Gurgaon, India, Oktober 15, 2003 – The Sehgal Foundation has helped establish vermi-composting units in several villages in rural Gurgaon. Vermi-composting is use of particular earthworm species to enhance the nutrient profile of animal manure. Vermi-composting adds value to traditional fertilisers.

Indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, has contributed to soil degradation in many rural areas. The general water retention capacity of soil is also thereby reduced, and productivity declines. To address this situation in part, the Foundation began an initiative in December 2002 to promote the use of vermi-composting in rural Gurgaon. Composting is in fact a traditional practice in this area. However, traditional composting methods normally take 12 months, and yield only moderately improved fertiliser. Good quality vermi-compost can be ready in 45 -50 days under normal conditions, and has a higher content of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and micro nutrients than traditional compost.

In January 2003 the Foundation visited Morarka Foundation, Jaipur, one of the leading voluntary agencies active in promoting vermi-composting. The Morarka Foundation especially stresses that successful promotion of vermi-composting must involve women. Several such initiatives have already become small entrepreneurial activities, with excess vermi-compost sold outside the village where it is produced.

Between February and March 2003, farmers’ meeting and focus group discussions were held, and a “Community Needs Analysis” was done. In April a team from Morarka Foundation visited several villages in rural Gurgaon to study the feasibility of the vermi-composting, and submitted their report in May 2003. While they recommended establishing vermi-composting units in the area, they drew attention to the low availability of manure. The report suggested that manure could be procured from larger urban centres, and be the basis of a women’s entrepreneurial activitiy.

After further community discussions, it was decided instead to promote vermi-composting as an on-farm activity, with women as key stakeholders. It was not envisaged however that this would be in the first place an entrepreneurial activity reaching outside the particular farms involved, or of the village. To follow-up on this decision, the Foundation’s Project Implementation Team (PIT) visited existing vermi-composting units in nearby areas and were trained in setting up small units of vermi-compost. Exposure visits were also organized for women groups and for farmers from the villages of Ghaghas and Daula. In Agon and Goela, individuals who were keen to start vermi-composting were identified.

The select species of earthworms, Asenia foetida, were procured from existing vermi-composting units. This earthworm is highly productive and is suitable for this region. Asoenia foetida feeds only on organic matter and produces high quality organic manure. One kg of such worms will produce one kg of vermi-compost in 45-50 days. In 12 months the earthworm quantity can triple. This increases the capacity of the farmers to produce more vermi-compost with no additional investments for earthworms. In case of excess production, the earthworms can be sold fpr Rs. 500 per kg. Normally, ready vermi-compost costs about 80 paisa (Rs. 0.80) per kg, and easily fetches Rs. 1.5 per kg at the retail village level. In urban centers, good quality vermi-compost is sold retail in the range of Rs. 3 per kg. to Rs 8 per kg.

Between August and September, the benefit of vermi-compost was demonstrated in plantlet nurseries of Brinjal (eggplant) and Chillies in Agon. This was part of the campaign to generate awareness and increase their confidence in the new form of composting being promoted by the foundation. By the end of September 2003, nine units of vermi-composting were established in Ghaghas, Agon and Daula. It is expected that by December, 2003, a total of 25 such units will have been established. The first lot of compost was ready in Agon and Daula in September 2003. The successful production has increased the confidence of the farmers and also removed misconceptions related to vermi-composting, including that the units would emanate foul odours, worms would move out of the pits, the dung in these villages will not produce good quality manure etc.

Looking forward, during 2004 the Foundation expects to help establish additional vermin-composting units and to promote it as a enterprise for self-help groups. The work on promoting vermi-composting as a group initiative has begun with an awareness campaign among women self-help groups. Vermi-composting will also be promoted for use on vegetable crops where the results are more pronounced than in field crops.

For further information please contact:

The Sehgal Foundation
Dr. (Ms) Ellora Mubashir;
289, Sector 17A,
Gurgaon, Haryana-122001, India