Green initiative: Over 2 lakh seed balls made in a day

It was an event jointly organised by Vizhithelu Trust and TN Youth Party, which have been pioneering in making seed balls in  Tamil Nadu. Coimbatore district coordinator of the NGO M Karthick said that children and youth began making the seed balls at 6.30 pm on Saturday and continued till the same time on Sunday evening. 

“We crossed 2 lakh seed balls around 3 pm,” he said and was hopeful that they would cross 2.3 lakh balls in the next 24 hours. Organizers said that they would be able to come out with the final figure only late in the evening on Sunday. The attempt was made with 2 tonnes of seeds, an equal quantity of cow dung manure and four loads of red mud.

“We had seven native varieties of seeds that included Neem, Peepal, Banyan, Tamarind, Teak and Mango. Onset of the monsoon is the best time to disburse seed balls. These balls will be thrown across the State in places deprived of green cover. Rains will nurture them,” Karthick added. 

Of the 3,000 participants, more than 90 per cent of them were from 30 schools and colleges. A few families too took part. Among them were 80 boys and girls from classes three to eight who travelled 72 km to the seed ball preparation venue from their school. Between 11 am and 3 pm they had rolled more than a few thousand balls.