Project Objectives:

The project aims to implement regenerative agricultural practices in the Indo-Gangetic plains, focusing on smallholder farmers.

• Key practices include reduced till farming, direct seeding of rice,
  intercropping, cover cropping, crop diversification, residue
  incorporation, optimized fertilizer application, and efficient water
  management.
• Expected benefits include increased farmer income (12.5-16%), income from carbon credit sales, and reduced production costs.

Geographical Focus:
Implemented across Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, and Bihar, covering >80% of the cropping area in these states (63.9 million hectares).
Target crops include rice, wheat, maize, cotton, mustard, pulses, and sugarcane.

Project Implementation:

Initiated in 2019, the project engages 5665 farmers across 7,783 farms, covering 105,718.66 acres in Haryana and Punjab.

Estimated annual reductions: 6,110,399 Emission Reductions (ERs), totaling 122,207,989 ERs over 20 years.

Role of Entities:

Implementation Partner:

Educate farmers about regenerative practices, provide support during the transition, and collaborate with the project proponent.

Varaha:

Register the project, identify partners implementing regenerative practices, monitor farmlands, quantify emission reductions, validate by an accredited auditor, generate carbon credits, sell them, and incentivize farmers.

Farmers:

Understand, implement, and scale regenerative practices, register on Varaha's platform, provide the necessary information, and support the audit process.

Adopted Practices and Benefits:

Zero/Reduced Tillage and Direct-Seeded Rice (DSR):

• Sequestration and emission reduction.

• Improves soil, water, and air quality, and reduces soil erosion.

Efficient Nutrient Management and Crop Residue Management:

• Sequestration and emission reduction.

• Improves water quality, and saves expenses, time, and labor.

Crop Diversity through Rotations and Cover Crops:

• Sequestration.

• Reduces erosion and water requirements, and improves soil and water quality.

Baseline vs. Project Scenario:

• Baseline practices included paddy transplanting, residue burning, and excessive use of synthetic fertilizers, leading to soil degradation and emissions.

• Project activities focus on practices such as Paddy DSR, reduced tillage in wheat, incorporation of crop residue, and reduced fertilizer usage, enhancing soil health and productivity.

MRV Technology:

• Varaha's MRV tech stack uses a human-centered design app to collect data, including soil samples, gaseous emission data, and machine-learned models for different farming practices.

• Scientific rigor ensures accurate carbon sequestration and emission reduction quantification, resulting in high-quality carbon credits selling at a premium.

Conclusion:

The Indo-Gangetic Plains Regenerative Agriculture Project is driving transformative change, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, reversing land degradation, and enhancing the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Through innovative practices and advanced technology, the project stands as a beacon of sustainable agriculture in the fight against climate change.