Interactive Session on Carbon Farming for Sustainable Future held at ICAR RCER Patna

Patna, May 7, 2026: An enlightening lecture was delivered by Dr. Biswapati Mandal, Pro VC, BCKV, West Bengal, during the institute’s fortnightly seminar at ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna on the topic “Crediting C to Coffer C – Too Many Rivers to Cross.” The lecture focused on the critical role of soil carbon in sustaining agricultural productivity and ecosystem services.

Dr. Biswapati Mandal emphasized that carbon farming has emerged as a vital strategy for improving soil health, enhancing ecosystem services, and mitigating climate change through increased carbon sequestration in agricultural systems. He explained that soils possessing a higher “carbon appetite” have greater capacity to capture and store atmospheric carbon dioxide, thereby contributing significantly to climate resilience and sustainable agricultural productivity. Highlighting the importance of maintaining soil organic carbon and long-term soil fertility, he stated that Conservation Agriculture represents one of the most sustainable pathways toward achieving carbon neutrality while simultaneously delivering multiple ecosystem services such as improved soil structure, enhanced water retention, biodiversity conservation, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Dr. Mandal further elaborated on the role of Partial Factor Productivity as an important indicator for optimizing nutrient-use efficiency, minimizing excessive fertilizer dependence, and improving input-use sustainability in intensive farming systems. He also highlighted the importance of strategic tillage as a periodic corrective intervention in long-term conservation systems to address issues such as soil compaction and nutrient stratification while retaining the overall benefits of no-till agriculture. He comprehensively discussed various dimensions of carbon farming, including methodologies and eco-friendly management practices such as conservation tillage, crop residue retention, agroforestry, cover cropping, integrated nutrient management, and diversified cropping systems, all of which contribute to enhanced carbon stabilization and ecological sustainability. Stressing the economic relevance of carbon farming, he linked these practices with emerging carbon credit mechanisms and emphasized the need for policy and institutional frameworks that ensure equitable and long-term benefits for farmers while safeguarding environmental sustainability for future generations.

In his remarks, Dr. Anup Das, Director ICAR RCER, Patna congratulated Dr. Biswapati Mandal for his presentation and formative presentation and encouraged scientists to integrate such scientific approaches to strengthen ongoing research on soil carbon. Dr SK Purbey, PS, MGIFRI, Motihari, Dr M C Meena, PS, ICAR IARI, New Delhi, heads of division in the institute, Scientist, students and staff appraised the informative lecture and the seminar ended with formal vote of thanks by Dr RK Raman, Senior Scientist, ICAR RCER, Patna