By Abbas Nazil
Amazon has committed $30 million to purchase more than 685,000 carbon credits from The Good Rice Alliance in India, aiming to reduce methane emissions linked to traditional rice farming practices.
The initiative targets one of agriculture’s major climate challenges, as rice cultivation is estimated to contribute between 8 and 10 percent of global methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas driving climate change.
The project focuses on transforming conventional farming methods, which typically involve prolonged flooding of fields that create low-oxygen conditions ideal for methane-producing bacteria.
To address this, farmers are being supported to adopt improved techniques such as Alternate Wetting and Drying and Direct Seeded Rice, both of which reduce water use and limit the duration of field flooding, thereby cutting emissions.
The programme is already working with more than 13,000 smallholder farmers across over 35,000 hectares of land in various regions of India, providing training, technical assistance, and financial incentives to ensure adoption is both feasible and economically beneficial.
Project developers have implemented a rigorous system to measure and verify emission reductions, combining field data collection, digital monitoring, and satellite tracking to ensure transparency and accuracy.
The initiative is supported by the International Rice Research Institute, which helps validate the scientific integrity of the emissions data generated.
Carbon credits produced through the programme are certified under the Verra Verified Carbon Standard, ensuring they meet internationally recognised standards for credibility and environmental impact.
Amazon said the investment reflects its strategy to prioritise high-quality climate solutions backed by strong data and verifiable outcomes, contributing to its broader sustainability goals.
Beyond environmental benefits, the initiative also aims to improve livelihoods by making sustainable farming practices more profitable and accessible for smallholder farmers.
Experts note that the project demonstrates how collaboration between multinational corporations and local agricultural communities can deliver scalable climate solutions while supporting rural development.
The deal also highlights the growing role of carbon markets in financing sustainable agriculture, offering a model that could be replicated in other regions seeking to balance food production with emissions reduction.