IIT Roorkee innovates country’s first Comprehensive carbon credit calibration mechanism, pilot project in UP’s Saharanpur

IIT Roorkee has innovated India’s first large-scale comprehensive carbon credit calibration mechanism to increase farmers’ earnings. This mechanism is also the country’s first government–academia model that will link improved soil health with higher earnings for farmers as its pilot project will take off in the Saharanpur Division of Uttar Pradesh.

In an important development, IIT Roorkee, authorised by the Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Department, has pioneered a programme that will help farmers to earn direct income through scientifically verified carbon credits in their holdings. According to the officials of IIT Roorkee, the programme envisages the deployment of an internationally aligned and standardised Digital Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (DMRV) system to calibrate carbon credits from soil and through other agricultural and horticultural practices.

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Officials informed that increases in soil carbon and reductions in farm-level greenhouse emissions, achieved through practices such as minimum tillage, covered cropping, residue management, agroforestry, and improved bio-fertiliser use, will be scientifically measured and converted into verified carbon credits with the help of DMRV.

These carbon credits will be monetised and will be available for sale by various global market players. Revenue from the sale of the carbon credits will be transferred directly to farmers’ bank accounts. According to IIT Roorkee, it reflects the farmer-first vision with an outreach message emphasising “direct income and local profits”.

IIT management and the Uttar Pradesh government have decided to implement the programme first as a pilot project in the Saharanpur Division of the state. The decision was taken as, according to Uttar Pradesh officials, Saharanpur has strong potential to generate substantial volumes of carbon credits annually.

IIT Roorkee will also help in formulating and developing links between farmers and carbon markets to attract global buyers for the calibrated carbon credits. On the other hand, for industry, the IIT Roorkee programme offers access to transparently measured, scientifically validated, high-quality carbon credits that will lead to Net Zero commitments supporting regenerative agriculture and rural livelihoods.

Talking about the programme, IIT Roorkee Director KK Pant said, “This initiative gives farmers a meaningful stake in climate action, ensuring that their sustainable practices translate into real and measurable income. By combining scientific rigour with practical, ground-level implementation, IIT Roorkee aims to empower farming communities, enhance their resilience, and create new economic opportunities through agriculture-based carbon credits.”

Similar views were expressed by Principal Investigator AS Maurya as he said, “Our scientific framework ensures every tonne of carbon stored in the soil is measured, verified and monetised. This programme is not just about carbon credits but about restoring soil health, reducing farm input costs, and creating new income streams for millions of farmers in the country.”