In a groundbreaking move for India’s climate action and rural development, the Meghalaya government has disbursed the country’s highest-ever carbon payments to farmers under the MegCare (Meghalaya Carbon Agroforestry for Community Resilience and Ecosystems) program. This marks a major milestone in India’s voluntary carbon market and positions Meghalaya as a leader in community-driven climate resilience.
🌳 What Is MegCare?
Launched in January 2024, MegCare is a collaborative initiative between the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA), IORA Ecological Solutions, and Rabobank’s Acorn platform. The program promotes multi-species, tree-based agroforestry across biodiversity-rich regions like the Khasi-Jaintia and Garo Hills, enabling farmers to earn income by sequestering carbon through sustainable land use.
💰 Record Carbon Payments
- 10,400 farmers enrolled
- 22,000+ hectares under agroforestry
- EUR 40 per Carbon Removal Unit (CRU) — 4–5x the global average
- Payments distributed by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma in South Garo Hills
“This carbon credit initiative is a significant boost to our efforts in natural resource management and rural prosperity,” said CM Sangma, urging more farmers to join the movement.
🌱 Beyond Carbon: A Holistic Green Economy Model
MegCare is more than a carbon offset program—it’s a landscape-scale effort to:
- Restore biodiversity and watersheds
- Secure spring sheds in the Himalayas
- Build green entrepreneurship
- Empower farmers with climate-smart livelihoods
🌍 Global Recognition and Future Vision
With the highest per-tonne carbon payment ever made to Indian farmers, MegCare is setting a new benchmark for high-integrity, community-based carbon removals. The program aims to scale up to 100,000 hectares of new plantations and enhance 50,000 hectares of existing systems, supported by a team of 60+ field and technical experts.
Stay tuned for updates on India’s evolving carbon finance landscape.
