Unique ‘Cauvery Calling’ agro forestry plan launched
The “Cauvery Calling†campaign aimed at covering 28 districts in the river basin in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
CHENNAI: A unique approach to farming with an economically lucrative agro forestry model - Cauvery Calling - was launched on Wednesday by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, founder, Isha Foundation.
The “Cauvery Calling” campaign aimed at covering 28 districts in the river basin in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka will create awareness about agro forestry model. A convoy of vehicles as part of the “Cauvery Calling” rally was flagged off from the famed Adiyogi, the 112-ft bust of Lord Shiva at the foothills of the Velliangiri Mountains, by Isha founder and architect of nation-wide Rally for Rivers (RfR) movement, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev.
“Cauvery Calling offers a fresh approach to farming with an economically lucrative agro forestry model that is proven and the model has not only enriched soil and enhanced groundwater levels, but has also contributed to a growth in farmers’ wealth within a five to eight year period,” he said. The campaign, which seeks to revitalise the river, was announced on July 20 after a board meeting of the RfR in Bengaluru.
“Cauvery Calling” will enable farmers to plant 242 crore trees in the Cauvery basin with an economically attractive proposition in order to make it sustainable and increase its acceptability in the farmer community. It will also restore water flow levels of the river. “This will be of great benefit if the government provides subsidy for 4 years to farmers who convert to agro-forestry,” the Sadhguru said and added that Isha had approached the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments in this regard.
The vehicle rally will create awareness about the unique approach among villages in the Cauvery basin. The month-long rally is expected to reach thousands of farmers in the Cauvery belt of the two States. A combination of video clips, personal interactions and printed literature will create mass awareness about the ecologic and economic benefits of agro-forestry.
Sadhguru will also lead a bike rally from Talacauvery, the birthplace of the river, in September.
Spread over two weeks, he will ride with a group of bikers from Talacauvery to Tiruvarur in Tamil Nadu where Cauvery meets the ocean.
Vanathi Srinivasan, BJP state general secretary, E.R Eeswaran, general secretary of Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi, Dr. Krishnaswamy, founder of Puthiya Tamilagam and actress Radhika Sarathkumar also participated in the event.