ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa held a one-day workshop titled 'Carbon Pathshala: Voluntary Carbon Market for Farmers' at ICAR-KVK, Old Goa on 21 August 2026.
The programme introduced farmers to carbon sequestration, voluntary carbon markets and biochar-based carbon credits as an additional income stream.
It was held with Core CarbonX Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad, under a project on carbon credits from plantation-based systems on India's west coast.
About 100 farmers from Keri, Priol, Madkai, Cumbarjua and Karmali took part, with a focus on women and smallholder farmers.
A voluntary carbon market is a trading system in which carbon credits are bought and sold outside any legally mandated compliance framework. Buyers - typically companies pursuing net-zero pledges - purchase credits generated by verified projects that reduce, remove or avoid emissions. One credit generally represents one metric tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent. This is distinct from a compliance market, where a government caps emissions and regulated entities must surrender allowances.
Simple Analogy: A compliance market is a tax you must pay; a voluntary market is a donation box with an auditor standing next to it, checking that the tonne you claim to have removed was actually removed.
ICAR institute for research on coastal agro-ecosystems
ICAR institute for farm machinery and agricultural engineering, which demonstrated portable biochar production
District-level farm science centre under ICAR that carries technology to farmers through training and demonstration
GS Paper 3 > Environment and Agriculture: Climate Change Mitigation
General Awareness > Environment
What is the use of biochar in farming? 1. Biochar can be used as a part of the growing medium in vertical farming. 2. When biochar is a part of the growing medium, it promotes the growth of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms. 3. When biochar is a part of the growing medium, it enables the growing medium to retain water for longer time. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: 1, 2 and 3
A tradable unit generally representing one metric tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent reduced, removed or avoided by a verified project.
Thermal decomposition of organic material at high temperature in the near-absence of oxygen.
The traditional multi-tier plantation garden system of the Goa and Konkan coast, typically combining areca nut, coconut, banana and spices.