Chennai – ‘Cauvery Calling,’ a renowned initiative launched by Indian Yogi and Isha Foundation founder and spiritual leader Sadhguru, has achieved another significant milestone. The campaign has set a new record by planting 1.36 crore (13.6 million) saplings across 34,000 acres of land in the Cauvery river basin. To date, a total of 12.2 crore (122 million) saplings have been planted through this campaign, empowering 2.38 lakh (238,000) farmers to adopt tree-based agriculture. Over the past year alone, 50,931 farmers and citizens actively participated in this large-scale environmental endeavor.
‘Cauvery Calling’ stands as the world’s largest farmer-led environmental campaign with the potential to transform tropical regions. The initiative has been honored as a top innovator by the Trillion Trees: India Challenge. Its core objective is to revitalize the Cauvery River, the lifeline for 8.4 crore (84 million) people, and to significantly increase farmers’ income by planting 2.42 billion trees on private farmlands. This promotes tree-based agriculture, which improves soil fertility, conserves water, helps maintain perennial river flow, and boosts farmers’ earnings.
Sadhguru emphasized the importance of soil enrichment, stating on X, “Right now, the greatest service anyone can do for the planet and future generations is to enrich the soil. Congratulations and blessings to the 160 women happily working to enrich the soil, meeting the greatest need of the earth today. Their efforts must be immediately promoted and supported through global policy-making to #SaveSoil. This is the greatest need of the hour. Let’s make it happen.” He added that ‘Cauvery Calling’ will demonstrate to the world that planned and strategic action can transform barren land. He urged every individual nurtured by soil and water to become part of this movement. Anand Ethirajulu, Project Director of Cauvery Calling and a representative of the Save Soil movement, underscored the urgency of soil regeneration. He highlighted that only 4% of global climate finance reaches agriculture and food systems, emphasizing that climate change can be fixed in the soil, not just the atmosphere. He called for greater focus and investment in soil regeneration through tree-based agriculture.
According to Anand Ethirajulu, the success of this campaign is significantly bolstered by ‘Cauvery Calling’ production centers. The world’s largest single-site nursery in Cuddalore, with a capacity for 85 lakh (8.5 million) saplings, is entirely run by women. Another nursery in Tiruvannamalai produces 15 lakh (1.5 million) saplings. These nurseries supply 40 distribution centers in Tamil Nadu and 10 in Karnataka, providing saplings of 29 high-value timber species like Teak, Red Sandalwood, Rosewood, and Mahogany for a mere ₹3 each. ‘Cauvery Calling’ has deployed over 160 field officers who have visited more than 32,000 farmlands, offering free consultations based on soil, water, and regional conditions. Furthermore, over 52,000 farmers receive real-time advice through more than 225 WhatsApp groups, and a helpline operating from 9 AM to 9 PM resolves queries within 24-48 hours.
