In a landmark achievement for Indian agriculture, Nadia Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), under the jurisdiction of ICAR – Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ICAR-ATARI), Kolkata, has become the first Net Zero Certified Krishi Vigyan Kendra in the country. The milestone was marked by the awarding of the Sustainable Agriculture Carbon Footprint Certificate by UK-based certifying body i-NoCarbon Limited. Nadia KVK recorded a net carbon footprint of (-)74.99 metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent, setting a new benchmark for climate conscious farming initiatives in India.
The program was held at Nadia KVK (BCKV), ICAR, and attended by several notable dignitaries. Present at the event were Dr. Ashoke Kumer Patra, Vice-Chancellor of BCKV, West Bengal; S. Arun Prasad, District Magistrate of Nadia; Dr. P. Das Biswas, Founder Director of Inhana Organic Research Foundation (IORF), Kolkata; Dr. Pradip Dey, Director of ATARI-ICAR (attending virtually); Dr. Subhendu Bikash Goswami, Director of Extension Education, BCKV; Dr. Avijit Samanta, SDO of Kalyani; Dr. Malay Kumar Samanta, In-charge of Nadia KVK; & Dr. Kaushik Mukhopadhyay, Subject Matter Specialist at Nadia KVK.
This accomplishment stems from a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ICAR-ATARI, Kolkata, and Inhana Organic Research Foundation. Their collaboration led to the creation of Agriculture Carbon Footprint Assessor (ACFA) Version 2.0, a Make-in-India carbon computing tool tailored for the country’s diverse agro-ecosystems. The ACFA framework marks a significant step toward developing indigenous standards for carbon footprint assessment in Indian agriculture. As the sector grapples with the mounting impacts of climate change, Nadia KVK’s Net Zero certification represents a pioneering move towards low-emission, regenerative farming. The KVK Net-Zero Model, in conjunction with the Clean Food Net Zero Program, is designed to support Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals, Net Zero compliance, and carbon credit generation, while also promoting soil health and ecological restoration.
Notably, the ACFA Version 2.0 tool has now been integrated into the TEC Tool of Trustea, India’s first carbon calculator developed specifically for the tea industry, further reinforcing its role in driving sector-wide sustainability. Nadia KVK’s recognition as the first Net Zero certified agricultural hub positions it at the forefront of India’s transition toward climate resilient and sustainable farming systems.
