ICAR-CCARI, Goa organizes Carbon Pathshala to create awareness among farmers on carbon markets

21 August 2026, Goa

ICAR–Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa, in collaboration with Core CarbonX Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad, organised a one-day “Carbon Pathshala: Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) for Farmers” and stakeholder consultation today at ICAR–KVK, Old Goa. The programme was organised under the project “Potential of Plantation-Based Systems in Generating Carbon Credit through Biochar Production in the West Coast Region of India”.

Addressing the farmers, Dr Parveen Kumar, Director, ICAR-CCARI, encouraged them to explore emerging carbon-credit opportunities, highlighting their potential to provide additional income while protecting the environment and benefiting future generations. 

A pilot project on Kulagar systems and the potential for converting farm and plantation residues into biochar was presented. The initiative highlighted the role of biochar in improving soil health while creating opportunities for farmers to benefit from carbon credits.

A key attraction of the programme was a hands-on demonstration of biochar production using a portable biochar unit, which enabled farmers to gain practical knowledge of converting agricultural residues into biochar. A technical session on “From Farm to Carbon Credit: Understanding the Carbon Markets, Carbon Project Cycle, and Agriculture’s Potential” provided insights into carbon markets, the carbon project cycle and the potential of agriculture in generating carbon credits.

Around 100 farmers from Keri, Priol, Madkai, Cumbarjua and Karmali villages participated in the programme. The initiative focused on building capacity and providing technical support for integrating women and smallholder farmers into agricultural VCM pilots, while raising awareness about carbon markets, carbon sequestration, sustainable soil management and biochar-based carbon credits.

(Source: ICAR–Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa)