Methods Adopted
We know that agricultural ecosystems hold substantial carbon reserves. The decrease of bare
fallow, return of crop residues to the soil, establish Agroforestry systems and increase of cover
cropping promote carbon removal. This promotion can either be increasing the storage of
carbon or reduce the loss of stored carbon. To reduce the bare fallow, we introduced a new
variety of leguminous plants, Flemingia Semialata, and several catch crops, that is,
intercropping. Within a year, the fruits of the exercise started yielding. The soil became rich
with higher organic carbon content and the fallow land became productive.
The merit of this exercise is that it can generate sustainable livelihood for the poor people
associated with fallow land. The products of these fallow lands being organic are also able to
cater for the market needs. The reason is the trends in healthy eating styles are driving the
growing interest in organic food. Consumers are in favour of choosing “natural” products.
The endeavour has been serving the twin purpose of reducing carbon footprints & generating
sustainable livelihood. The result is what has been desired by the National Policy. We developed a
successful demonstration.