Cauvery Calling: Mega Seminar on Growing Tree Spices

Over 5,000 farmers participated in a training seminar titled "Possibilities of Tree Spices Cultivation in the Plains" in Tamil Nadu.

As part of Cauvery Calling initiative, a training seminar titled "Possibilities of Tree Spices Cultivation in the Plains" was held today (01/09/2024) in Dharapuram. The event took place at the Sri Lakshmi Mahal in Dharapuram, Tiruppur district, and saw the participation of over 5,000 farmers and members of the public.

The seminar was graced by the presence of Honorable Minister of Information, Mr. M.P. Saminathan, and Honorable Minister of Adi Dravidar Welfare, Ms. Kayalvizhi Selvaraj, as special guests. Mr. Tamilmaran, the field coordinator of Cauvery Calling, delivered the welcome address.

During his speech, Mr. Tamilmaran outlined the purpose of the seminar, stating, "Ten years ago, when we suggested the possibility of growing pepper in the plains, many laughed at the idea. However, we persisted with training sessions, and today, pepper cultivation is successful in 37 districts across Tamil Nadu. Similarly, this event is a step toward realizing the potential for nutmeg cultivation in the plains."

Mr. R. Pachaiyappan, trustee of Azhiyar Arivu Thirukoil, Pollachi, who presided over the event, remarked, "This is an excellent initiative. Cauvery Calling has been organizing various seminars to support farmers. They have arranged this seminar in an exemplary manner within a short period. Cultivating only coconut palms may not provide sufficient income. Hence, intercropping with nutmeg, cocoa, and areca nut trees can reduce water requirements, increase income, and enrich the soil." Following him, Kerala farmer Ms. Sophna Sibi Kallingal, recipient of the ICAR Spices Award and a national award for conserving and cultivating 12 varieties of nutmeg, shared her experience. "Isha has organized an outstanding event. The Isha team has met with farmers and scientists continuously for three months, without rest, to make this event a success. My compliments to them.

Nutmeg is a crop that thrives with moderate water and can grow well in a variety of soils, such as clay and sandy soils, provided the conditions are right," she explained, sharing her success story in nutmeg cultivation.

Additionally, Mr. Mohammad Nisar, a scientist from IISR, Kozhikode, discussed the technology and varieties of nutmeg cultivation in the plains. Following him, Mr. Senthilkumar, a scientist from IIHR, Bengaluru, spoke on the feasibility of avocado cultivation in the plains.

Later, Mr. Mohammad Faisal Peeran, another scientist from IISR, Kozhikode, addressed "Nutmeg Value Addition and Disease Management in Tree Spices." Former Chairman of the Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam, Mr. Balamohan, provided a scientific explanation of nutmeg cultivation in the plains.

Furthermore, Mr. Manikandan, Deputy Director of Spices Board Marketing, spoke on domestic and international market opportunities for nutmeg. Mr. Senthil Kumar, Assistant Director of the Indian Institute of Spices Research, Bodinayakkanur, discussed the market potential for tree spices like cinnamon, cloves, and saffron.

Pioneering farmers successfully cultivating tree spices in the plains, such as Mr. Arumugam from Dharapuram, Mr. Rasool Maideen from Dindigul, Mr. Dashina Moorthy from Gobi, Mr. Valluvar from Pollachi, Mr. Radhakrishnan from Chittoor, Mr. Gnanaravanan from Palakkad, Ms. Sophna from Thrissur, Dr. Moorthy from Azhiyar, Mr. H.K. Manjunath from Arsikere, and Dr. Srinivas from Hyderabad, also shared their experiences at the event.

Another key highlight of the seminar was the distribution of a 'Guidebook' to all participants, designed to assist with the successful cultivation of tree spices in the plains. The book included information on crop varieties, yield details, planting methods, water management, and more. Additionally, tree spices were made available to all farmers at a reduced cost.

The "Cauvery Calling" movement was launched as a scale up of earlier tree planting initiatives by Sadhguru in 2019 with the aim of revitalizing the Cauvery River. The initiative plans to enable farmers to plant millions of trees in their agricultural lands within the Cauvery basin. By planting more trees, the soil quality and its water retention capacity will improve, allowing more rainwater to be absorbed into the soil during monsoon seasons. This will not only raise groundwater levels but also help keep Cauvery and its tributaries flowing.

Wonderful to see more and more farmers embrace tree-based agriculture which will result in economic & ecological wealth. Once soil is enriched, it will offer innumerable possibilities for the farming community & the rural economy. This Movement must continue to grow and spread… https://t.co/mQqHwqFFUF

— Sadhguru (@SadhguruJV) September 2, 2024

The Movement, in collaboration with various organizations, has been conducting training seminars to raise awareness among farmers about tree-based agriculture. Notably, this seminar focused on tree spices for coconut and timber farmers.