Carbon farming projects not always inclusive and equitable, says new study

A new study reveals that carbon farming projects in India, aimed at mitigating climate change, inadvertently exclude marginalized farmers and offer little monetary benefit. The study, conducted in Haryana and Madhya Pradesh, found that large landholders disproportionately benefit from these projects, raising concerns about inclusivity and equity. The lack of monetary benefits and yield penalties further discourage farmers from participating in carbon farming practices.

There are serious problems with efficiency and diversity, such to a new study looking at carbon farming initiatives in India. The study, which surveyed 841 farmers in Madhya Pradesh and Haryana, discovered that women made up just 4% of participants and that the majority of participants were large landowners from non-marginalized castes. However, 99% of these farmers said that their participation in agricultural carbon projects had not resulted in any financial gains. Some techniques, like intercropping and no-tillage, were in line with carbon reduction objectives, while others existed before the initiatives, which raised questions about their additionality. Furthermore, the sustainability of emissions reductions is called into doubt by a 28% disadoption rate of these policies. Additionally, compared to subsidiaries of larger organizations, companies that only concentrated on carbon credits were more successful in encouraging environmentally friendly farming practices.

Citations

https://india.mongabay.com/2025/01/carbon-farming-projects-not-always-inclusive-and-equitable-says-new-study/#:~:text=Carbon%20farmers%20reported%20receiving%20almost,%25%20among%20non%2Dcarbon%20farmers.