Biochar is emerging as a practical solution to India's seasonal farm smoke problem. By converting crop residue into a stable form of charcoal and burying it, farmers can sequester carbon while improving soil health. The process avoids open burning which releases CO2 and particulates directly into the atmosphere. The article from The Hindu explains how this approach fits into carbon credit frameworks. Biochar projects can generate verifiable carbon offsets because the carbon is locked in a solid form that resists decomposition for centuries. For carbon market participants, this represents a scalable offset type with co-benefits for agriculture and air quality. Key questions remain around measurement standards and cost per tonne of CO2 sequestered at scale in India. But the potential is significant given the volume of crop residue burned annually in states like Punjab and Haryana.
