Signal Indian Startup Varaha Wins Award for Delivering Carbon Credit Revenue to Smallholder Farmers

Summary

Indian startup Varaha was named this year's winner in the Social Enterprise category of the ET Startup Awards. The company helps smallholder farmers adopt sustainable practices such as regenerative farming, tree planting, biochar, and enhanced rock weathering, which improve soil organic carbon and moisture retention while boosting biodiversity. These practices also reduce farmers' reliance on synthetic inputs. Describing itself as Asia's largest carbon removal developer, Varaha says it helps corporations meet net-zero commitments while rewarding farmers for adopting climate-smart practices, cutting air pollution, and building soil health and resilience to difficult seasons. Cofounder and chief executive Madhur Jain said smallholders, who typically farm just one or two hectares, bear the greatest cost of climate change despite contributing least to causing it, and dedicated the award to the farmers the company works with. The recognition highlights efforts to extend carbon market access down to the level of individual smallholder farms.