ICAR launches biochar pilot project in Keri and Priol, Ponda, Goa

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has initiated a pilot programme to evaluate the use of biochar in agricultural soils at Keri and Priol, two villages in the Ponda taluka of Goa. The project aims to assess biochar's potential to improve soil health, enhance nutrient retention, and increase crop productivity under local conditions. Field trials will involve the preparation of biochar from agricultural residues and its incorporation into farm fields, with monitoring of soil parameters and crop yields over the coming seasons. ICAR officials said the pilot will generate data that could inform wider adoption of biochar technologies across the state and possibly other regions of India. The initiative reflects growing interest in sustainable farming practices that reduce reliance on chemical inputs while sequestering carbon in the soil.