World Bank backs Kerala’s ₹2,365 crore carbon credit plan: How farmers can earn extra income
Thiruvananthapuram: The World Bank has backed Kerala’s proposal to establish a carbon cell under the Agriculture Department to help farmers earn carbon credits by adopting climate-friendly farming practices, Agriculture Minister T Siddique said.
The proposal was discussed during a meeting between the minister and a World Bank mission visiting Kerala to review the implementation of the Kerala Climate Resilient Agri-Value Chain Modernisation (KERA) Project.
Carbon cell to help farmers earn additional income
The World Bank and the Kerala government will work together in the coming months to establish the proposed carbon cell, Siddique said.
The minister said the carbon credit mechanism could provide financial incentives to farmers who adopt climate-friendly practices. It could also increase carbon sequestration in the agricultural sector and create an additional source of income for farmers.
He also called for stronger measures under KERA to make Kerala’s farm sector more resilient to climate change.
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What is the KERA project?
The KERA project is a flagship agriculture initiative being implemented with financial and technical support from the World Bank. It has an allocation of Rs 2,365 crore for Kerala’s agriculture sector.
The project aims to address challenges including climate change, fragmented markets and inefficient agricultural value chains, particularly those affecting small and marginal farmers.
The meeting also decided to take steps to ensure faster and more efficient utilisation of funds allocated to KERA during the remaining months of the current financial year.
Focus on coconut, high-value crops and farmer groups
Siddique said KERA offered significant scope to transform Kerala’s agricultural sector and called for greater focus on several areas.
These include improving coconut cultivation and productivity, strengthening agricultural marketing, empowering farmer producer organisations and expanding their businesses, and developing value chains for high-value crops.
The minister also called for more smart Krishi Bhavans, complete digitisation of the Agriculture Department and comprehensive development of the Kathir portal.
Climate resilience and new farming opportunities
The meeting discussed measures to improve the farm sector’s resilience to climate change and natural disasters.
The potential for mango cultivation in Muthalamada, high-tech vegetable farming in Elavanchery and avocado cultivation in Wayanad was also discussed.
Siddique briefed the World Bank mission on government measures to tackle the effects of climate change, including the El Niño phenomenon.
He said comprehensive measures to improve coconut productivity should be incorporated into KERA. He also suggested reviewing schemes implemented by the Agriculture Department and the Coconut Development Board before introducing additional measures under the project.
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World Bank mission to assess KERA implementation
The meeting also reviewed challenges faced by farmers during the monsoon and summer seasons, as well as the risks posed by natural disasters.
Siddique said the government was making preparations at the department and local self-government levels to respond to disasters.
He called for a comprehensive assessment of Kerala’s agricultural sector and for necessary changes and new interventions to be incorporated into KERA. He also stressed the need for coordination among relevant institutions for effective implementation.
The World Bank mission will remain in Kerala until October 13 and visit various locations where KERA projects are being implemented to assess their progress.
World Bank representatives Adarsh and Charulatha Sharma, Agriculture Production Commissioner and other state government officials attended the meeting.
(With PTI inputs)