Hyderabad-based Climate-Tech Startup Sow&Reap Becomes First Indian Company to Earn Gold Standard Carbon Credits in Sustainable Paddy Cultivation – EQ
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Achieves 37,405 Gold Standard Carbon Credits in paddy cultivation through AWD method in collaboration with Kosher Climate
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The project ‘VARRI’ enrolled over 35,000 farmers from various districts in Telangana, covering nearly 1 Lakh acres of paddy cultivation
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With several projects in the pipeline, the company aims to generate over 1 million carbon credits in the next two years
Hyderabad – Sow&Reap Agro Pvt Ltd, a leading climate-tech startup headquartered in Hyderabad, has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Indian company to be granted carbon credits by the Gold Standard for paddy cultivation. The company has achieved 37,405 carbon credits for the project ‘VARRI’, a sustainable paddy cultivation program using the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) method in collaboration with Kosher Climate.
Over the last three years, Sow&Reap has partnered with 35,000 farmers from various districts of Telangana, including Jagitial, Karimnagar, Mahbubnagar, Nagar Kurnool, Narayanpet, Peddapalli, Rajanna Sircilla, and Wanaparthy, covering nearly 1 Lakh acres. The project demonstrated tangible benefits for the farmers like increased paddy yields, reduced water consumption, and lower fertilizer usage, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Commenting on the remarkable achievement, Mr. Suraj Teja, Founder and CEO, Sow&Reap, said “This milestone stands as a testament to the collective efforts of our farmers, partners, and the Agriculture Department, Government of Telangana, whose support was instrumental in raising farmer awareness about the AWD methodology. By adopting sustainable agricultural practices and leveraging our blockchain-powered DMRV (Digital Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) solution, we are not only reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also creating new income streams for farmers through carbon credits.”
“This achievement marks a significant step forward in India’s climate action journey, demonstrating how technology-driven solutions and farmer participation can deliver measurable environmental and economic benefits. With several projects in the pipeline, we are aiming to generate over 1 million carbon credits through paddy cultivation within the next 2 years,” he added.
At the heart of this successful project is DMRV, the company’s proprietary blockchain-powered software, which ensured end-to-end traceability and transparency of the entire process, from field-level data collection to carbon credit issuance. The project has been registered with Gold Standard, a leading global certification body in the voluntary carbon market that verifies and tracks the impact of sustainable projects worldwide and Carbon Check is the validator of the project.
Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) method, which involves controlled irrigation cycles instead of continuous flooding, has proven to be a win-win for both the environment and the farming community, leading to higher productivity and more sustainable practices.
Sow&Reap is a member of International Emissions Trading Association (IETA), a non-profit business organization focused on market-based climate policy and emissions trading. IETA represents companies and associations involved in carbon markets.
About Sow&Reap Agro Pvt Ltd:
Sow&Reap is a climate-tech company based in Telangana, India, focused on developing and implementing sustainable agricultural practices that reduce environmental impact and improve farmer livelihoods. By combining advanced agronomy, digital tools, and blockchain-enabled carbon measurement systems, Sow&Reap is helping to transform agriculture into a driver of climate resilience and rural prosperity. Apart from agriculture, the company has been working on several other projects in bioenergy, biochar, and forestry projects to achieve significant climate goals.
