India’s Dairy Industry Achieves Sustainability Milestone: First Carbon Credit Payments Awarded to Farmers in Manure Management Initiative

In a historic milestone for India’s dairy industry, dairy farmers from Rajasthan and Assam have received their first-ever payments from carbon credits, generated under the manure management program of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) with the support of EKI Energy Services Ltd (EKI) and Sustain Plus Energy Foundation (SPEF). This pioneering initiative was celebrated during NDDB’s Diamond Jubilee event in Anand, Gujarat, where Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah distributed the carbon credit payments to the farmers.

The celebration drew an array of prominent dignitaries, including Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying; Prof. SP Singh Baghel, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying; and Shri Raghavjibhai Patel, Gujarat’s Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Cow-Breeding, among others. Dr. Meenesh Shah, Chairman of NDDB, highlighted the significance of this biogas-based manure management model, emphasizing its alignment with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s “Waste to Wealth” vision. The program delivers clean cooking fuel, organic fertilizers, and additional income from carbon credits, providing critical support for India’s transition to sustainable practices.

EKI, an instrumental partner in this project, provided end-to-end support in the registration, verification, and trading of carbon credits, allowing over 1,000 dairy farmers across nine locations and seven states to benefit financially from eco-friendly practices. Mr. Manish Dabkara, Chairman and Managing Director of EKI, underscored the importance of such initiatives, stating, “The distribution of carbon credit payments by Home Minister Shah highlights the impact of these initiatives in enhancing farmers’ economic stability.”

NDDB’s Dr. Meenesh Shah affirmed the board’s commitment to securing farmers’ livelihoods through sustainability-focused practices. “By incentivizing environmentally friendly dairy farming, the Indian dairy sector is poised to become a leader in sustainable agriculture,” he said.

This initiative marks a transformative moment in India’s dairy sector, strengthening the income of dairy farmers and promoting eco-conscious practices, with EKI at the forefront of carbon credit monetization efforts for a greener future in Indian agriculture.