CARBON FARMING
Published on 11 Aug 2024
WHY IN NEWS?
In recent times, carbon farming has surfaced as a promising strategy for sustainable agriculture, blending regenerative farming techniques to bolster soil health and agricultural productivity, concurrently tackling the impacts of climate change.
INTRODUCTION
Carbon Farming optimises carbon capture on working landscapes by implementing practices that enhance CO2 removal from the atmosphere and storage in plant material and soil organic matter. It's a holistic approach rooted in understanding the agroecosystem processes driven by solar energy, where carbon serves as the carrier of that energy within the farm system.
CARBON FARMING PRACTICES
Carbon farming practices are management practices that are known to sequester carbon and/or reduce GHG emissions.
HOW CARBON FARMING HELPS: (GURU prasad spider diagram)
Carbon Farming Practices(GURU prasad for copy paste)
Rotational Grazing:
Simple implementation to manage grazing patterns, enhancing carbon storage in pasture lands.
Agroforestry:
Includes silvopasture and alley cropping, diversifying farm income while sequestering carbon in trees and shrubs.
Integrated Nutrient Management:
Uses organic fertilisers and compost to promote soil fertility and reduce emissions.
Agro-ecological Approaches:
Crop diversification: Enhances ecosystem resilience.
Intercropping: Maximises land use efficiency.
Livestock Management Strategies:
Rotational grazing: Manages grazing patterns to reduce methane emissions.
Optimising feed quality: Improves livestock health and productivity.
Managing animal waste: Reduces methane emissions and increases carbon storage in pasture lands.
Conservation Agriculture Techniques:
Zero tillage: Minimises soil disturbance.
Crop rotation: Enhances soil health.
Cover cropping: Adds organic matter to soil.
Crop residue management: Stubble retention and composting to enrich soil.
IMPORTANCE OF CARBON FARMING
Climate Change Mitigation:
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), agriculture, forestry, and other land use activities account for approximately 23% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Implementing carbon farming practices can significantly reduce these emissions.
Soil Carbon Sequestration:
Healthy soils rich in organic matter can store large amounts of carbon.
According to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, increasing soil organic carbon by just 1% in the top 30 cm of soil across the world's croplands could sequester approximately 0.9 gigatons of carbon dioxide annually.
Resilience of agricultural systems:
Carbon farming practices can improve the resilience of agricultural systems to the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events, droughts, and soil degradation.
Biodiversity Conservation:
Many carbon farming practices promote biodiversity conservation by creating habitat for wildlife, supporting pollinators, and preserving natural ecosystems.
For example, restoring degraded wetlands can provide essential habitat for migratory birds, fish, and other wildlife species while sequestering carbon in wetland soils.
Economic Benefits for Farmers:
Carbon farming practices can provide economic benefits for farmers by reducing input costs, increasing crop yields, and generating additional revenue streams.
CHALLENGES TO CARBON FARMING:
Lack of Awareness and Education:
Many farmers may not be aware of carbon farming practices or their benefits. Lack of education and outreach can hinder adoption.
Financial Barriers:
Implementing carbon farming practices often requires upfront investments in equipment, technology, and infrastructure.
For example, a study published in the journal Land Use Policy identified financial constraints as a major barrier to the adoption of conservation agriculture practices in sub-Saharan Africa.
Technical Challenges:
Some carbon farming practices, such as no-till agriculture or agroforestry, require specialised knowledge and technical expertise and many farmers lack these skills.
For example, a study published in the journal Agronomy for Sustainable Development highlighted the importance of providing technical assistance and training to farmers to overcome barriers to the adoption of agroforestry systems.
Policy and Regulatory Constraints:
Inconsistent or unclear policies and regulations can create barriers to carbon farming.
Lack of policy support or incentives may discourage farmers from adopting carbon farming practices.
Market Challenges:
Limited access to markets for carbon credits or other ecosystem services generated by carbon farming practices can reduce the economic viability of these practices.
Land Tenure and Ownership Issues:
Land tenure insecurity or unclear land ownership rights can impede investment in carbon farming practices.
Farmers may be reluctant to adopt long-term practices such as agroforestry if they do not have secure land tenure.
For example, a study published in the journal Land Use Policy identified land tenure insecurity as a significant barrier to the adoption of agroforestry systems in developing countries.
Climate Variability and Risks:
Climate variability and extreme weather events, such as droughts or floods, can pose risks to carbon farming practices and reduce their effectiveness.
Example: In regions experiencing prolonged droughts, like parts of California in the United States, carbon farming practices such as cover cropping may become less effective due to limited water availability.
WAY FORWARD
Policy Support and Incentives:
Governments can provide policy support and financial incentives such as subsidies, tax incentives, grants, and payments for ecosystem services.
Example: The European Union's Common Agricultural Policy includes measures to support agroforestry, organic farming, and other sustainable land management practices through direct payments to farmers.
Technical Assistance and Capacity Building:
Providing farmers with technical assistance, training, and extension services such as workshops, field demonstrations, farmer-to-farmer learning networks, and online resources.
Example: Organisations like the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service offer technical assistance and conservation planning services to help farmers implement carbon farming practices.
Market Development:
Developing well-functioning markets for carbon credits and other ecosystem services generated by carbon farming practices can provide additional revenue streams for farmers.
This can involve creating carbon offset programs, carbon trading platforms, and certification schemes.
Example: California Carbon Offset Program allows farmers to earn revenue by implementing practices that sequester carbon in soil or biomass.
Research and Innovation:
Investing in research and innovation is crucial for developing and scaling up effective carbon farming practices.
This includes funding research projects, supporting demonstration sites, and fostering collaboration between researchers, farmers, and stakeholders.
For example, the USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program funds research projects on carbon farming and provides grants to farmers for on-farm experimentation.
Partnerships and Collaboration:
Building partnerships and collaboration between governments, NGOs, research institutions, farmers' organisations, and other stakeholders can help accelerate the adoption of carbon farming practices.
Example: The 4 per 1000 Initiative brings together governments, international organisations, research institutions, and civil society to promote soil carbon sequestration as a climate change mitigation strategy.
Integration with Climate Policy:
Integrating carbon farming into broader climate policy frameworks, such as national climate action plans and international climate agreements, can help mainstream these practices and mobilise resources for their implementation.
Example: Countries can include targets for soil carbon sequestration and agricultural emissions reductions in their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
Education and Outreach:
Increasing awareness and understanding of carbon farming among farmers, policymakers, consumers, and the general public is crucial for building support and momentum for these practices.
This can involve educational campaigns, outreach events, media coverage, and educational materials.
Example: Organisations like the Carbon Cycle Institute provide workshops, webinars, and resources to educate farmers and land managers about carbon farming.
Some carbon farming schemes worldwide
Carbon trading in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
Emergence of voluntary carbon markets, exemplified by initiatives like the Chicago Climate Exchange and the Carbon Farming Initiative in Australia.
Kenya's Agricultural Carbon Project, supported by the World Bank, showcases carbon farming's potential in addressing climate mitigation, adaptation, and food security in developing countries.
Launch of the '4 per 1000' initiative at COP21 in Paris (2015) underscores the critical role of carbon sinks in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIA
Viability of Organic Farming in India: Grassroots initiatives and agrarian research in India demonstrate the potential of organic farming to sequester carbon.
Economic Benefits: Agro-ecological practices in India could yield significant economic benefits, with the potential to generate $63 billion in value from approximately 170 million hectares of arable land.
Payment for Climate Services: Proposal includes an annual payment of around ₹5,000-6,000 per acre for farmers adopting sustainable agricultural practices to provide climate services.
Suitable Regions:
Indo-Gangetic plains and the Deccan Plateau are well-suited for carbon farming, while the Himalayan region's mountainous terrain presents challenges.
Coastal areas face salinization and resource limitations, hindering traditional farming practices.
Role of Carbon Credit Systems:
Carbon credit systems can incentivize farmers by providing additional income through environmental services.
Carbon Sequestration Potential:
Agricultural soils can absorb 3-8 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent annually over 20-30 years, bridging the gap between emissions reductions and climate stabilisation.
SHORT TAKE
CARBON CYCLE
Carbon cycle involves a continuous exchange of carbon between the atmosphere and organisms.
Carbon from the atmosphere moves to green plants by the process of photosynthesis, and then to animals.
By process of respiration and decomposition of dead organic matter, it returns to the atmosphere. It is usually a short term cycle.
Some carbon also enters a long term cycle. It accumulates as un-decomposed organic matter in the peaty layers of marshy soil or as insoluble carbonates in bottom sediments of aquatic systems which take a long time to be released.
In deep oceans, such carbon can remain buried for millions of years till geological movement may lift these rocks above sea level.
These rocks may be exposed to erosion, releasing their carbon dioxide, carbonates and bicarbonates into streams and rivers.
Fossil fuels such as coals, oil and natural gas etc. are organic compounds that were buried before they could be decomposed and were subsequently transformed by time and geological processes into fossil fuels. When they are burned the carbon stored in them is released back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, carbon farming, synonymous with regenerative agriculture, offers significant benefits for India, aligning with its interests in mitigating climate change, improving soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and creating economic opportunities. B