Sadhguru has welcomed the recently announced model agroforestry guidelines by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, describing them as a “sweeping reform” needed to double farmers’ incomes, increase green cover, and Save the Soil of Bharat.
These model guidelines aim to promote tree-based agriculture across the country by removing regulatory hurdles for farmers, increasing tree cover outside forest areas, reducing timber imports, and addressing climate change.
In a post on X, Sadhguru stated, “This is the kind of sweeping reform we need to double our farmers’ incomes, increase green cover and Save Soil of Bharat. The new Agroforestry rules will incentivize farmers to profit economically from growing trees on their farmlands. It will also assure them of legitimate markets across the world, further incentivizing farmers toward tree cultivation.”
“Congratulations to the Environment Ministry on this landmark, progressive reform which will demonstrate to the world that Economy & Ecology can complement each other with great all-round benefits for the soil, water, our farmers and the Nation.”
Sadhguru has been at the forefront of several large-scale environmental movements, including Rally for Rivers, Cauvery Calling, and the Save Soil Movement, consistently emphasising the connection between soil health, green cover, water conservation, and farmer prosperity.
The Cauvery Calling movement has played a pioneering role in promoting tree-based agriculture. It has enabled farmers to plant high-value timber species on their lands, thereby increasing their incomes while enhancing soil organic matter—a key objective of the Save Soil movement.
The new model guidelines are expected to simplify and standardise regulations on tree felling on agricultural lands. This will empower farmers to reap significant economic benefits from tree-based agriculture and encourage its wider adoption across the country.
Applauding the move, Praveena Sridhar, Chief Science and Technology Officer – Save Soil Movement said, “We hope the transition of these model rules into state-level policies happens quickly so that every farmer willing to grow trees on their land can take to it with ease. Currently, without these polices - farmers fear if they grew trees the Forest Department may confiscate their land and deem it forest land or if not - they will be penalised if and when they fell trees.”
“These model rules, when adopted at state levels, have the potential to empower farmers to become true entrepreneurs, whether by cultivating timber trees or by growing high-value creepers like pepper and vanilla that grow with the support of trees. This is a vital step in unlocking the economic potential of tree-based agriculture.”
The guidelines are expected to benefit over 2 lakh farmers who have already adopted tree-based farming under the Cauvery Calling movement. It has enabled the planting of more than 12.2 crore trees to date, with 1.36 crore saplings planted in 2024–25 alone.