The Save Soil – Cauvery Calling campaign has so far facilitated the plantation of 13.4 crore trees, supporting 2.6 lakh farmers in adopting tree-based agriculture, said Anand Ethirajalu, Project Director of the movement.
The movement targets planting 1.2 crore saplings in 2026-27.
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“Thirteen crore trees are not just a number. It represents 2.6 lakh farmers who have permanently changed how they cultivate,” Anand stressed.
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The shift from single crop to tree-based agriculture will decide whether the Cauvery River flows year-round in the decades ahead, the project director said.
When policy and farmers come together, the country can revive its soil, replenish its water resources, and secure rural livelihoods, he further said.
On being asked by The Statesman whether the campaign is getting support from the corporates and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), Anand replied affirmatively, saying, “It is both ways.”
He said that certain organisations come to them, and they also actively reach out to these Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) entities.
On the occasion, Thiru Valluvan, a farmer, also interacted with the media.
He thanked Save Soil – Cauvery Calling for helping him earn international recognition at the ‘Farmer Contest: Soil Health Guardians’ in 2024, organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
A native of Tamil Nadu, Valluvan informed that he adapted mulching, minimal tillage, and cover cropping techniques. This improved the soil’s organic carbon levels on his land.
He also underlined that global warming can be mitigated by using tree-based agriculture.
A farmer-driven ecological crusade, Save Soil – Cauvery Calling, is not only focused on restoring the Cauvery River but also improving farmers’ incomes through tree-based agriculture.
The Cauvery basin has suffered significant ecological degradation. To address this, on private farmland, the movement aims to encourage the plantation of 242 crore trees.
The movement is envisioned by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev.
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