NEW DELHI (India CSR): Asvata Climate Solutions, the carbon credit venture of RPG Group, has entered into a strategic partnership with Equilibrium to expand a regenerative agriculture project in Andhra Pradesh. The initiative, already under execution in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts, will directly benefit 10,000 smallholder farmers and impact over 40,000 livelihoods in the region.
A joint investment of approximately $2 million — including $1.6 million from RPG Group — will be used to restore 8,000 hectares of farmland. The project aims to sequester an estimated 30,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent annually. Expansion plans target 25,000 hectares by 2027.
Navin Mathur, COO, Asvata Climate Solutions, said, “At Asvata, our core promise is building scalable climate solutions that deliver measurable impact to benefit the planet, people and businesses. Together with Equilibrium, our investment is to support climate-smart agriculture and drive inclusive, long-term resilience.”
Siddhanth Jayaram, Founder, Equilibrium, said,”At Equilibrium, we design every intervention to reflect the realities of local landscapes. In Andhra Pradesh, our project has helped tackle water stress, improve soil health and crop yields there by ensuring transition to climate smart agriculture remains permanent over decades. This partnership with Asvata reinforces the quality and impact of our interventions. Collectively, we are excited to scale and build solutions that can stand as models for climate leadership in the global south.”
Project Scope and Interventions
The programme focuses on promoting climate-smart agricultural practices such as:
- Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) for water efficiency.
- Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) to reduce water and labour costs.
- Reduced tillage to maintain soil structure.
- Cover cropping to improve soil health and biodiversity.
These methods are designed to cut water use by up to 30%, lower input costs for farmers, enhance soil fertility, and generate additional income via carbon markets.
Implementation Framework
Under the partnership, Asvata Climate Solutions will lead on strategic direction, while Equilibrium will manage on-the-ground execution. The project uses a blended finance model, combining philanthropic support, catalytic funding, and commercial investment, to enable large-scale implementation.
Monitoring and verification will be conducted through Equilibrium’s proprietary digital MRV (D-MRV) platform, tracking metrics such as water savings, soil quality improvement, and carbon sequestration in real time.
Funding and Early Support
The early-stage risk capital for the project was provided by USAID’s Water and Energy for Food programme and Equilibrium, targeting areas that typically receive limited traditional financing. This funding was directed towards community mobilisation, farmer training, and developing robust data systems.
Regional and Sectoral Significance
With climate variability and irregular rainfall patterns increasingly affecting Andhra Pradesh, the model offers a replicable approach to agricultural climate adaptation. The partnership aims to establish a framework for scaling similar climate-smart initiatives across other vulnerable geographies.
(India CSR)
