“Need of the Hour”: TN Minister Mano Thangaraj Hails Cauvery Calling Seminar for Empowering Farmers

• The minister was speaking at the grand seminar hosted by Isha’s Cauvery Calling, which featured expert insights from scientists and farmers who have successfully implemented tree-based farming.
• The seminar witnessed the participation of over 1,500 farmers.

June 23, 2025: “There is an urgent need to build a sustainable future, and it must begin with agriculture. In this context, a seminar like this, attended by experts and successful farmers, is truly the need of the hour. Being in the midst of such a large gathering of farmers fills me with immense joy,” said Tamil Nadu Minister Mano Thangaraj at the seminar organized by Isha Foundation’s Cauvery Calling. Launched by Sadhguru, Cauvery Calling promotes tree-based agriculture to revitalize river Cauvery and enhance farmer incomes.

The grand seminar titled “Alternative Agriculture for Great Income” was conducted on June 22, 2025, at the Sarada Krishna Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital campus in Kulasekharam, Kanyakumari district. The event saw the participation of over 1,500 farmers and featured expert insights from leading scientists and pioneering farmers practicing tree-based agriculture.

“Over the past 25 years, challenges like the large-scale destruction of community forests, careless dumping of plastic waste in rivers, and depleting groundwater levels have emerged. To address these, we must embrace nature-based solutions,” the Minister added further.

Speaking at the seminar, senior scientists Dr. K. Kandiannan, Dr. Mohammad Faisal Peeran and Dr. S. Arthi from the Indian Institute of Spices Research discussed nutmeg cultivation. Dr. Senthilkumar from the National Horticultural Research Institute, Bengaluru, spoke on avocado cultivation. Renowned Integrated Pest Management expert Puchi Selvam shared effective pest control practices, while Josephine Arockia Mary offered insights on enhancing income through beekeeping.

Thamizhmaran, Field Co-ordinator of Cauvery Calling, presented an overview of the project, stating that the seminar blends scientific knowledge from national agricultural institutes with the hands-on experience of pioneering farmers, making it accessible to everyday farmers.

He also proposed key demands to the Minister, including the establishment of a Timber Development Board to regulate sales and minimum support price, ensuring pepper vine distribution across all districts of Tamil Nadu, and facilitation of sandalwood tree sales.

Responding positively, Minister Mano Thangaraj assured support in taking the demands to the relevant ministerial department.

Pioneering farmer Valluvan who achieved success through multi-layer, multi-crop farming within coconut groves shared how this technique taught by the Save Soil movement helped him make farming profitable and brave extreme climate situations. Save Soil is a global movement launched and spearheaded by Sadhguru to address the soil crisis, by uniting people across the globe to stand up for soil health. It is the world’s largest people’s movement, uniting world leaders, visionaries, influencers and over 4 billion citizens to support government policies for soil revitalization.

“Coconut farmers are concerned about low yields, primarily due to climate challenges. Isha’s Save Soil movement taught us that multi-crop farming protects coconut groves. Now, by intercropping nutmeg, banana, timber trees, and areca nuts within coconut groves, I easily earn an annual income of ₹5 lakh,” Valluvan said.

Dr. Arthi shared how nutmeg can be cultivated in hilly regions and the plains with the right conditions and shared the availability of high-yielding varieties. Agri-entrepreneur Sobna Sibi Kallungal shared how she cultivates coconut, areca nut, nutmeg, pepper, banana, vegetables, and fruits through natural farming in her 25 acre farm.

Launched by Sadhguru, Cauvery Calling movement promotes tree-based agriculture among farmers, focusing on three key objectives: enhance farmers’ economic well-being, enrich soil health and improve water retention, in turn helping sustain the river’s year-round flow. The initiative has so far helped over 2 lakh farmers successfully transition to tree-based farming and last year alone, 1.21 crore trees were planted on agricultural lands across Tamil Nadu.