India has emerged as the world’s largest rice producer due to assured MSP procurement, expanding cultivation area and strong export demand. However, excessive dependence on paddy has led to water stress, high fiscal costs, surplus stocks and poor crop diversification, making a shift toward pulses, oilseeds and millets essential for sustainable and nutrition-secure agriculture.
Click to View MoreReducing methane emissions from paddy fields can generate additional income for farmers through carbon markets. By shifting from continuously flooded rice fields to practices such as Alternate Wetting and Drying, methane emissions can be significantly lowered without affecting yields while also saving water. The verified reductions are converted into carbon credits that companies purchase to offset their own emissions, enabling farmers to earn extra revenue. This approach links climate mitigation, water conservation and livelihood enhancement, though it also requires reliable measurement systems and fair benefit-sharing to ensure small farmers benefit equitably.
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