Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (MS)

Puttur, Jun 13: Sadashiva Marike, an agriculturist from Puttur, has embraced the environment as an integral part of his life, resulting in the remarkable growth of a forest near his residence.

Hailing from a family that relied on agriculture for their livelihood, Sadashiva's passion for farming was surpassed only by his concern for the environment, driven by the water scarcity experienced in his area back in 1983.

Motivated by his readings on nature and water conservation, Sadashiva embarked on a tree-planting mission. He diligently planted a variety of saplings he collected during his travels across the five acres of unused land owned by his family.

Over a span of ten years, Sadashiva's relentless efforts bore fruit, with additional trees sprouting from seeds brought and dropped by birds on the five-acre plot. As a result, even at the end of May, the four ponds on his farm continue to hold water, thanks to the presence of the surrounding trees.

Remarkably, Sadashiva struck water at a depth of just 25 feet while drilling a borewell, an accomplishment made possible by the forest he nurtured on the five-acre land. To safeguard the forest from any potential harm, a protective fence has been erected around it. Furthermore, the forest now serves as a habitat for various species of birds, animals, and reptiles.