In a significant move towards environmental sustainability and farmer empowerment, Assam Agricultural University (AAU) in Jorhat has forged a partnership with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) of New Delhi and ReNew Power Synergy Private Limited to embark on a mission to plant one crore saplings across Assam.
The initiative is designed to harness carbon testing methodologies to provide financial benefits to the state’s farmers. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), carbon deposits in trees will be assessed three years post-planting, with farmers from diverse regions of Assam actively participating in the plantation campaign.
Dr. Bidyut Chandan Deka, the Vice Chancellor of AAU, underscored the collaborative nature of the endeavor, involving the active participation of Krishi Vigyan Kendra and Krishi Research Centre under the university’s purview. The initial phase will concentrate on planting saplings in ten districts, namely Bongaigaon, Sonitpur, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Darrang, Udalguri, Baksa, Nalbari, and Barpeta.
TERI officials emphasized the dual advantages of the initiative, highlighting that participating farmers will not only receive financial rewards but also contribute to environmental conservation. Each tree owner stands to benefit from the carbon credit mechanism, thereby offering a sustainable income stream alongside efforts towards environmental protection.
The signing ceremony witnessed the presence of eminent figures including Dr. Sanjay Kumar Chetia, Director of Agricultural Research, Dr. Prasanna Kumar Pathak, Director of Agricultural Sciences, Dr. Manoranjan Neog, Director of Extension Education, and Dr. Ranjit Kumar Saud and Dr. Mrinal Saikia, Associate Directors of Agricultural Research from AAU. From TERI, Dr. J.V. Sharma, Senior Director, along with other esteemed professors, lent their expertise to this collaborative endeavor.
This ambitious project heralds a significant stride towards amalgamating environmental initiatives with economic incentives for farmers, paving the way for a sustainable future for Assam.