Empowering smallholder farmers for sustainability and climate resilience in India

Rural regions are experiencing a disproportionate burden of climate-related disasters

, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). For instance, crop yields in Sub-Saharan Africa are projected to decline by 5 to 17 percent by 2050, intensifying existing food security challenges and contributing to poverty. 

Varaha

is an organisation working to empower smallholders in rural communities in India and foster biodiversity conservation through regenerative agriculture and other sustainable practices.

Through their projects, and in collaboration with Earthly, Varaha has connected smallholders with businesses seeking to invest in nature-based solutions. This partnership has led to tangible benefits for both the smallholders and the environment.

To gain a deeper understanding of Varaha's work and its impact, we spoke with their team. Here's what we learnt:

The process begins with stakeholder mapping, which identifies local communities, landowners, NGOs, FPOs, and marginalised groups. This is complemented by adhering to the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) framework, ensuring that smallholders are fully informed and can consent to their participation in the projects.

Engagement with farmers occurs through both direct communication and local implementation partners, utilising regular training programs and community gatherings conducted in local languages. Continuous feedback mechanisms are established to integrate farmers' needs and priorities into project design. Varaha emphasises up-skilling by providing training on sustainable agricultural practices, empowering farmers to adopt environmentally-friendly techniques.

To retain smallholders, Varaha channels a significant portion of carbon revenue directly to them (51-70%), enhancing their livelihoods and reducing economic vulnerability. We also maintain a continuous presence in communities, offering ongoing support and monitoring to ensure sustainability. 

Projects with smallholders foster community engagement and social equity. Involving diverse stakeholders ensures that marginalised groups have access to resources and opportunities. This inclusive approach not only enhances local ownership but also creates a commitment to sustainable practices, resulting in long-term environmental and economic benefits. On the other hand, if a few farmers decide to stop participating it does not harm the project significantly.

Gender equity:

The projects have actively onboarded female farmers and trained them in sustainable agriculture practices. Women are involved in all stages of the project, from planning to implementation. This promotes self-reliance and climate resilience among women, who are often disproportionately impacted by climate change. 

Diversification

: The projects have also diversified farmer livelihoods and reduced economic vulnerability. Transitioning to regenerative agriculture and agroforestry practices has boosted crop yields and reduced input costs, enhancing food security and incomes. The project has facilitated the cultivation of high-value crops, conservational plants, and medicinal plants, creating new income streams for farmers. 

Economic opportunities:

Procurement and transportation of saplings have provided jobs for local vendors, further boosting the local economy, and training farmers to produce and apply biochar, which has reduced dependence on chemical fertilisers, lowered input costs, and opened access to the higher value organic produce market. 

One of our primary strategies involves promoting regenerative agriculture and agroforestry practices. By educating over 80,000 smallholder farmers on these sustainable techniques, the project has improved soil health and increased crop yields.

Additionally, the project focuses on efficient water management practices. For instance, transitioning smallholder farmers to direct seeding of rice has resulted in significant water savings, amounting to approximately 750,000 million litres. 

A key aspect of our Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR) projects is the planting of native and economically valuable tree species, which helps restore degraded lands. Additionally, the cultivation of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) such as fruits, nuts, and medicinal plants provides smallholders with alternative income sources. 

Our biochar project combats the spread of invasive species. This approach enhances biodiversity by creating habitats for various wildlife and improving overall ecosystem resilience. Our Regenerative Agriculture project enhances soil health and increases microbial activity in the soil.

The project also emphasises community engagement and education, ensuring that smallholders understand the ecological benefits of biodiversity.

We faced and overcame several challenges during implementation. One major issue was the need for capacity building and behaviour change. Educating farmers about sustainable practices like regenerative agriculture requires ongoing engagement, as altering established farming habits is often a slow process.

Additionally, the monitoring and verification of carbon sequestration posed difficulties. The biggest challenge facing carbon dioxide removal (CDR) through nature-based and science-based solutions is demonstrating credibility. Accurate measurement and verification of carbon sequestration are crucial for the integrity of CDR projects to productively bring the conversation back to scientific best practices to tackle climate change.

To tackle the need for capacity building and behaviour change, Varaha organised workshops, training programs and awareness campaigns that promoted sustainable agricultural practices. These initiatives helped instil a sense of responsibility within farmer communities and ensured that best practices were adopted and maintained over time.

For monitoring and verification, Varaha developed a robust digital Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system. The system provides precise and reliable measurements of carbon sequestration and reduces the risk of overestimating carbon capture benefits, building trust in CDR projects. This has led to several projects being the first of its kind that is insurable against over-crediting, reversal and other key risks.

The long-term goals of Varaha's projects focus on enhancing the resilience and livelihoods of smallholders while promoting sustainable agricultural practices and biodiversity conservation.

Varaha emphasises capacity building through continuous education and training programs. By equipping farmers with knowledge about regenerative agriculture and agroforestry, Varaha fosters long-term behavioural changes that promote sustainable practices. 

Secondly, Varaha actively engages local communities through inclusive stakeholder participation. By involving marginalised groups in project planning and implementation, we ensure that diverse perspectives and needs are addressed. This participatory model fosters a sense of ownership among smallholders, increasing their commitment to the project’s goals.

Lastly, Varaha has established a robust digital MRV system to track project outcomes and maintain transparency. This system enhances trust among stakeholders and ensures that the benefits of carbon credits are equitably distributed.

Earthly is committed to working with projects that are verifiable and meet rigorous standards across carbon, people and biodiversity. We are proud to

partner with Varaha,

whose initiatives align perfectly with our mission of connecting businesses with impactful nature-based solutions.

We help responsible businesses invest in projects that remove carbon, restore nature and support local people - like the

smallholder project in India's Indo-gangetic Plains.

Supporting Varaha's project in India through Earthly will not only help businesses address climate change, but also improve livelihoods and enhance community resilience.