ICAR-CCARI’s ‘Carbon Pathshala’ helps Goa farmers explore carbon market opportunities

Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare ICAR-CCARI’s ‘Carbon Pathshala’ helps Goa farmers explore carbon market opportunities Posted On: 25 AUG 2026 3:44PM by PIB Mumbai Goa, 25 August 2026 The ICAR–Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-CCARI), Goa, in collaboration with Core CarbonX Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad, organised a one-day workshop on ‘Carbon Pathshala: Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) for Farmers’ at ICAR-KVK, Old Goa, on August 21. Held under the project ‘Potential of Plantation-Based Systems in Generating Carbon Credit through Biochar Production in the West Coast Region of India’, the programme aimed to familiarise farmers with carbon markets, carbon sequestration and the potential of biochar-based carbon credits. Addressing the farmers, Dr. Parveen Kumar, Director, ICAR-CCARI, highlighted the potential of carbon-credit initiatives to provide farmers with an additional source of income while promoting environmental sustainability. Dr. A. R. Uthappa, Senior Scientist (Agroforestry), ICAR-CCARI, explained the pilot work being undertaken in Kulagar systems and the use of farm and plantation residues for biochar production. He noted that biochar can improve soil health while creating opportunities for carbon credits. Farmers also attended a live demonstration of biochar production using a portable unit, conducted by Dr. Sandip Mandal, Senior Scientist, ICAR-CIAE, Bhopal. The demonstration gave participants practical knowledge on converting agricultural residues into biochar. Mr. Sandeep Kanda, Agriculture Carbon Market Expert, Core CarbonX Solutions Pvt. Ltd., explained the carbon project cycle and the potential for agriculture to participate in carbon markets.The programme was coordinated by Dr. A. R. Uthappa, Dr. Sujeet Desai, Dr. Bommayasamy N. and Dr. Gopal Ramdas Mahajan. Around 100 farmers from Keri, Priol, Madkai, Cumbarjua and Karmali participated in the programme. The initiative also focuses on supporting women and smallholder farmers to participate in agricultural Voluntary Carbon Market pilot projects. The initiative is expected to promote sustainable farm-residue management, biochar production and farmer-centric carbon projects in Goa and the wider West Coast region. * * * (Source- ICAR-CCARI, Goa) | PIB Panaji | Ambadas Yadav/Darshana Rane Follow us on Social Media: @PIBPanaji /PIBPanaji /pib_goa pibgoa[at]gmail[dot]com /PIBGoa (Release ID: 2303087) Visitor Counter : 44 Read this release in: Marathi