Reducing GHG Emissions Through Millet Farming: ASQI Technologies’ Innovative Approach
At ASQI Technologies, we are committed to fostering a more sustainable food ecosystem. Our latest initiative focuses on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through millet farming. This post outlines our methodology for measuring, recording, and verifying GHG reductions in millet farming, showcasing our commitment to sustainability and innovation.
Objective
Our program aims to:
- Suggest specific interventions in millet farming to reduce GHG emissions.
- Measure, report, and verify these GHG emission reductions.
- Use remote sensing data and in-person visits for verification.
- Advise farmers on effectively executing the GHG reduction program using remote sensing data and expert inputs.
- Work with sponsors to finance the program and provide real-time visibility of its progress and achievements.
Overall Plan
Partnership and Onboarding
A sponsor will sign off on the program for GHG reduction interventions in millet farming. ASQI, in collaboration with partners like Catalyst Management Services, will onboard farmers onto our MRV (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) platform. Farmers will input their details, farm history, and current farming practices into the platform.
Pledge and Implementation
Farmers will pledge to undertake millet farming as per the specified growing program on the ASQI platform. This program will outline the agreed-upon implementation specifics with the sponsor. Farmers will self-report their program implementation, while ASQI’s platform will verify the execution using satellite data and, where necessary, physical verification. All collected data will be accessible to the sponsor.
Proposed Interventions
We propose the following interventions for millet farming:
- Seed Treatment: Reduces pesticide usage by treating seeds to protect them from diseases and pests.
- Precision Farming: Utilizes satellite data to track leaf nitrogen levels, providing specific recommendations to reduce nitrous fertilizer use.
- Switching from Paddy to Millets: Replacing paddy farming with millet farming reduces GHG emissions and water usage.
- No Tilling: Untilled soil sequesters more carbon and nitrogen, reducing GHG emissions and enhancing soil health.
- Precision Irrigation: Reduces water usage through precision irrigation and, where applicable, transitions to drip irrigation.
Estimated GHG Savings
Based on the publicly available literature, the expected range of GHG savings for each intervention is as follows:
- Interventions other than switching from paddy: 0.2–0.4 MT of CO2-equivalent per acre.
- Switching from paddy to millets: 1.0–2.0 MT of CO2-equivalent per acre.
During implementation, actual data will refine these estimates, which will then be converted into decarbonization certificates for sponsor reporting.
Additional Benefits
Beyond GHG reduction, our program aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), offering benefits such as:
- Precision fertilizer application and reduction.
- Precision irrigation and water usage reduction.
- Superior soil health through nitrogen sequestration by millets.
These benefits will be converted into SDG certificates for sponsor reporting.
Sponsor Views
Sponsors can track the program’s progress in real time, by accessing the following information:
- Farmers and farms onboarded, including KYC, farm location, and current irrigation systems.
- Implementation progress summary and details.
- Benefits tracker, detailing GHG and water savings.
- Ongoing and final sustainability reports.
- Auditable records of each decarbonization and SDG certificate for stakeholder use.
Through this initiative, ASQI Technologies is leading the charge towards a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach to agriculture. By significantly reducing GHG emissions and fostering a healthier ecosystem, we are shaping a greener future. Join us on this journey. For more information, visit ASQI Technologie(https://asqi.in).
