Secretary General of the Commonwealth Nations The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, today visited an agroforestry farm in Pollachi, pioneered by Isha Agro Movement. Ms Scotland appreciated the nature-based solutions undertaken by Valluvan, a natural farmer, using multi-cropping methods and tree-based agriculture to grow food. Using these nature-based solutions, Valluvan has been able to increase the organic content in soil to 3.36 per cent and has become one of the model farmers of the Save Soil movement.

Ms. Scotland saw a great synergy between Save Soil and Living Lands Charter, observing that the multidisciplinary approach undertaken by the movement is similar to what Living Lands Charter has done. “This idea that our top spoil is incredibly important and if we are going to de-generate that top soil then we are not going to be able to do that which we need to do. So the learning and the experience of what Save Soil wants to do seems to mirror closely what the UN agencies and we, the Commonwealth are aspiring to do,” echoed Ms. Scotland in strong support of the movement.
Appreciating Valluvan for the natural farming, she stressed the need to pool and share the knowledge coming out of the various parts of commonwealth countries in developing a DNA of change. She said, “This solution is a great solution for the environment and temperatures that are similar to this. There will be other solutions which we will have to develop for other areas. But the principles we are distilling here are really applicable to so many environment…And I hope it will tempt some people to have the courage and the vison to emulate the great farmer here.”

The Secretary-General has earlier shown her support for the global Save Soil movement and her crucial visit is in line with the Living Land charter which is adopted by the 56 commonwealth nations to safeguard global land resources.

“The Commonwealth is committed to Living Land for a generation. So to have an opportunity now to join hands with Save Soil to deliver safe, better soil for our world is the most wonderful moment and this partnership that we are going to enter into will really be the difference we need to make,” Ms Scotland had said.