Buyers are taking rice methane to scale in India. Google's four-year deal with Mitti Labs covers more than 100,000 hectares of alternate wetting and drying in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, five months after Amazon bought 685,000 tonnes from The Good Rice Alliance. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency published a rice-cultivation methodology for the Indian Carbon Market on 30 June, and Japan's JCM buyers meet in Delhi on 28 September. On the registries India holds 58 of the 115 rice and AWD projects in pipeline or validation worldwide.
By registry: Verra 1,259 · Gold Standard 727 · Isometric 21
5 stories that change the picture for India.
Google buys 1 million rice methane credits from Mitti Labs
Four years to 2030; alternate wetting and drying with more than 70,000 farmers on over 100,000 hectares at peak, in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Why it matters. Google's largest rice methane purchase is Indian smallholder supply. AWD in India now has a corporate price reference at scale.
First soil-carbon payments reach 2,550 farmers in Punjab and Haryana
Rs 2.9 crore paid by direct benefit transfer under Grow Indigo's Aadi programme, for direct-seeded rice, reduced tillage and residue management; over 50,000 Verra VM0042 credits in the first issuance.
Why it matters. Money reaching the farmer's account is the proof point Indian agricultural programmes lacked. Expect buyers to ask every rice and soil developer how their farmers get paid.
Japan–India JCM forum, Delhi, 28 September
Japan targets about 100 Mt of JCM reductions by FY2030 and 200 Mt by FY2040.
Why it matters. Japan is the largest committed Article 6.2 buyer. Watch for the first India shortlist and any signal on nature-based eligibility.
India's Bureau of Energy Efficiency publishes a rice-cultivation methodology
Recognises alternate wetting and drying, aerobic cultivation and direct-seeded rice, with nitrogen management and avoided residue burning also eligible.
Why it matters. A domestic crediting route for the same farms gives developers a choice between Verra for export buyers and the Indian Carbon Market. Watch the rules on claiming the same tonne twice.
Amazon's 685,000-tonne rice deal with The Good Rice Alliance
13,000 smallholders on 35,000 hectares, alternate wetting and drying and direct-seeded rice, under Verra VM0051.
Why it matters. With Google's deal, two of the largest corporate buyers now hold Indian rice offtakes. VM0051 is the methodology to know.
1 new listings, 3 status changes, 0 newly registered or certified.
The late list, the pipeline mix, and who is originating.
Most active proponents in the pipeline
- EKI Energy Services Limited (PP) 51 projects in pipeline or validation
- EKI Energy Services Limited 21 projects in pipeline or validation
- Energy Management Centre - Kerala 20 projects in pipeline or validation
- Kosher Climate India Pvt Ltd. 17 projects in pipeline or validation
- Core CarbonX Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (PP) 16 projects in pipeline or validation
- RITE WATER SOLUTIONS (INDIA) PRIVATE LIMITED 11 projects in pipeline or validation
Position Check
Built from registry counts as of 25 September 2026. Late to verify is Verra's own status; the read is ours.
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