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Varaha – Regenerative Agriculture in India

Helping smallholder farmers in the Indo-Gangetic Plains

IndiaRegenerative Agriculture

Counts towards net neutrality

Buyer Protection Carbon Removal

Project Overview

Varaha – Regenerative Agriculture in India

Developed by Varaha

#51,000

Onboarded farmers

#242,811

Hectares covered

#1,211,203

Tonnes of carbon sequestered

Varaha's Regenerative Agriculture project operates throughout the Indo-Gangetic Plains region in India, covering an area of more than 240,000 hectares across seven different states. The project aims to support several smallholder farmers with a single large-scale project activity. This is done by helping farmers transition from traditional CO2-emitting agricultural practices to improved regenerative agriculture.

Farmers in the project region typically followed conventional, unsustainable agricultural practices, resulting in the degradation of soil and increased greenhouse gas emissions. Varaha's project aims to empower farmers to reduce these negative externalities while creating a large carbon sink through soil carbon removal.

In addition to removing CO2 emissions from the atmosphere, the 51,000+ farmers who are part of the project are also contributing to the restoration of degraded land, resulting in improved crop yields and biodiversity. These benefits are creating new income opportunities for smallholder farmers, resulting in the improvement of livelihoods and food security within vulnerable communities throughout large parts of India.

What is Regenerative Agriculture?

Regenerative agriculture is a farming method that focuses on restoring and enhancing soil health by using practices like planting diverse crops together and reducing soil disturbance, such as heavy tilling. This approach helps the soil become richer in microbes, which in turn makes it more effective at capturing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. By increasing biodiversity and fostering a healthy ecosystem in the soil, regenerative agriculture not only supports better crop yields but also contributes to long-term carbon storage, making the soil more "hungry" for CO2.

This method is gaining significant support from both scientific communities and major companies. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has recognised regenerative agriculture as an important practice for enhancing soil carbon storage and mitigating climate change. Companies like Unilever, Boston Consulting Group, and IBM have invested in regenerative agriculture initiatives, demonstrating strong corporate support for this sustainable farming practice.

Research

Quantifying soil carbon sequestration from regenerative agriculture

Regenerative farming practices increase soil carbon sequestration; combining methods may enhance effects.

Increasing plant diversity and soil carbon sequestration

Regenerative agriculture promotes plant diversity, enhancing soil carbon sequestration to mitigate climate change.

Project Certifications and Claims

Verified Carbon Standard

The project is listed on the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) registry for Methodology VM0042.

Earthood

The methodology has been validated by Earthood, an accredited auditor, in accordance with ISO 14064, an established international standard of carbon project quantification, monitoring, and reporting.

Due Diligence

Senken conducts a strict due diligence process to select and onboard project developers, ensuring that only carbon credits of the highest quality make it to our customers' portfolios.

Socioeconomic Impact

Varaha's regenerative agriculture project operates in an area that is extremely vulnerable to the impact of climate change and pollution. The project is therefore dedicated to significantly improving the living conditions of local smallholder farmers, their families, and the surrounding communities by directly sharing 60% to 65% of the income generated from carbon credit sales with them. Currently, more than 51,000 farmers have been onboarded, and the initiative has led to a 12%–16% increase in their incomes due to enhanced productivity, the sale of carbon credits, and reduced production costs. Additionally, the project has created employment opportunities, currently supporting 34 individuals on the ground, with expectations to grow to 250 over the project's lifespan.

Environmental Impact

Varaha has helped over 51,000 farmers sequester over 1,200,000 tCO2e by implementing regenerative agriculture practices such as reduced tillage, Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR), crop residue management, crop rotation, and use of cover crops. As a result, the project has improved soil organic content, reduced soil erosion, enhanced water quality, and increased biodiversity. These efforts have led to increased soil organic matter, reduced erosion, improved water quality, and greater climate resilience for India's farming communities.

12. Responsible Consumption and Production

Senken's Take

Senken recognises Varaha's Regenerative Agriculutre project as one of the global leaders in both sustainable development and carbon removal. By integrating advanced technology with traditional farming practices, Varaha has empowered smallholder farmers to become critical players in climate action.

Varaha aligns with Senken's commitment to effective CO2 removal, sustainable development, and technological innovation. The project strengthens climate resilience and food security for vulnerable communities along the Indo-Gangetic Plains, while also pioneering an industry-leading dMRV platform that uses remote sensing, machine learning, and scientific research to accurately measure greenhouse gas sequestration, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of project data.

This project improves soil health and restores ecosystems, directly contributing to climate change mitigation. It embraces cutting-edge sustainability practices, positioning itself as a leader in carbon removal and sustainable farming.

High Quality Nature-Based Removal (NbS)

Improves the livelihoods of over 51,000 families