Centre for Forest Based Livelihoods and Extension (CFLE),
working since 2012 in Northeastern Tripura for forest-based livelihood
development with bamboo and agro-forestry, has developed low cost
vermicomposting technology for recycling wastes into valuable organic
fertilizers especially in the rural areas.
The primary objective of this project was to help youths
from rural areas to set up micro-enterprises based on vermiculture technology
and also to improve crop productivity by increasing soil fertility through
ecological methods of farming. One such micro unit has been setup in the
residence of Bidhyadhan Sharma, of Naogaon in bordering Bamutia Kalibazar area
which is renowned for its vegetable production. Bidhyadhan, a third semester
student of BCA (bachelor of computer application) under Tripura University,
runs this unit under the banner of Naogaon Bamboo Growers Society along with
his childhood friend Supen Datta. Their team, like other young entreprenuers,
got training and material support from the CFLE in vermicomposting.
“We have successfully involved over 80 farmers in West
Tripura and Kanchanpur in north Tripura in vermicomposting. This is not only
solving the productive management of waste but also encouraging organic farming
which has growing demand for organic fertilizers. We are trying to find out if
the same concept with smaller units can be of use in the urban areas where the
kitchen waste can be used for getting fertilizers to terrace farming,” said
Pawan K Kaushik, Regional Director of CFLE, adding, “After completion of the
week long training CFLE provide the members with a financial help for setting
up of low-cost vermicomposting units utilizing bamboo and polythene tanks.”
The raw materials required for these vermicompost are
readily available in the rural areas where various plant parts like banana,
alum, cow dung, vegetable and soft-plant wastes, leaves, grass, hay and neem
are used.
Bidhyadhan Sharma, who has two units for micro-vermicompost
production, said, “There is very little to do after the compost plants have
been filled with the earthworm for transforming garbage into ‘gold’. Only once
daily one has to apply little water to maintain the humidity and protect the
worms from external enemies like ants, rats and chicken and other domestic
animals those feed on earthworms. The money I earn, helps me continue my
education besides providing a little help in running our family.”
According to an estimate from each unit an entrepreneur with
an investment of ₹700 plus another ₹3000 can have a net profit of ₹10,000 to
₹12,000 annually. Every two months, each unit can harvest around 400 kg to 450
kg of vermicompost. With the success of the micro-vermicompost units, the
Naogaon Bamboo Growers Society is now planning to start it on a commercial
scale. They are making good profit from their project since they got potential
customers through CFLE.
Meanwhile, another producer Supen Datta says, “Only organic
fertilizer can prevent environmental degradation which is a major threat the
world is confronting as because of the rampant use of chemical fertilizers that
contributes largely to the deterioration of the environment.”
Keywords: Assamese news paper Khabar, Assamese Daily
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