Pakistan rice sector explores carbon credits through climate-smart farming

Pakistan's rice sector is exploring whether climate-smart farming practices can unlock carbon financing, under a proposed initiative discussed at a stakeholder consultation in Gujranwala. The project is proposed by Galaxy Agrinomix and the Pakistan Basmati Heritage Foundation, with support from the Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation programme, and would promote Alternate Wetting and Drying, a technique that periodically dries rice fields between irrigations.

Experts at the consultation said the technique could save around 30 per cent of irrigation water and cut methane emissions by up to 48 per cent, though they noted actual benefits depend on local conditions and field-level verification. The initiative aims to register with Gold Standard and explore carbon financing under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, the mechanism that allows countries to cooperate on emissions reductions.

Participants were briefed on what generating carbon credits requires, including documented farming practices, emissions monitoring and independent verification. The consultation also highlighted the need for farmer training, effective water management and transparent verification so that environmental benefits are achieved without compromising crop yields.

Muhammad Ali, Commissioner of Gujranwala Division, attended as chief guest, while Arif Goheer, Executive Director of the Global Change Impact Studies Centre, was guest of honour. Hundreds of farmers from Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sheikhupura and adjoining areas took part alongside government officials, researchers and industry representatives.