can help to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and promote carbon sequestration.

The program has the potential to generate additional revenue for farmers, which can contribute to the growth of the agricultural sector and improve the livelihoods of rural communities. Moreover, the program has the potential to attract international investment, create jobs, and promote sustainable economic development. However, it is important to ensure that the program is designed in a way that is accessible and equitable for small-scale farmers, who make up a significant portion of the agricultural sector in India. Additionally, a robust monitoring and verification system is needed to ensure that carbon credits are accurately quantified and traded.

Overall, carbon trading in agriculture represents a promising opportunity for India to tackle climate change, promote sustainable development, and support the livelihoods of farmers. With careful planning and implementation, this program has the potential to be a win-win for the planet and for those working the land.

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Authored by Ajay M Reje, a final year research student at Department of Geopolitics and International Relations, MAHE. His area of interest lies in the SDG’s, Water-Energy-Food Nexus, Climate change and environment in the Asia-Pacific.