Agroecological Region (AER) Based Variations in Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential (C-SPOT) vis-à-vis carbon credit of Natural Farming (CCNF) in Andhra Pradesh

Funding Agency: Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS), Andhra Pradesh Community-Managed Natural Farming (APCNF), and KfW Development Bank

Introduction

While the Green Revolution of the 1960s successfully transitioned India from a food-scarce to a food-surplus nation through modern industrial practices, its long-term ecological and economic fallouts have become increasingly severe. Decades of intensive chemical fertilizer and pesticide use have led to acute soil degradation, biodiversity loss, falling crop productivity, and skyrocketing input costs. Coupled with market volatility and climate change vulnerabilities, these factors have pushed large numbers of smallholders into debt traps, causing widespread distress across the agricultural sector.

To counter this, organic farming emerged as a viable alternative, scaling to over two million hectares in India and generating substantial export revenue. However, high certification costs and the requirement for massive quantities of Farmyard Manure (FYM) have kept certified organic farming out of reach for most smallholders.

The Natural Farming Alternative

Natural Farming (NF) offers a scalable, low-cost solution to these systemic challenges. By completely eliminating chemical and synthetic inputs, and utilizing minimal or no-tillage practices, NF relies entirely on localized organic materials like rice straw and biomass to rejuvenate the land. This approach directly boosts soil microbial functions. Microbes—including critical fungi and prokaryotes—drive essential nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and nitrogen fixation. Returning agricultural residues back to the soil restores vital macro-nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, fostering a resilient underground ecosystem. Consequently, while transitioning to natural farming may alter initial crop yields, it radically slashes input costs and strengthens long-term livelihood security through premium market pricing.

Project Objectives & Scope

This project aims to comprehensively map and estimate the carbon sequestration potential of various natural farming interventions across six distinct agro-climatic zones in Andhra Pradesh, categorized by rainfall, cropping patterns, soil types, and topography. By looking at these diverse agroecological regions, the study evaluates natural farming as a robust mechanism for climate change mitigation and rural resilience.

Key areas of investigation include:

• Carbon Sequestration Mapping: Quantifying the capacity of NF measures to capture and store soil carbon ($C$) across varying landscapes.
• Soil Microbial Diversity: Assessing changes in alpha and beta microbial diversity to identify the primary agricultural factors driving biological soil health.
• Advanced Bio-Analysis: Conducting comprehensive soil metagenomics and soil enzyme analyses to systematically compare soil health indicators between conventional and natural farming systems.
• Livelihood Security: Evaluating the socio-economic impacts of low-input natural farming on smallholder income stability.