Saving land and water: Govt of Maharashtra signs 2 critical MOUs with Art of Living

Mumbai: The Art of Living entered into two mission critical MOUs with the Government of Maharashtra that promise to restore the agricultural glory of the land while addressing the water woes in the state that have been at the root of the agricultural crisis in the state along with erosion of fertility of land from overexposure to chemicals, harmful pesticides over the last few decades.

In a first, the Government of Maharashtra signed an MoU with The Art of Living to implement natural farming across 13 lakh hectares in Maharashtra. This initiative will go a long way in fostering the right policy environment for encouraging sustainable agriculture that is cost effective, healthy for both producers or growers and consumers and protects and revitalizes soil health through use of natural zero cost inputs.

The Art of Living has trained 22 lakh farmers all over the country in Natural Farming techniques, while also partnering with stakeholders to provide robust markets for the agricultural goods produced.

Given The Art of Living’s proven track record in revitalizing and rejuvenating about critical 70 rivers and tributaries in India that had run dry for decades, with 34.5 million beneficiaries and counting, the Government of Maharashtra also signed another MOU to implement Jal Yukta Shivirs 2.0 in 24 districts across 85 tehsils in Maharashtra facing water shortage.

This initiative by the Government of Maharashtra is critical for solving the water crisis and supporting the prosperity of farmers in the state.

The Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyaan 2.0, is a collaboration to pioneer groundbreaking practices across 85 tehsils in 24 districts with the goal of to making Maharashtra a drought-free state by implementing comprehensive measures such as deepening streams, constructing dams, and creating farm ponds.

Jal Yukta Shivirs represent the success of river rejuvenation projects which extends beyond merely restoring water flows. The Art of Living adopts a holistic approach that includes capacity-building programs, community engagement workshops, and educating farmers on water-efficient agriculture. Implementing optimal water utilization practices like cropping patterns and drip irrigation has significantly increased crop yields, making farmers less dependent on rainfall. This integrated framework ensures a lasting impact on the socio-economic fabric of the region.

The river rejuvenation efforts in Maharashtra have been particularly impactful.

In drought-prone Latur, critical rivers like Tavarja and Gharni have been rejuvenated and are flowing again after desilting and building check dams and trenches. Such efforts have eased water access for 1.4 million people across 12 districts in Maharashtra so far.

Lifeless rivers have been transformed into thriving water bodies, benefiting the catchment villages, boosting water storage capacity, ensuring a constant water supply for agricultural purposes, enabling farmers to grow multiple crops in a year, and boosting overall prosperity in the region.