Banaskantha Dairy Sows 10 Million Seedballs for Aravali Green Wall

Banaskantha Dairy has significantly expanded its six-year-old afforestation campaign by announcing the sowing of over 10 million seedballs. This extensive effort is scheduled to take place over the next 15 days, with the primary goal of revitalizing the depleted Aravali hills near the temple town of Ambaji and Danta. The initiative is led by Shankar Chaudhary, who chairs the dairy and is a member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly.

The 'Seedball for Green Wall - Season 6' campaign officially commenced from Rabariwas in Panchha village. This is in addition to the tree plantation under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam - 3.0' campaign, with nine dedicated teams now focused on conserving the Aravali mountain range. Chaudhary highlighted the visible positive impact of previous seedball campaigns over the last five years in areas like Jesor and Ambaji.

Thousands of women livestock rearers from Banaskantha have actively participated by preparing the seedballs. They utilized cow dung and clay, embedding seeds from more than 22 native and hill tree species specifically chosen for their suitability to the Aravali ecology. These species are expected to enhance local biodiversity and thrive with minimal water.

Sources indicate that the trees in the Aravali hills play a crucial role in conserving rainwater. They are vital for enriching the water sources of rivers such as the Banas, Saraswati, and Sabarmati, while also positively influencing the local rainfall patterns.