Beetle Bulletin #2: Cotton, Carbon & Context

Cotton, Carbon & Context: India's Soil-Deep Shift to Sustainability
By Hemant Rajput, COO, Beetle Regen Solutions

India's cotton story has long been told in numbers…

Millions of bales.
Millions of livelihoods.
A global leader in output.

But behind those figures lies a quieter revolution—one that's turning the conversation from yield to regeneration, from scale to sustainability.

In 2023, India produced close to 35 million bales of cotton—roughly a quarter of the world's total output. But the ground realities are more complex than growth charts. Soil fatigue. Climate stress. Shrinking returns for smallholders. These aren't just agricultural concerns—they're signals that the system, as it stands, is running on borrowed time.

That's where regenerative agriculture comes in—not as a buzzword, but as a bottom-up strategy. We're seeing growing traction for climate-smart practices: intercropping, minimal tillage, crop residue management. They may sound simple, but in regions where soil organic carbon levels hover below 0.4%, these are game-changers.

At Beetle, our model isn't built on idealism—it's built on iteration. One key learning? Context is king. Solutions that work in Khargone won't necessarily translate to Nagpur. That's why our field teams spend more time listening than propagating.

What sets us apart isn't just the methods we promote—it's how we deploy them. Our use of biochar, for instance, is about more than carbon sequestration. It's a data-backed, locally sourced way to improve soil fertility while locking carbon underground. We're also harnessing remote sensing, farmer-led insights and scalable digital tools to ensure our impact is measurable and replicable.

This year, we've doubled down on decentralization and experimentation. From seed procurement models to vermicompost units and farmer-led trials, we're learning fast—and learning local.

India may be the world's cotton capital. But the real potential lies not in what we grow, but in how we grow it. Regenerative Agriculture isn't just a way forward—it's our chance to reimagine cotton as a climate asset, not a climate cost.

The soil holds the answers. Our job is to keep asking the right questions.

Beetle Buzz: What's New

Kasturi Cotton Goes Global: A Proud First for Beetle's regenagri Journey

We're thrilled to share a milestone moment—India's first-ever export of Kasturi Cotton bales came from our very own regenagri projects! A huge shoutout to our partners at Amit Cot Fibres for making this possible. At Beetle, we're committed to strengthening India's cotton value chain by championing quality, traceability, and sustainability. This achievement marks a big step forward and reinforces global trust in India's premium, responsibly grown cotton. And we know—this is only the beginning for Kasturi Cotton on the international stage!

Kisan Mela, Khargone: A Celebration of Learning, Soil & Solidarity

In the heart of Khargone, over 600 cotton farmers gathered for a day that sparked a movement. The Kisan Mela, part of the Special Cotton Project 2024–25 (by the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Textiles under NFSM), brought together farmers from a 40+ km radius to learn, connect and celebrate.

Led by Regen Ambassadors from the Niranjanlal Agarwal Foundation (NAF) and supported by Beetle Regen Solutions and CITI-CDRA, the event focused on High-Density Planting Systems (HDPS), Biochar and regenerative practices. The day kicked off with a traditional Saraswati Puja setting the tone for a meaningful gathering. It was followed by dynamic sessions led by experts like Dr. R.K. Singh (from our indigenous local agriculture expertise hubs - Krish Vigyan Kendras aka KVKs), N.K. Tambe and our progressive farmers. A standout moment came when a woman farmer shared her journey of making biochar from cotton stalks—highlighting its powerful impact on soil health and underscoring the growing role of women in leading regenerative change. Many changemakers like Tulsiram Lohare, a CITI Sustainability Awardee, were also felicitated for their pioneering efforts in HDPS and Closer Spacing Farming.

Beyond talks, the Mela fostered laughter, bonding and real learning. Even weeks later, farmer queries keep pouring in—on seeds, spacing and Biochar—underscoring its deep resonance. This wasn't just an event—it was a movement powered by partnerships, proof that farmer-first, climate-smart solutions are taking root in India.

Collaborative Knowledge Building: Nurturing Changemakers for Regenerating Soil and Communities

At Beetle Regen Solutions, our commitment to soil regeneration extends beyond the field, it begins with knowledge, dialogue and empowerment. This April, we continued our journey of cultivating change by organizing Collaborative Knowledge Building (CKB) workshops across Khargone (Madhya Pradesh) and Nagpur (Maharashtra). These sessions were immersive, hands-on learning experiences designed to equip our Regen Ambassadors (RAs) with the tools and understanding they need to support over 32,000 farmers across these two districts.

Khargone: Deepening Roots in Regenerative Agriculture

Held during the last week of April, our 3-day CKB workshop in Khargone brought together over 70 participants, including Regen Ambassadors from Beetle, Members of CITI-CDRA from three states and representatives from IDH, Bhopal.

This intensive learning space delved deep into a wide range of regenerative cotton farming practices. Participants were introduced to the core principles of Punaryoji Krishi and explored strategies for testing and improving soil health. The program also covered water-efficient irrigation systems, the benefits of multi-cropping, crop rotation, and cover cropping, along with natural approaches to pest and nutrient management. A special focus was placed on biochar—its preparation and application—as well as the use of Weekly Plant Prognosis tools for effective field monitoring. Additionally, the training provided an overview of regenagri certification standards and documentation processes, and introduced the High Density Planting System (HDPS) as a method for enhancing crop yield.

Participants actively engaged through hands-on demonstrations, team games, case study discussions and reflection. The diversity of attendees, from young 12th pass youth to seasoned agronomists, added richness to the discussions and solution-building processes.

Nagpur: Grounding Change, One Village at a Time

On 29th and 30th April, our team stepped into the heart of Nagpur district, holding a uniquely grounded CKB across Narkhed and Katol blocks. Unlike traditional classroom sessions, this CKB included:

· Two field sessions in villages with lead farmers, RAs, Agronomists, and the District Manager

· One day of office training to reinforce the learnings and prepare RAs for field dissemination

The training addressed urgent local issues most notably, the alarmingly low Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) levels in the farmlands. With no slides or screens, discussions focused on practical, accessible regenerative methods like reduced tillage, enhancing biodiversity through crop rotations, intercropping, cover cropping, agroforestry, residue management, usage of short-duration varieties for timely cotton termination and second cropping. The experience reinforced our team's conviction that regeneration is not just about farming techniques, it's about understanding the 'why' behind them. It is in these real conversations, shared meals, and field visits that conviction takes roots.

From Training to Transformation

These CKBs are central to how Beetle builds local leadership and sustains momentum. Our Regen Ambassadors are young changemakers who carry forward this knowledge into the fields, engaging with farmers on scientific practices, regenerative agriculture, field monitoring and record-keeping, Farmer-friendly communication, standard compliance, etc. Together, we are making Punaryoji Krishi (Regenerative Agriculture) a movement rooted in science, understanding, empathy and community. We extend our heartfelt thanks to every participant, farmer, and team member who made these sessions successful.

Until Next Time: Let's Regenerate Together!

As we wrap up this edition of Beetle Bulletin, we hope these stories, insights, and updates have given you a deeper glimpse into the impact we are creating together. Every step we take—whether on the field, in research, or through innovation—brings us closer to a regenerative future.

Stay tuned for the next edition, and as always, we'd love to hear your thoughts, ideas, and contributions!

Beetle Bulletin #2

'A New Dawn'

June 9, 2025