ET Startup Awards 2026 | Social Enterprise: Varaha delivers carbon dollars to smallholder farmers

Climate change is putting growing pressure on small farmers, who typically cultivate on one or two hectares. Erratic weather, poor soil health and rising input costs are squeezing their incomes. This year’s ET Startup Awards winner in the Social Enterprise category is building a way for these farmers to earn additional income from carbon markets while making their farms more resilient to climate change.

Varaha is helping farmers adopt sustainable farming practices such as regenerative farming, tree planting, biochar and enhanced rock weathering that improve organic carbon and moisture retention in soil and boost biodiversity, while reducing farmers’ dependence on synthetic inputs.