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ProClime has been selected as the largest industry partner for Uttar Pradesh’s Sustainable Agriculture Land Management (SALM) carbon credit programme, the first initiative of its kind to establish a state-backed carbon credit pathway for smallholder farmers in India.
The programme was awarded through an open and competitive tender process led by the nodal agency, IIT Roorkee. ProClime will lead the consortium with approximately 65% of the total programme land allocation, while additional specialised partners support implementation across regions.
The programme is anchored by strong institutional collaboration, with IIT Roorkee providing the scientific and methodological framework. The Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Department will support implementation through its extensive state-level reach and farmer engagement capabilities.
“Our role is to ensure that the programme is grounded in robust scientific methodologies and credible MRV systems. This is critical to building long-term trust in agriculture-linked carbon credits,” said Professor A S Maurya, IIT Roorkee.
The initiative is expected to move into its initial implementation phase shortly, with baseline activities scheduled to begin in the near term.
The programme spans approximately 778,000 farmer holdings, of which nearly 67% are marginal farmers cultivating less than one hectare. It establishes a structured pathway for farmers to participate in carbon markets through Sustainable Agriculture Land Management (SALM) practices, integrating climate mitigation with agricultural productivity and soil health outcomes.
At full scale, the initiative has the potential to benefit an estimated 25 million (2.5 crore) farmers across Uttar Pradesh, making it one of the largest agriculture-linked carbon programmes globally.
By enabling farmers to participate in carbon markets through sustainable land management practices, the programme aims to create new income pathways, while contributing to climate mitigation and soil health improvement.
This initiative represents a significant step in connecting state policy, scientific validation, and carbon market mechanisms into a unified framework for agriculture.
It moves beyond fragmented pilots, establishing a state-backed, scalable model that enables farmers, particularly smallholders, to access emerging carbon market opportunities through verified sustainable practices.
“This partnership marks a structural shift in how Indian agriculture participates in global carbon markets. For the first time, a state government, a premier academic institution, and specialised carbon market players are aligned around a single, rigorous, farmer-first programme,” said Vijayakumar Rangaraju, Chief Mission Officer, ProClime.
Nidhi Maurya, Head of Business Development & CRM, ProClime, added: “What is particularly significant is the scale and structure of this initiative. It establishes a framework where scientific validation, policy support, and market access are integrated from the outset. This is essential for building long-term confidence among both farmers and carbon market participants.”
Further programme details, including carbon credit volumes, pricing structures, and registry alignment, will be disclosed at the time of formal launch.
Farmer participation figures are based on estimates derived from state agricultural census data.