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The Save Soil Movement, initiated by Sadhguru, organised the Bharat Traditional Vegetable and Seed Festival and Seminar at the VIT University campus in Vellore on Sunday, bringing together more than 2,500 farmers, agricultural experts and members of the public. The event celebrated India's rich agricultural heritage while promoting sustainable farming and indigenous seed conservation.
A major highlight of the festival was the presentation of the Seed Guardian Awards 2026 to nine pioneering seed conservators from six states in recognition of their outstanding efforts in preserving and promoting traditional seed varieties. The awards were presented by VIT Vice-President Shankar Viswanathan.
The event was attended by Narendra Kumar, Executive Vice-President of Cholamandalam Finance, noted Tamil scholar Marabin Maindhan Muthiah, R. Rajendran, Head of the School of Agricultural Innovations at VIT, and Arcot MLA Sukumar, among other dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering, Shankar Viswanathan described agriculture as the backbone of the nation and praised farmers for their tireless work throughout the year. He stressed the importance of crop rotation and encouraged farmers to adopt cultivation practices suited to local soil conditions rather than relying on a single crop.
Save Soil Movement Coordinator Swami Shreemukha said the movement regularly conducts agricultural seminars to promote self-reliant and economically sustainable farming. He noted that consumers today are increasingly concerned about the quality of food rather than quantity, making the preservation of high-quality traditional seeds more important than ever. The seminar also provided a platform for farmers, scientists and market experts to exchange knowledge and practical experiences.
Delivering a special address, Marabin Maindhan Muthiah said the Save Soil campaign had created global awareness that soil should be respected rather than merely walked upon. He added that hosting the festival at VIT, an institution known for nurturing quality students, symbolically reflected the movement's mission of nurturing quality seeds for future generations.
The Seed Guardian Awards were presented to conservationists from Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, including police personnel Mohan and Yuvaraj, who have been actively collecting and preserving indigenous seeds alongside their service. Seed conservation coordinator Priya Rajanarayanan was also honoured for identifying and connecting seed guardians across the country.
Experts at the seminar spoke on natural pest and disease management, organic marketing, modern vegetable cultivation, packaging, value addition, medicinal properties of vegetables and terrace gardening. Farmers also shared successful models of profitable natural farming and traditional seed conservation.
More than 100 exhibition stalls showcased over 2,000 rare traditional seed varieties, tubers and organic products, offering visitors a unique opportunity to explore and purchase indigenous agricultural resources from seed conservators representing several states.