Pakistan Eyes Carbon Credits for Sustainable Rice Farming

Pakistan's rice sector is investigating climate-smart farming techniques, specifically Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), to potentially secure carbon financing. This initiative, proposed by Galaxy Agrinomix and the Pakistan Basmati Heritage Foundation (PBHF) with SPAR6C program support, was discussed at a stakeholder consultation in Gujranwala. AWD, which involves periodically drying rice fields, is projected to save 30% of irrigation water and reduce methane emissions by up to 48%, contingent on local verification. The project intends to register with Gold Standard and explore carbon financing under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, requiring documented farming practices, emissions monitoring, and independent verification. The event, attended by hundreds of farmers, government officials, researchers, and industry representatives, including Muhammad Ali, Commissioner of Gujranwala Division, and Arif Goheer from the Global Change Impact Studies Centre, emphasized the necessity for farmer training, efficient water management, and transparent verification to ensure environmental gains without impacting crop yields.