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Record-breaking 1.36 Crore Saplings Planted in 2024-25 through Cauvery Calling, Surpassing Overall Tree Plantation to 12.2 Crore

Cauvery Revitalization Project Adds 1.36 Crore Trees in '24-'25, Achieves 12.2 Crore Total. Over 2.38 Lakh Farmers Aided, the Initiative Elevates Agriculture with Trees, Revives Cauvery River, Boosts Local Economy, and Improves Soil Quality through Extensive Public Participation and Workshops.

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In the year 2024-25, the Cauvery Calling initiative managed to plant an impressive 1.36 crore...
In the year 2024-25, the Cauvery Calling initiative managed to plant an impressive 1.36 crore saplings, increasing the overall count to 12.2 crore. By aiding over 2.38 lakh farmers, this project encouraged tree-based agriculture as a means to revitalize the Cauvery River, improve local economies, and rehabilitate the soil with the help of extensive community participation and educational programs.

Record-breaking 1.36 Crore Saplings Planted in 2024-25 through Cauvery Calling, Surpassing Overall Tree Plantation to 12.2 Crore

Hear it Out:

The Cauvery Calling venture, masterminded by Sadhguru, turned the Cauvery basin into a green paradise in 2025, with a whopping 1.36 crore saplings planted across 34,000 acres. This colossal initiative, gathering steam since 2024, has earmarked a total of 12.2 crore saplings, providing a new lease of life to 2.38 lakh farmers embracing tree-based agriculture. Notably, the past year witnessed a staggering 50,931 farmers and citizens throwing their might behind this ecological crusade.

The world's most extensive farmer-led ecological project, Cauvery Calling, is revolutionizing tropical regions with its groundbreaking eco-restoration efforts. The movement gained international recognition as a Top Innovator in the Trillion Trees: India Challenge and seeks to revive the Cauvery River – a lifeline supporting 8.4 crore people – by seeding a humongous 242 crore trees on private farmlands.

Emphasizing the urgency of soil regeneration, Anand Ethirajalu, Project Director of Cauvery Calling, and a representative of the Save Soil movement, highlighted the dismal truth that less than 4% of global climate finance reaches agriculture and food systems.

"Climate change isn't merely a heavenly problem," Ethirajalu asserted. "It can and must be addressed by healing our earth – the soil. Investing more resources in soil regeneration through tree-based agriculture is a sine qua non," he added.

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To reach its ambitious target of planting over a crore saplings annually, Cauvery Calling relies heavily on a fleet of high-capacity nurseries. One of the world's largest nurseries sits in Cuddalore, exclusively managed by women and capable of producing 85 lakh saplings. Its counterpart in Thiruvannamalai churns out 15 lakh saplings. Together, these powerhouses form the backbone of the initiative, supplying 40 distribution centers across Tamil Nadu and 10 in Karnataka. The alliance offers a diverse range of 29 high-value tree species, including but not limited to Teak, Red Sandalwood, Rosewood, and Mahogany at a highly subsidized rate of Rs. 3 per sapling. Notably, the Bengaluru Nursery at Sadhguru Sannidhi achieved the impressive milestone of aiding 1,30,000 saplings planted since its inception in December 2023.

Cauvery Calling isn't just about assisting farmers, but empowering them by enabling them to operate their own sapling production and distribution franchises. By equipping them with knowledge and resources, farmers enjoy lasting income and contribute to ecological restoration, engaging in self-reliance.

"Presently, 22 farming households supervise production nurseries, with 22 more managing distribution franchises," reveals Thamizhmaaran, the Operations Lead at Cauvery Calling. The model gives farmers the means to earn sustainably while working for our planet's well-being.

Cauvery Calling's on-ground triumphs extend beyond farmlands. Boasting a team of over 160 field executives, the initiative has visited more than 32,000 farms. These stalwarts offer expert-led, free consultations from pre-plantation to post-plantation, amplifying awareness on tree-based agriculture's advantages. Based on soil type, soil depth, and water tests, they propose tailor-made tree species for each farmer's land – a decision that takes into account regional endemic varieties, agro-climatic conditions, and farmers' income cycle expectations.

The initiative conciliates farmers through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), NGOs, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Gram Panchayats, and agricultural expos. Bolstering this collective, over 52,000 farmers remain nurtured via 225 active WhatsApp groups proffering real-time advice and a dedicated helpline operational from 9 AM to 9 PM, providing answers to farmers' queries within 24 to 48 hours.

To escalate this eco-movement, Cauvery Calling hosted 2 mega training programs and 6 zonal programs in 2024, witnessing an astounding participation of 8,721 farmers. The sessions also featured experts from eminent institutions such as the National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB), Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), and Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI), sharing valuable insights about tree-based agriculture.

In 2024, several landmark days – World Environment Day (June 5), Van Mahotsav Week (July 1-7), Gandhi Jayanti (October 2), and World Soil Day (December 5) – saw a series of plantation events, with the planting of 10 lakh saplings across 506 events.

First published on: 05 Jun 2025, 15:03 IST

Additional Findings:

Notable Recipients:

  • Sadhguru: Global Indian of the Year (for contributions to ecological sustainability) [2]

Key Focal Points:

  1. Environmental Revitalization: Improving the Cauvery River's health and year-round flow to support the lives of over 84 million people.
  2. Tree-Based Agriculture Promotion: Encouraging farmers to adopt tree-based agriculture for better soil health, water retention, and income enhancement.
  3. Economic and Social Impact: Supporting farmers in transitioning to sustainable practices, thereby boosting their economic stability and contributing to national GDP.

Sources:[1] Save Soil: Cauvery Calling 2024-25 Progress Update[2] Economic Times: Sadhguru wins Global Indian of the Year for contributions to ecological sustainability[3] The Hindu: Amit Shah plants 4 croreth sapling for All India Tree Plantation Campaign[4] Business Standard: Cauvery Calling: Planting 242 crore trees to save the Cauvery River[5] Down to Earth: Cauvery Calling promises sustainable livelihoods for farmers in the Cauvery basin

  1. The Cauvery Calling initiative, recognized as a Top Innovator in the Trillion Trees: India Challenge, had the support of 50,931 farmers and citizens by the end of the past year, working towards reviving the Cauvery River through tree-based agriculture.
  2. To support its mission of planting over a crore saplings annually, Cauvery Calling relies on high-capacity nurseries like the one in Cuddalore, managed by women, producing 85 lakh saplings and serving as a backbone for the initiative.
  3. As part of Cauvery Calling's efforts, farmers are not only provided with tree saplings but also equipped with the knowledge and resources to operate their own production and distribution franchises, ensuring sustainable income while contributing to ecological restoration.
  4. In addition to the progress on farmlands, Cauvery Calling has visited over 32,000 farms, offering expert-led consultations and proposing tailor-made tree species based on soil conditions and regional endemic varieties, aiming to improve agricultural practices and the health of the Cauvery River.

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