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Envisioned by Sadhguru, the broader Save Soil–Cauvery Calling initiative aims to facilitate the planting of 242 crore trees on farmlands across the river basin
The commercial viability of the model has been highlighted through field outcomes along the Cauvery basin, notably by Valluvan, a UN award-winning farmer managing an 11-hectare estate in Pollachi. Image/News18
On the occasion of World Environment Day, the Save Soil–Cauvery Calling movement has urged governments to formalise farmer-friendly policies and financial incentives to accelerate the adoption of tree-based agriculture, framing the model as a viable economic solution to critical tropical ecological challenges.
The movement, accredited by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), stated that integrating trees into regular farmlands can enhance agricultural incomes by 300 to 800 per cent while simultaneously restoring river flows, improving soil health, and upgrading produce quality.
The commercial viability of the model has been highlighted through field outcomes along the Cauvery basin, notably by Valluvan, a UN award-winning farmer managing an 11-hectare estate in Pollachi. In 2009, Valluvan transitioned his loss-making coconut monoculture farm into a diversified food forest utilising regenerative techniques. Alongside his primary coconut crop, he integrated 13 additional species, including nutmeg, areca nut, curry leaves, turmeric, elephant yam, and seven varieties of banana.
According to Valluvan, his annual returns rose from a previous income of Rs 30,000 per acre—where he incurred a loss of Rs 200 per coconut tree under monoculture—to between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh per acre annually. Furthermore, the practice of mulching and cover-cropping enabled his farm to retain moisture and survive the severe regional drought of 2017, while dedicated rainwater harvesting pits successfully prevented soil erosion during periods of heavy rainfall.
On-ground testing showed that the farm’s soil organic carbon escalated from approximately 0.52 per cent to 3.36 per cent. Concurrently, individual coconut yields rose from 100 to nearly 160 nuts per tree, with the average weight per nut improving from 400 grams to approximately 550 grams. Valluvan’s restoration practices have since been documented in the UNCCD-WOCAT global database and are certified by the Tamil Nadu Organic Certification Department.
Envisioned by Sadhguru, the broader Save Soil–Cauvery Calling initiative aims to facilitate the planting of 242 crore trees on farmlands across the river basin. To date, the project has enabled the planting of 13.4 crore trees and supported 2.6 lakh farmers making the ecological transition.
To maintain a steady supply line, the movement operates Asia’s largest single-site nursery in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, which is managed by over 200 women and has a production capacity of 85 lakh saplings. A secondary nursery facility in Thiruvannamalai produces an additional 15 lakh saplings.
These facilities distribute flora via 45 centres in Tamil Nadu and eight in Karnataka, offering farmers a selection of 54 varieties. This includes 29 high-value timber species such as Teak, Red Sandalwood, Rosewood, and Mahogany, which are provided at a subsidised rate of Rs 5, while fruit and flower saplings are priced at Rs 10.
To ensure post-plantation survival, the initiative deployed over 200 field executives who conducted technical on-site visits to more than 26,500 farmlands in 2025 alone. These free consultations evaluate soil depth, soil type, and localised water conditions to match region-specific species with the income cycles of individual farmers.
The initiative actively disseminates information through Gram Panchayats, agricultural expos, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). Real-time troubleshooting is managed through 225 dedicated WhatsApp groups comprising over 60,000 farmers, backed by a daily 12-hour helpline. In 2025, the group organised three mega training programmes for 14,000 farmers, featuring agronomists and groundwater specialists from institutions including the ICFRE, TNAU, IISR, IIHR, KFRI, and the Central Ground Water Board.
Cauvery Calling operates as one of three primary pillars under the global Save Soil movement. It runs alongside the Save Soil Farmers Movement, which groups agriculturalists into FPOs for enhanced market access, and the Save Soil Regenerative Revolution (SS-RR), which focuses on scientific regenerative training. As of March 31, 2026, the SS-RR wing has conducted 532 training programmes for 40,311 farmers, while its digital archive of 1,260 technical videos has amassed 296 million views across platforms.
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