As the world increasingly focuses on environmental protection, the Save Soil movement, spearheaded by Jaggi Vasudev (Sadhguru), continues to gain traction. The Agri-Startup Utsav 2.0, a significant component of this movement, provided comprehensive training and guidance to farmers, homemakers, and aspiring young entrepreneurs looking to establish sustainable agricultural businesses. Experts shared insights into effective strategies for initiating and expanding successful agricultural ventures, thus encouraging entrepreneurship within the agricultural sector.
The Agri-Startup Utsav 2.0 took place on August 17th at the SRM University campus in Kattankulathur, Chennai, with the support of the SRM Institute of Science and Technology. This event saw the participation of more than 5,000 people, including farmers, homemakers, and youth interested in agriculture-related businesses. The goal of the day-long program was to equip participants with the entrepreneurial skills needed to cultivate profitable and sustainable agricultural practices. The event was also live-streamed, enabling numerous others to participate online and gain valuable knowledge.
The event kicked off with a speech from Swami Shrimukh, the coordinator of the Save Soil movement. Various dignitaries lauded the initiative and training program. Dhanalakshmi Vignesh, the owner of Madurai Thana Food Products, shared her experience of developing a special, nutrient-rich flour for diabetics using traditional rice varieties. Her company has expanded from this single product to over 100 food items, exporting to eight countries and generating a monthly income of 10 lakh rupees. The Save Soil movement is a global initiative focused on addressing soil degradation and restoring soil health through farmer-centric programs. These programs promote multi-cropping and natural agricultural methods to improve soil fertility, water retention, reduce chemical dependence, and build resilience to climate change. This results in higher yields, reduced costs, and increased profitability. The movement has trained over 35,000 farmers, and over 10,000 farmers have successfully embraced natural farming techniques in the previous year.