In India, pollution levels are on the rise. The plastics industry, hospitals, e-waste, preservatives and chemicals industry, sprays and cosmetics, toys, clothes, hair-dyes, electronics, and paints industries that use toxins like lead are emerging as the major contributors to pollution.
Due to the expansion of roads, age-old trees are being cut down. Ten years ago, we identified a 90-year-old Juvvi tree, which was cut down. We brought it to Pragati and replanted it. Now, this tree is growing with full greenery. This tree nurtured two thousand six hundred saplings at Pragati. In 2017, the 23 Banyan trees that were cut down due to road widening were brought to Pragati and replanted. Of these, 21 banyan trees survived and are now in full green. A Banyan tree’s value is that if one goes around it 108 times, the body’s hormonal imbalances are set right. The Banyan tree has an aura of 12.5, and humans have an aura of 1.75. When we go near a Banyan tree, our aura increases to 2.5. So, by moving around a Banyan tree, our energy levels are increased. In olden times, people worshiped only trees, and they performed different ceremonies.
Pragati has been working towards protecting and conserving forests, the environment, and biodiversity. Pragati first introduced water Harvesting in Andhra Pradesh in 1998. The Pioneer of Zero Budget Natural Farming, Subash Palekar, was first introduced by Pragati. Pragati has successfully conducted the 5-Day Palekar Programs with the Department of Agriculture.
But our efforts to promote a Green World can start at home.
Plants can grow in 4 ich depth soil. No house can say they don’t have space for it. Individuals can initiate vertical gardening on the walls, and roofs can also be utilized for gardening. Just six-inch soil is enough to grow mosquito repellent plants and medicinal plants, which can be used from a health perspective – herbal tea, herbal juices, herbal salads, herbal curries, and herbal food.
Pragati provides training to scores of people in growing and nurturing these indoor plants. No one can say that they have no space for plants and gardening. Regarding gardening, every house is to be designed in such a way as per Vasthu*.
(*Vasthu means to develop constructions as per the direction of light, wind, and water.)
While this is at a Micro level, how can our farmers help build a Green World? This is where Forest Effort comes to play.
What is Forest Effort?
Dr. Khader Vali strongly opines that by safeguarding our environment and forests to reduce Global Warming, you can improve the quality of living. Dr. Khader Vali is striving for this awareness in all of us. To achieve this, we have to transform our food habits and cultivation methods completely, he insists. In this process, he invented ‘Forest Effort’ (Atavi Krushi), following it in his farmland and even training farmers.
Cultivate Forest 20% + Crops 80%
In the words of Dr. Khader Vali, “I don’t like the word Farming/Agriculture. In the name of modern farming methods and under companies’ influence, we destroy our forests and cultivate commercial crops sprayed with chemicals, fertilizers, and insecticides. Farmers are influenced about higher profits in short spans, and they are made to produce crops like BT Cotton, Sugarcane, Rice, and Wheat, which need a lot of water to grow. We are destroying mother Earth and destroying our own lives. By now, 30% of farmlands turned into a wasteland. When mother Earth is healthy, we can be healthy. Everybody should be aware of this fact. That is the reason I’m not too fond of the word Farming. I am calling it ‘Forest Effort’ (Atavi Krushi). We have started this to cultivate our real crops and at the same time safeguard mother Earth and animal husbandry.”
Ingredients for Forest Consciousness (‘Atavi Chaitanyam’):
1. Handful of soil from the forest
2. 5 types of millet flour – 1/4 Kilo (250gms)
3. Flour made with Lentils (Dal grains) – 1/4Kilo (250gms)
4. Palm jaggery – 50 gms
5. Water – 30 liters
- Keep one earthen pot (Matti Kunda) under the ground, buried up to its mouth.
- Pour 30 liters of water into this pot.
- Mix soil, flour, and palm jaggery into the pot.
- Cover the pot, and keep it in the shade with no direct sunlight or heat.
- You don’t have to mix this every day.
Forest Consciousness (‘Atavi Chaitanyam’) will be ready in 5 days. You can use this from the 6th day to the 21st day. Enough quantity of bacteria would be available. There is no need to go to the forest every time to bring soil for Forest Consciousness preparation (‘Atavi Chaitanyam’). Keep aside 1 liter of this Forest Consciousness (‘Atavi Chaitanyam’) concoction, and within 21 days, repeat the same process as above by using this 1 liter in place of soil. This process can continue like this for many years by using a 1-liter concoction from the previous batch.
Barren land or Wasteland turns Fertile in 3 – 6 months!
Take 1 liter of Forest Consciousness (‘Atavi Chaitanyam’) manure in liquid form, spray it on the soil in farmland during Sunset time. Use a new sprayer or sprinkle it with your hand. Spray it twice a week. Repeat the process for six weeks, then the soil of Wasteland turns fertile and cultivated. Fields that have gone barren due to chemical farming can also be rejuvenated in this process if we spray Forest Consciousness (‘Atavi Chaitanyam’) in a field for two years, without mixing any chemical fertilizers or herbicides. This is not just for making the land fertile. We can directly spray it on crops. Farmers who cultivate hundreds of acres also can make this Forest Consciousness (‘Atavi Chaitanyam’) in pots and use it as per requirements. In the first stage, plow the land. After the soil becomes porous, use hand instruments to dig the soil. If we use Forest Consciousness (‘Atavi Chaitanyam’) consistently for 3 to 6 months, any barren land can turn fertile and can be cultivated.
