Haritha Haram programme: Seed bombing to green spaces

Hyderabad: With good rains expected this year, environmentalists and plant lovers are taking to seed bombing to make their surroundings greener. The state government will be embarking on its ambitious Haritha Haram programme to plant 4 crore saplings this year. Biodiversity experts Thusli Rao said the monsoon is the best season for seed bombing.

“A seed bomb can retain moisture and prevent seeds from getting dispersed. It also protects the seed from being consumed by animals and birds,” he said. When thrown, the seeds germinate in the bomb which has a mixture of earth and cow dung. The saplings anchor themselves well in the soil.

It doesn’t require a governmental effort to disperse seed bombs. Common citizens can prepare seed bombs and disperse them too. While the seed of any plant is just fine, spreading leguminous seeds like beans and groundnuts which help in adding nitrogen to the soil is a better option. Innovators are also looking to further this technology. “A new gluten-based seed bomb has a 82-per cent success rate as opposed to traditional bombs that have a 45 per cent success rate,” said Mr Shravan Gattu, an innovator.

Seed bombing was traditionally done aerially over forests, but are increasingly being used to spread green cover on highways, government lands, unused plots or one’s own backyard.