Karnal: As India moves towards its net-zero emissions target by 2070, Ebro and Syngenta are jointly piloting climate-smart solutions to reduce the environmental impact of rice farming. Petra Laux, Chief Sustainability Officer of the Syngenta Group, and Graham Carter, Managing Director, Ebro India, visited one of the Climate-Smart Basmati Rice Projects in Haryana to review its progress and reinforce their global commitment to sustainability.
The visit included field demonstrations in Rattangarh village in Yamunanagar district and a stakeholder meeting in Karnal. The focus was on promoting low-emission rice farming practices suited to India’s agri-climatic conditions. Haryana, one of India’s leading Basmati-producing states, has nearly one million hectares under rice cultivation. However, traditional methods such as continuous field flooding contribute significantly to methane emissions.
This initiative supports farmers in adopting more sustainable practices without sacrificing productivity. Through Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), participating farmers have reduced irrigation by 12 percent and methane emissions by 36 percent. Soil testing has enabled a 33 percent reduction in fertilizer use compared to 2022 levels. Farmers have also received training on safe crop protection and sustainable residue management to curb stubble burning.
“In building more sustainable cropping models, we need to ensure compatibility with farmers situation on the ground.” said Petra Laux. “Through science, technology and such meaningful collaborations we are showing that sustainable rice production is possible while safeguarding farmer income or crop yield and quality.”
Together with Syngenta, we're transforming challenges into opportunities, enabling farmers to lead the way in sustainable rice production while enhancing their economic prospects. It's a testament to what we can achieve when we combine innovation with on-ground action," said Graham Carter, Managing Director, Ebro India.