Agroforestry reversing Climate Change
(AF-EC is the local Implementation partner for ACORN for Netherlands-based Cooperative Rabobank U.A.)
What is the programme about?
Agroforestry CRUs for the Organic Restoration of Nature (ACORN) is an Agroforestry programme that taps the international voluntary carbon market for small farmers in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.
Programme objectives
This programme aims to benefit farmers who have grown tree crops in agroforestry design during the preceding five years. If the farmers have grown mono-tree plantation, they have to convert their farms into agroforestry design by additionally planting at 10% of the total plants of different species on the borders or between the trees, within one year of on-boarding under this programme.
- To secure carbon income for small and marginal agroforestry farmers for sequestering carbon in their agroforestry farms.
- To promote agrobiodiversity by converting mono dentations to agroforestry design.
- Facilitate the sale of ex-post Carbon Removable Units (CRUs) in the international market and ensure 80% of such Carbon Credits sale proceeds go to the farmers.
- To make this income accessible to farmers on a large scale using innovative technologies.
In this Rabobank-ACORN (Agroforestry CRUs for the Organic Restoration of Nature) programme for generating additional carbon income for ‘Small farmers’ (1 Acre to 25 Acres) in Anantapur district, the A F Ecology Centre is the ‘Local Partner’. It facilitates to benefit from their Agroforestry plots for 20 years.
It will be cashing in on the benefits of crop diversification and additional income for sequestered CRU (Carbon Removal Units) generated under Rabobank – ACORN Programme under the Rabo Bank pledges that the price of a CRU is at a minimum of Euro 20. If the carbon prices drop to less than Euro 20, the Rabo Bank will cover the gap and pay Euro 20 to farmers.
Agroforestry farming will improve soil quality and crop yield will further be an incentive for the participating farmers. The ecosystem of the village and its surroundings will be enriched with agrobiodiversity. Trees grow deep roots and improve soil biology, produce nutrients for plants grown as intercrops, and attract friendly pollinators. They provide shade, protection, and other environmental benefits to the soils. They even provide new additional farm produce (such as Guava, mangoes, and Citrus fruits like Sweetlime and Amla).
Progress by June 2024
Designed to provide an additional economic benefit to small and marginal farmers, Rabobank’s Acorn Carbon Sequestration Project has on-boarded 10,000 hectares covering 8,500 farmers in 15 Revenue Mandals of the undivided Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.
The project is making strides with farmers in Agali, Rolla, Amarapuram, Gudibanda, Madakasira, Dharmavaram, Rapthadu, Atmakur, Kudair, Kalyandurg, Belguppa, Settur, Brahmasamudram, Kambadur and Kundurpi Revenue Mandals actively participating in it.
How are the CRUs measured?
Carbon Removal Units (CRUs) are measured with the help of satellite technology and every participating farmer’s plot is traced on the map. The durability period is set at 20 years. Every year the additional tree growth will be measured and converted into CRUs, which is equivalent to the carbon removed from the atmosphere and sequestered in trees. Each high-quality sequestered carbon measured in CRUs is sold in the international carbon market to the buyers and 80% of the sale proceeds go back to the participating farmers.
The CRUs are bought by the corporate bodies as compensation for their carbon emissions, as a part of international agreements governed by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).