International Journal of Environment and Climate Change

Agriculture is an important source of greenhouse gas emissions in India and also offers mitigation opportunities through sustainable land use and carbon market mechanisms. This study examines Indian agriculture’s position in greenhouse gas emissions and the voluntary carbon market using secondary data from national and global databases. It analyses emission trends from 1970 to 2024 and voluntary carbon credit issuance up to 2025, with specific attention to 2009–2024, when agricultural carbon credits from India became available in the voluntary market. The results show that India’s total greenhouse gas emissions increased from 733.24 Mt CO₂e in 1970 to 4371.17 Mt CO₂e in 2024, while agricultural emissions increased from 402.79 Mt CO₂e to 805.43 Mt CO₂e. However, agriculture’s share in India’s total greenhouse gas emissions declined from 54.93% to 18.43%, mainly because emissions from other sectors grew faster. During 2009–2024, agriculture contributed 21.68% of India’s cumulative greenhouse gas emissions but accounted for only 0.20% of carbon credits issued in the voluntary carbon market. This indicates a substantial emission-credit gap. The study identifies carbon credit pricing, demand from compliance and voluntary markets, measurement and verification costs, additionality, farmer participation and institutional design as key factors shaping agricultural carbon markets in India. Policy support, transparent market mechanisms, credible monitoring systems and inclusive farmer-level institutions are required to strengthen the role of agriculture in climate change mitigation and sustainable transition.