Lok Sabha Question No. 2558 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-19
Subject: Regenerative Agriculture
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: S. Jagathrakshakan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2558

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 th  DECEMBER, 2023

## REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

2558. SHRI S. JAGATHRAKSHAKAN

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  there  is  a  larger  potential  to  generate  carbon  credits  and  ecosystem services through Regenerative Agriculture (RA);
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  the  steps  that  are  proposed  to  be taken  by  the Government keeping in mind that lifecycle analysis and valuation of ecosystem services can provide larger  carbon  offsets  to  incentivize  farmers  through  carbon  credits  and  ecosystem services;
- (c) whether the Government is cognizant that Regenerative Agriculture (RA) can help in addressing the second-generation problems of Green Revolution in irrigated intensive systems as well as in drylands where natural resources are severely stressed; and
- (d) if so, the details of the initiatives that are proposed to be taken by the Government keeping  in  mind  that  RA  is  a  'win-win'  approach  that  helps  in  transforming  agri-food systems while addressing the existing challenges in agriculture?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी (SHRI ARJUN MUNDA)

(a) to (d): Generation  of  carbon  credits  in  agriculture  is  important  to  promote remunerative  agriculture  through  adoption  of  regenerative/  sustainable  agriculture practices and linking farmers to carbon markets vis-à-vis realizing ecosystem services from such practices. Regenerative/ sustainable agriculture is a way of farming to build and improve soil fertility, while sequestering and storing atmospheric CO2, increasing on farm diversity and improving water and energy management. Some of the practices such as integrated farming systems, organic farming, natural farming, conservation agriculture  and  agroforestry-based  production  systems  are  considered  as  tools  to promote  regenerative  agriculture.  Many  interventions  launched  under  National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) such as agroforestry, micro irrigation, crop diversification,  National  Bamboo  Mission,  Natural  /  organic  farming,  Integrated Farming  Systems,  etc.    have  potential  to  sequester  carbon  in  soil  and  provide ecosystem services thus helping in addressing the second-generation problems of Green  Revolution  in  irrigated  intensive  systems  as  well  as  in  dryland  agriculture systems.

Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  through  ICAR-Indian  Institute  of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram operates two research schemes namely All India  Coordinated  Research  Project  (AICRP)  on  Integrated  Farming  Systems  to develop  Integrated  Farming  System  models  and  All  India  Network  Programme  on Organic Farming to develop package of practices for organic production of crops in cropping and farming systems perspective. As a result of these schemes, sustainable farming  practices  such  as  71  prototype  integrated  farming  system  models  for  26 States/UTs  and  organic  farming  packages  for  72  cropping  systems  suitable  to  16 States have been developed to provide technological backstopping. These models and  practices  are  found  to  sequester  more  carbon,  maintain  farm  diversity  and improved water  and energy management. The developed IFS models and organic farming packages have been shared with Central and State agencies for scaling. Need based capacity building programmes are also being organized for the farmers.

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