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Working across India, Boomitra’s URVARA carbon farming project is helping 12,000 farmers across 50,000 acres adopt improved agricultural practices that regenerate soil and draw down carbon. In this article, we explore the impact of our farmer-first work.
Bhojanna, a smallholder farmer in rural India, spoke with our team about how he’s enhanced soil moisture retention, increased earthworm and pollinator presence, reduced disease incidence, and improved yields since joining the project. His story illustrates how tailored technical support and community collaboration can transform farms into climate-resilient, biodiversity-rich systems.
Nestled in the Malenadu region of Chikkamagaluru district, Koppa Taluk is known for its lush landscapes and diverse cropping systems. Bhojanna owns 2.3 acres here, for betel nut cultivation and paddy farming. Together with his wife, he has raised four children—three married daughters and a son working away—and maintains seven livestock, whose milk and buttermilk feed into traditional organic inputs like Goamrutha (cow urine fertilizer) and Jeevamrutha (cow dung-based biofertilizer).
For 40 years, Bhojanna has cultivated paddy alongside betel nut, coffee, pepper, and seven coconut trees. The journey hasn’t always been easy. He’s grappled with labor shortages—only partially eased by mechanization like tractors and tillers—and increasingly unpredictable rainfall, which has disrupted planting and irrigation.
Before URVARA, Bhojanna had a basic understanding that richer soils yielded better crops. URVARA’s trainings augmented his knowledge, and now he understands soil carbon’s role in carbon credits, regenerative practices, and global climate action. His understanding of on-farm carbon dynamics now includes the context of climate finance and global climate goals.
By participating in the project and supporting climate resilience, Bhojanna has learned new skills and enjoyed improved soils. He has learned how to map and verify fields to receive satellite-driven insights, and regular consultations with Boomitra’s in-house agronomy team help him bridge traditional wisdom with digital tools. Bhojanna has noted a remarkable uptick in earthworm activity, microbial workhorses that improve soil porosity and nutrient cycling. Enhanced bee visits have strengthened pollination, and his mulched soils now retain moisture more steadily through dry spells. The combined effect has been lower disease incidence compared to when he was chemically treating his farm and an overall rise in crop yields and farm income.
Bhojanna actively encourages peers to join Boomitra’s URVARA project, leveraging his networks within Subhiksha, a farmer welfare group that is one of the project partners.
When he’s discussing carbon farming with other growers, he offers valuable insights:
Start small: Experiment with vegetable plots to gain confidence.
Taste the benefits: Recognize the superior flavor and health benefits of organic foods.
Bhojanna is deeply invested in promoting sustainable agriculture. Boomitra’s URVARA project has equipped him with new tools to safeguard soil, family, and climate—embodying the motto: “Healthy soil, healthy land, healthy plants, healthy people.” In the future, Bhojanna hopes to make healthy food accessible for future generations and feels a strong personal commitment to continue and support regenerative agriculture.
Last month, Boomitra announced the first issuance of URVARA credits under the Social Carbon methodology. This was a landmark moment for Indian smallholder farmers like Bhojanna, who, for the first time, are earning income from independently verified soil carbon credits sold on the global voluntary carbon market—paving the way for scalable, inclusive carbon finance rooted in improved agricultural practices.
Excited about real impact for real people? Schedule a call with our team to explore how you can support Indian smallholder farmers like Bhojanna.
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