The global focus on environmental protection and soil conservation has led to initiatives like the Save Soil movement, spearheaded by Jaggi Vasudev (Sadhguru). The Agri-Startup Utsav 2.0, a key event under this movement, saw participation from over 5,000 individuals. The program offered comprehensive training and mentorship to farmers, homemakers, and young people interested in establishing sustainable agricultural ventures. The event provided expert insights into strategies for developing profitable agricultural businesses, thereby fostering entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector.
The Agri-Startup Utsav 2.0 was organized on August 17th at the SRM Institute of Science and Technology campus in Kattankulathur, Chennai, in collaboration with the Save Soil movement. The event attracted over 5,000 participants, including farmers, homemakers, and youth exploring a future in agriculture-based businesses. The aim of the day-long program was to equip participants with entrepreneurial skills to make agriculture both profitable and sustainable. The event’s live broadcast enabled hundreds of others to join online and benefit from the training.
The seminar began with a speech from Swami Shrimukh, the coordinator of the Save Soil movement. Notable figures praised the initiative and training program. One of the highlights was the experience shared by Dhanalakshmi Vignesh, owner of Madurai Thana Food Products. She discussed the creation of a special nutrient-rich flour for sugar patients using traditional rice varieties. Starting from this product, her company now offers over 100 food items, exports to eight countries, and generates a monthly income of 10 lakh rupees. The Save Soil movement is a global effort aimed at combating soil degradation and restoring soil health through farmer-focused programs that promote multi-cropping and natural farming techniques. These methods enhance soil fertility, improve water retention, reduce chemical dependence, and build climate resilience, resulting in better yields, reduced costs, and increased profitability. Furthermore, the movement has trained over 35,000 farmers and facilitated over 10,000 farmers in successfully adopting natural farming practices in the preceding year.