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Mango seed donation drive: Empowering farmers and greening the planet
Mango trees, which thrive in various climates, improve air quality, reduce local heat, and provide a sustainable income source for farmers.
Jashmit Singh of Gram Samriddhi Foundation (GSF), partner of WHEELS Global Foundation, receiving 7500 Mango Seeds from the Tololing Battalion (of Indian Army) under Mango Seed Donation Drive / WHEELS Global
As the world grapples with environmental challenges, grassroots efforts aimed at sustainability are becoming highly essential. One such initiative gaining traction is the Mango Seed Donation Drive by Gram Samriddhi Foundation (GSF), partner of WHEELS Global Foundation- the Pan IIT global giving back platform.
WHEELS leverages the global IIT alumni ecosystem, Corporates and CSR partners to drive rapid scaling, create awareness and support the initiative.
Communities are encouraged to collect mango seeds, clean and dry them, and send them to GSF for germination. The seeds are then grafted with high-quality plants and distributed to farmers. Instead of ending up in landfills, these seeds help support environmental efforts. By reducing waste and turning discarded seeds into resources, the initiative supports a circular, sustainable system, contributing to environmental restoration and biodiversity.
The drive offers numerous benefits, including combating climate change through tree planting and supporting economically disadvantaged farmers. Mango trees, which thrive in various climates, improve air quality, reduce local heat, and provide a sustainable income source for farmers. Compared to the cost of one mango sapling in the market ranging from INR 50-200 (upto US$2) it comes at the cost of only INR 5 to farmers through this initiative.
Additionally, mango trees are relatively low-maintenance and can thrive in various climates, making them an ideal crop for small-scale farmers.
People from all over India including various schools, localities , housing societies and groups have actively participated in the drive. Since May 2024, the initiative has been able to reach the target of collecting 10 lakh seeds from the donors across the country. These seeds are being processed for the germination by GSF with an aim to plant approx. 1 lakh mango trees (10 percent rate of successful germinated seeds) and benefit 8,000- 10,000 poor farmers from the state of West Bengal and Jharkhand.
Jashmit Singh of GSF who spearheaded the movement, explains, “The journey from a mere seed to Tree is very long , roughly 3-4 years. This project by GSF can only be successful when a farmer can sit under the mango tree stress-free about their daily income. Through the simple act of donating a seed, anyone can contribute to a greener, healthier future.”
WHEELS , by deploying such programs, aims to achieve the shared objectives of Technology-driven transformation of India’s 20% of “Rurban” population by 2030 (i.e. 180m+ people), in support of India’s vision of becoming a developed economy by 2047.
We urge all those with interest in supporting the large underserved segment of India’s future to join WHEELS’ efforts by visiting www.wheelsglobal.org and get involved by numerous ways to be part of our journey.
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