Clim-Eat is proud to launch a new discussion starter: The potential of carbon credits in incentivizing sustainable agricultural development: Lessons from Southern and Eastern Africa. This paper explores how carbon farming—and the sale of carbon credits—can offer critical financial incentives to support smallholder farmers transitioning to sustainable practices.
While carbon farming offers dual benefits—sequestering carbon and improving soil health—it also faces significant implementation challenges. The paper dives deep into the barriers smallholder farmers encounter, such as high upfront costs, complex monitoring requirements, and volatile market prices. Drawing from real-world experiences across Kenya, Zambia, Ethiopia, and beyond, it highlights both the promise and the pitfalls of leveraging carbon markets in the agricultural sector.
The paper also unpacks the crucial role of intermediary institutions, lessons learned on land tenure issues, the importance of managing farmer expectations, and the need to recognize the broader co-benefits of sustainable practices—like improved yields and resilience. With carbon credit systems continuing to evolve, this paper provides practical insights for policymakers, practitioners, and funders looking to make carbon farming work for people and the planet.
Read the full paper. And let’s discuss—can carbon credits truly transform agriculture in Africa? Share your thoughts via email: mavi@clim-eat.org
