Soil Carbon Credits

• 19 Sep 2026

On 17th September, 2026, the Centre made its first soil-carbon payments to farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for adopting regenerative farming practices, in Ludhiana.

• The payments were made under ‘Aadi’, a farmer-carbon programme launched by Grow Indigo with technical support from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

What are Soil Carbon Credits?

• Soil carbon credits are carbon units generated by agricultural practices that increase soil organic carbon (SOC) or reduce greenhouse gas emissions from farming.
• However, an increase in SOC alone does not determine the number of credits generated. Carbon-credit methodologies also account for:
  • Baseline conditions and project activities,
  • Changes in other greenhouse gas emissions,
  • Uncertainty and leakage,
  • Permanence of carbon storage.

Aadi Farmer-Carbon Programme

• About: Launched in 2019; it is India’s first farmer-focused carbon programmes.
• Aim: Promote regenerative and climate-smart agriculture.
• Focus: Crop-residue management, water conservation and improved soil health.
• Carbon Methodology: Uses Verra VM0042, a methodology for quantifying greenhouse-gas emission reductions and removals from improved agricultural land management.
• Significance: Support India’s climate goals by promoting regenerative farming, carbon sequestration, resilient agriculture, and additional income for farmers.