Chandigarh, Jan. 20 -- In a first-of-its-kind initiative, smallholder rice farmers in Punjab and Haryana will begin earning carbon credits by the end of the current fiscal year for adopting environmentally sustainable farming practices.

Pilot Programme and Scale

The initial phase covers about 30,000 acres across the two states and is expected to generate over 50,000 carbon credits. Practices such as direct-seeded rice and low or no tillage are being promoted, with plans to expand the programme to other crops and regions, according to The Financial Express.

Launched in 2022 by Grow Indigo, a joint venture between Mahyco and US-based Indigo, the programme will see 75 per cent of carbon credit revenues returned directly to farmers, while ...