Uttar Pradesh State PCS

• 24 Jul 2024

Enhancing Farmers' Income Through Carbon Credits

Why in News?

The Uttar Pradesh Government will boost farmers' income through carbon credits by encouraging them to join a plantation drive on July 20, when 35.5 crore trees will be planted.

Key Points 

• Objective: The Uttar Pradesh government aims to enhance farmers’ income through carbon finance or carbon credits.
• Plantation Drive: On July 20, a massive plantation drive will take place in the state, during which 35.5 crore trees will be planted.
• Carbon Credits: Farmers receive carbon credits based on the reduction in carbon emissions achieved through the trees they plant. For every ton of carbon dioxide emissions prevented, they earn financial benefits as an incentive.
• Tree Types: Planting fast-growing trees like poplar, melia, dubia, and semal allows farmers to earn additional income from carbon credits.
• Credit Purchase: These carbon credits are purchased every five years at a rate of six US dollars per credit.
• Beneficiaries: In the first phase, farmers from six divisions Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Bareilly, Meerut, Moradabad, and Saharanpur will benefit from carbon credits.
• Incentives: Between 2024 and 2026, 25,140 farmers will receive incentives worth Rs 202 crore.
• Division-wise Distribution:
  • Gorakhpur: 2,406 farmers will receive Rs 34.66 crore.
  • Bareilly: 4,500 farmers will receive Rs 24.84 crore.
  • Lucknow: 2,512 farmers will receive Rs 21.26 crore.
  • Meerut: 3,754 farmers will receive Rs 21.67 crore.
  • Moradabad: 4,697 farmers will receive Rs 38.05 crore.
  • Saharanpur: 7,271 farmers will receive Rs 61.52 crore.
• Estimated Carbon Credits: A total of 42,19,369 carbon credits are expected.
• Future Phases: The second phase will cover seven more divisions, and the third phase aims to include the entire state under carbon financing.
  • In the second phase, seven divisions, Devipatan, Ayodhya, Jhansi, Mirzapur, Kanpur, Varanasi, and Aligarh will be included. 
  • The third phase aims to cover the entire state with carbon financing.
• Carbon financing assigns a monetary value to carbon emissions. 

UP to Plant 3.72 Crore Saplings Along Riverbanks

Why in News?

The Uttar Pradesh government has launched the “Ped Lagao, Ped Bachao Jan Abhiyan-2024” campaign, aiming to plant 3,72,66,000 saplings along riverbanks across the state.

Key Points 

• Riverbanks Covered: 

  • Ganga: 77.5 lakh saplings will be planted on 5,096.42 hectares of land along the Ganga river.

  • Yamuna: 98.47 lakh saplings will be planted at 534 locations along the Yamuna river, covering 6,581.32 hectares.
  • Hindon: Four lakh saplings will beautify the Hindon river on 270.13 hectares.
• Incentive Scheme: In forest divisions along the Ganga, including Prayagraj, Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, Fatehpur, Varanasi, Ghazipur, Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Kashi wildlife, and Ballia, an incentive scheme funded by the National Mission for Clean Ganga is being implemented.
• Tree Varieties: Various trees, including Neem, Drumstick, Tamarind, Arjun, Jamun, Bel, Mango, Mahua, Teak, Sheesham, Guteel, Bamboo, Peepal, Pakkad, and Banyan, will be planted along the riverbanks.
• Medicinal Plants: The initiative also promotes cultivating medicinal and aromatic plants on 2,500 hectares of private land, supported by nurseries.
• This effort not only enhances the state’s green cover but also contributes to environmental conservation.