India's Ministry of Agriculture has backed three new publications aimed at helping farmers enter carbon markets. Released at the Sustainable Mountain Development Summit in Srinagar, the resources include an environmental and social management framework, a guidebook for farmers, and a toolkit for international cooperation under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement. They were developed by Sher-e-Kashmir University, IIED, and the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative. The push follows early payments under India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme. In September, more than 2,500 farmers in Punjab and Haryana were due to share 29 million rupees for verified soil-carbon and emissions reduction work. The new guidance is meant to strengthen project oversight, clarify how smallholders can participate, and support credible cross-border carbon deals. For the market to grow, the key test is whether these documents translate into accessible participation, transparent revenue sharing, and reliable emissions measurement. The tools aim to address those risks, but implementation at the state and village level will determine whether carbon finance actually benefits Indian farmers.
