A significant step has been taken to boost sustainable agriculture and green finance in India. The National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) and the Kairali Agriculture Multi State Cooperative Society Ltd. (Kairali MSCS) from Kerala have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement aims to strengthen cooperative-led initiatives focused on reducing carbon emissions and promoting green finance across the nation.
The core of this collaboration is to encourage climate-smart farming practices. It will also help farmers understand these methods better and build their skills. A key goal is to enable farmers to earn carbon credits through cooperative structures. This means farmers can be rewarded for adopting environmentally friendly techniques.
Dileep Sanghani, Chairman of NCUI, stated that both organisations will work together closely. They plan to equip farmers with modern methods and sustainable cultivation techniques. Access to green financial tools that align with India’s climate goals will also be provided.
Kairali’s AGRONET mobile application is a vital part of this partnership. This app helps farmers sign up digitally. It also allows for real-time monitoring of sustainable practices. Farmers can clearly see how their efforts contribute to generating carbon credits within the cooperative system.
The MoU also looks beyond India’s borders. It aims to share India’s cooperative-based carbon credit model with the global market. This will allow Indian farmers to connect with international green finance options. They can also get involved in climate mitigation projects and cross-border carbon trading.
Furthermore, the partnership will support innovative sustainability projects. These include using microalgae for urban air purification, creating ‘Liquid Trees’. Another project involves using black soldier fly larvae to manage bio-waste in a circular way. Both these projects are designed to generate measurable carbon credits. They also help build climate resilience and promote regenerative agriculture.
The signing ceremony took place at the NCUI headquarters in New Delhi. Senior officials from both organisations were present. From NCUI, Dileep Sanghani and Chief Executive Officer Sudhir Mahajan attended. Kairali MSCS was represented by Chairman K. V. Asokan, Project Head Latheesh V. K., CEO Pradeep Kumar, and Directors Nisha Raju, Jaselin James, and Renjith Kumar P. G., along with Chief General Manager Charles Mathews.
Kairali MSCS shared details of their successful initiatives. They have already helped over 5,000 farmers in Kerala gain benefits from carbon credits. They pledged their full support for launching carbon emission reduction programmes in India and neighbouring countries. This effort will contribute to the cooperative sector’s role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Mr. Sanghani emphasised the cooperative sector’s crucial role in transforming agriculture and protecting the environment. He praised Kairali’s efforts in increasing farmers’ income through carbon credit schemes.
This partnership between NCUI and Kairali MSCS is expected to speed up green development driven by cooperatives. It promises to benefit farmers across several Indian states, marking a new era of environmentally conscious and financially rewarding agriculture.