Sat Oct 11 15:28:02 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing the text, along with an introduction tailored to the Indian perspective:
**News Article:**
**Kerala Farmers Embrace Low-Carbon Rice Farming with New State Project**
**Thrissur, October 11, 2025** – A three-day workshop promoting sustainable rice cultivation concluded at Kerala Agricultural University on Saturday, marking a significant step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the state. The initiative, part of the KERA project, aims to support low-carbon rice cultivation across 20,000 hectares of paddy fields in Thrissur and Palakkad districts.
The project will initially focus on a pilot program across 500 hectares of paddy fields in Thrissur and Palakkad districts. The workshop served as a kick-off event, uniting farmers, agricultural specialists, and project leaders for key discussions. It also marked the launch of a scholarship and technical support program aimed at supporting research scholars and young scientists. The selected students will be given scholarships, a one-month summer school abroad and a six-month research stay at national or international research facilities.
The project emphasizes the adoption of the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) technique, developed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). This method not only reduces water usage but also generates carbon credits, potentially providing farmers with an additional income stream through a Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) system.
During the workshop, experts from both national and international organizations shared insights on greenhouse gas mitigation, digital technologies, carbon reduction strategies, and the use of satellite technologies like NISAR for data collection and verification. Students and scientists from Kerala Agricultural University actively participated in these discussions and panel discussions on low-carbon rice cultivation and related research opportunities followed the seminars.
On the final day, an expert team visited a project site at Onpathamuri Kole lands in Thrissur, engaging with farmer representatives on technical topics. The team also met with Agriculture Minister P. Prasad to develop future guidelines for the KERA project.
The KERA project represents a proactive approach by the state government to address climate change and promote sustainable agricultural practices, setting an example for other rice-producing regions in India and beyond.
First Piper 