Turning Garbage Into Gold Sharing Experience from Gujarat, India

Turning Garbage into Gold – Sharing experience from Gujarat, India Varsha Parikh, Lecturer, Mousami Phukon, ex PG student, Faculty of Family and Community Sciences, M S University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat

ABSTRACT Introduction Today, environment degradation has Environmental Status in India become a matter of concern because of The word ‘environment’ is very broad in the systematic approach of viewing the itself. It consists of a number of natural earth and man as one of its many subsystems. There is a growing realization resources in terms of air, water and trees of the constant interaction between the etc. The population ‘ is increasing day by subsystems and with the environment. These issues revolve around the central day as is the demand for food, clothing concept of quality of life with reference to and shelter. Issues related to the environmental quality, depletion of natural environment revolve around the central resources and growing pressures of concept of quality of life with reference to population. The environment requires the environment quality, depletion of ecological balance and sustainability. A natural resources and growing pressures major cause of agricultural environment of population. There is no easy way out degradation is the use of chemicals in whereby the coming generation may find farming. This gave birth to organic pure air, ample living space, and safe farming, based on specific standards climates. Protection of the environment precisely formulated for food production. It requires an individual, community and aims at achieving an agro eco system, society to work together. which is socially and ecologically sustainable. Vermicompost is an eco- Exploitative land use practices in rural friendly natural manure prepared from India biodegradable organic wastes and is free Human communities are an integral part of from chemical inputs. A project to promote the eco system. They are born out of the vermicomposting for small and marginal ecosystem and live on it. In farming, by far farmers was taken up in the Gohilpura and the largest human activity, people make Kotna villages of Vadodara district, use of natural resources like soil, water Gujarat. The visualized effect and and bio diversity in a given climatic progress achieved in this community- situation to make a living and make centered project of vermicomposting was money. Some resources are renewable, measured with the three main goals of within limits; others are not. The manner in capacity building namely; (a) Replicability which these natural resources are utilized which was visualized and measured by may amount to ‘exploitation’ or checking project worker, participants and ‘conservation’. Our resource use pattern in collaborative organization’s ability to farming must be more conservational than expand the project. (b) Effective use exploitative. Indian farming patterns have keeping in mind the optimal use of manure been witnessing severe exploitation. An for domestic and commercial purposes as alternative agricultural system is needed well as its consistent use by project which integrates traditional practices with participants and (c) Sustainability which a modern understanding of life science. It was achieved by strengthening individual is essential that the extension system project participants as well as through builds the sensitivity and capacity of management of resources. The success of farming communities with regard to eco the project provided high credibility to the friendly farming alternatives as opposed to villagers within and outside the village as exploitative systems. well as the collaborative organization.

International Journal of Rural Studies (IJRS)

vol. 18 no. 1 Apr 2011 ISSN 1023–2001 www.vri-online.org.uk/ijrs Article 6 Page 1 of 9 Organic Recycling through (2007), Bharatiya Agro Industries Composting: The environmentally and Foundation (BAIF) (2005) and Lila economically sustainable solution Agrotech (2000). Consequently, the Nowadays organic farming is gaining wide project to promote vermicomposting attention among farmers, entrepreneurs, among farm men and women from the policy makers and agricultural scientists selected villages of Vadodara district was because it minimizes dependence on taken up by the project worker in the chemical inputs like fertilizers, pesticides Department of Extension and and other agro chemicals and safeguards Communication, Faculty of Family and and improves the quality of resources and Community Sciences, The Maharaja the environment. It is labour intensive and Sayajirao University of Baroda, thinking it provides an opportunity to increase rural may be beneficial to village farmers in the employment and achieve a long-term following ways: improvement in the quality of resources by Objectives of the project using organic manure. 1. To develop understanding among Vermicomposting farm men and women of selected villages The term "vermi-composting" means the of Vadodara district regarding segregating use of earthworms for composting organic garbage into degradable and non- residues. Earthworms can consume degradable waste practically all kinds of organic matter. 2. To develop skills among farm men Compost is produced by using clean, and women to implement environment-friendly, pathogen-free raw vermicomposting as a technique of waste materials, making the plants healthy. It is management organic manure produced as the vermicast To guide farm men and women to by earthworms feeding on biological waste 3. material and plant residues. Vermicompost utilize vermicompost in their is an eco-friendly natural manure prepared farms/gardens or for sale from biodegradable organic wastes, free 4. To promote vermicomposting from chemical inputs and does not have among farm men and women from any adverse effect on soil, plant or selected villages environment. It improves the physical Methodology structure of the soil and attracts deep- Stage 1 Planning the project burrowing earthworms already present in Planning is required to carry out the work the soil. It improves water-holding systematically and within a calculated capacity, enhances germination, plant period of time. The plan of activities growth and crop yield, improves the provides a framework within which the nutrient status of soil, both macro and predetermined activity has to be micro nutrients and promotes better root completed. Planning answers questions growth and nutrient absorption. like what, where, when and how a particular activity needs to be carried out. Rationale behind the project The project was planned to make it Mother earth is already on the slippery successful. Planning was based on slope to ecological disaster. With the Training and Visits concept of Extension. depletion of vital nutrients in our soil and The following steps were taken in Phase-I. the over production of crops, the ability of i) Identification of environment action the soil to regenerate and heal itself plans by various agencies lessens each year. Unless the substances To explore possible areas for planning an taken out are put back into the earth, the action project relating to environment soil will degrade more each year and the prevention, the project worker visited food supply will become less nutritious. many agencies and voluntary We need to get back to basics and help to organizations in Vadodara district which rebuild the soil. Successful experiments of worked in the area of organic farming viz vermicomposting by several private and Naturopathy Centre (Gotri), Nature government organization have been Conservation and Renewable Energies conducted at household and farm level in (Nature CARE), Society of Village India viz by Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM) Development in Petrochemicals Areas International Journal of Rural Studies (IJRS)

vol. 18 no. 1 Apr 2011 ISSN 1023–2001 www.vri-online.org.uk/ijrs Article 6 Page 2 of 9 (SVADES), Deepak Charitable Trust animal waste than other villages. Villagers (DCT), to understand their action plans in used to dispose of the waste on the the areas of waste management. outskirts or put it on fields/farms. The Meetings, visits and observations helped villagers were unaware of any useful the project worker to know that there are purpose for waste. So Gohilpura was various types of waste in rural areas selected for project activities. namely community waste, waste from Kotna, 22 km from Vadodara city, with agricultural and agro based industries, 80% farm population was also visited. animal wastes and oil bearing seeds. Lots Agriculture is the main occupation of this of unutilized agricultural waste is available village. SVADES had already tried to in villages - leaves, farm litter, animal and develop Kotna as a model village and had bio waste. showed keen interest in starting a Hence, the project worker thought to make vermicompost project. During the project rural people realize the quantity of worker’s visit, leaders and some active biodegradable waste in their villages and farmers showed their willingness to farms and the potential of unused participate in the project so this village was biodegradable waste when used for also taken up. vermicomposting. v) Training of the Project worker ii) Collection of information on Before planning and executing the project Vermicomposting the project worker adopted The project worker met experts from vermicomposting first at her home during various agencies and voluntary May-June, 2007. organizations (Nature CARE organisation, vi) Learning materials under the Vadodara, Naturopathy centre at Gotri project and Nimeta) and gained information and The most effective learning is a literature about vermicomposting as a combination of seeing, hearing and doing. manure production and waste Audio-visual materials facilitate, make management technique and about experiences concrete and meaningful, developing vermicomposting in small and which provide quicker and greater large units. understanding to the learners. iii) Collaboration with existing The project worker prepared a set of organizations charts in Gujarati covering topics like the Surveying and studying environment process of preparing the vermicomposting action plans of various unit, points to be kept in mind while adding organizations/agencies and collection as waste in the unit, care to be taken during well as reviewing of information on the process and the benefits of adopting vermicomposting helped the project vermicomposting. worker to visualize and design different Stage II Execution of the project dimensions of the project. For instance, co-operative participation, decision making a) Approaching and ability of individuals, effective utilization of attracting people for human and non-human resources, vermicomposting sustainability and replicability. Hence, the With the help of SVADES project officers project worker decided to seek the and field workers, the project worker collaboration of existing working started approaching farm men and farm organizations and approached SVADES, women in Gohilpura and Kotna in June Vadodara, discussed the project with its 2007 using learning materials she had chief executive and was asked to submit a prepared. She explained the benefits of proposal. vermicomposting as a feasible method of iv) Selection of villages waste management, the deterioration of Before finalizing project sites, visits to land quality due to increasing use of different adopted villages of SVADES chemical manure and the contribution of namely Koyali, Angadh, Dhanora, Kotna, farm men and women in the use and Gohilpura and Ranoli were made. adoption of vermicompost manure. Gohilpura, 18 km from Vadodara, with a 75% farm population, had more agro and International Journal of Rural Studies (IJRS)

vol. 18 no. 1 Apr 2011 ISSN 1023–2001 www.vri-online.org.uk/ijrs Article 6 Page 3 of 9 b) Arousing interest, informative pamphlet in Gujarati, was convincing people and promoting provided from SVADES to each of the ten awareness participants. They collected other In initial meetings, the project worker materials on their own like wastes (garden convinced people by talking to them waste, agro waste, kitchen waste), animal personally and showing the benefits of waste (10 – 15 days old), gunny bags (to adopting this technique with the help of cover the basket, to prepare the base) and learning materials. bricks (2 for one unit). In Kotna, the Thirty-seven household/farm people were participants had their own farms, where approached from which twenty were large amounts of agro and garden waste convinced to start the project in the first were regularly produced. The farm men round . had large open spaces at the backs of their homes. Hence, the bedding Leading to action and guiding to c) technique was used to obtain manure production vermicompost manure in their unused plot. The project was carried out in two phases. A kit containing 110 bricks, a thick plastic 3.a) Phase I – Execution of action sheet (12ft x 4ft), hand gloves (1 pair), plan with first group of participants. litmus paper (1 strip) and informative 3.b) Phase II – Execution of action reading in Gujarati was provided from plan with second group of participants. SVADES to each of the ten participants to PHASE I - Execution of action plan with develop bedding for large units. They were first group of participants instructed to collect other required The following steps were carried out by materials like wastes (garden waste, agro the project worker with the first group of waste, kitchen waste), animal waste (10 – twenty participants: 15 days old) and gunny bags (to cover the a) Demonstration of unit). vermicomposting Next, participants collected and b) Guiding and leading participants to segregated the quantity of organic kitchen, adopt the necessary steps for the agro, garden and animal waste required vermicomposting process as per size of unit. Family members Demonstration of vermicomposting helped with waste collection. The harmful After convincing people, the project worker effects of adding non-biodegradable inspired participants to implement the wastes on earthworms were explained. project systematically. Demonstrations can They were instructed to separate the illustrate and explain a new production following types of waste before collecting method, new tool or can show results in a garbage for the units:- plastic bags and convincing manner. Hence, the project wrappers, metal / stones / rubber, oily and worker organized demonstrations in both spicy food waste , wrappers of medicine villages separately at key leaders’ places and aluminum foil /glass at a time convenient to all participants. 2) Preparation of waste layers in b) Guiding and leading participants to vermicompost units adopt vermicomposting process The participants collected degradable 1) Collection and segregation of waste like dry leaves, peels of vegetable garbage and preparation of and fruits, left over foods from the vermicompost units kitchen/farms and animal waste and laid The session of practical work was held to these in their selected containers/ actualize operations shown in the beddings. In small units a layer of 2 inches demonstration. Participants were was prepared at the base of the basket instructed to select either a container for a with materials like coconut coir and dry small unit or a site/open place to start a leaves. A second layer of 4-5 inches was large unit. prepared with the collected degradable In Gohilpura, the farm women initiated the wastes under the guidance of the project project on smaller scale by using worker. For large units two layers were containers. A kit containing a bamboo prepared of about 4 inches thickness of basket (2ft high, 2ft area), hand gloves (1 bedding materials like coconut fibers, pair), litmus paper (1 strip), along with an sugarcane trash, grasses or dry banana International Journal of Rural Studies (IJRS)

vol. 18 no. 1 Apr 2011 ISSN 1023–2001 www.vri-online.org.uk/ijrs Article 6 Page 4 of 9 leaves by cutting them into smaller sizes instructions. The process of garbage under the guidance of the project worker. conversion into manure was faster in the This layer served as a home for the small units than the large units because earthworms during compost preparation. there was a smaller quantity of waste. Then the project worker guided Taking care of vermicompost units participants to prepare the second layer of The project worker instructed the 6-8 inches thickness on the bedding, of old participants to cover their baskets/bedding dry cow dung and dried sludge from the with jute sack and sprinkle water regularly biogas plant. This second layer being to maintain a humid atmosphere. The partially digested waste serves as food for temperature was measured and pH levels earthworms. These two layers of 1ft checked after one week. thickness from the ground were prepared Other villagers were influenced by what within one month by participants of large the participants were doing and a second units to help the earthworms settle under group took shape in both villages. The temporary adverse conditions like project worker decided to develop a excessive heat in the afternoon or trainer’s group from both villages to carry temporary water shortage occurring for out the action plan of phase II with the short periods. The project worker also took second group. expert help in checking the thickness of Phase II – Execution of action plan with layers in the first phase of large units. second group of participants. 3) Checking of pH level and This phase included selection of trainers, introduction of earthworms in the units imparting training to trainers on After preparing base layers in small and vermicomposting, approaching second large units, animal waste and red group of participants and execution of earthworms (Eudrilus Eugeniae) were vermicomposting process with second added. Before introducing earthworms, the group of participants by trainers. pH (Hydrogenic Concentration) levels in a) Selection of trainers the bedding waste mixtures were To strengthen replication of project measured. Eudrilus Eugeniae earthworms activities within and outside the villages, were then introduced in the required the project worker prepared trainers from amounts. Each small unit of ten members the first group who had already received 250gms of earthworms worth successfully completed the about Rs.75, whereas each large unit of vermicomposting process. She selected ten members received 5kg of earthworms four leaders from each of the two villages worth about Rs.1500 from SVADES. The on the basis of their abilities in terms of project worker demonstrated the clarity of the content, communicating skills introduction of earthworms in the units to and successful results of their projects. the participants. They were lightly placed b) Imparting training to trainers on the second layer in a uniformly These key leaders were charged with the distributed manner on the surface. responsibility of conducting training with Inoculation of the earthworms was carried new groups and given in-depth information out carefully so as not to crush or harm and IEC materials used in the project. In them. Initially, some of the women were interactive sessions, participants were very reluctant to touch the earthworms, but taught to discuss vermicomposting at the project worker again motivated and length, answer questions and guide the interacted with them which helped them to practical work for new participants. This get over their aversion to handling boosted their confidence and ability. earthworms. c) Approaching the second group 4) Maintenance of humidity in The project worker approached motivated vermicompost units groups, which emerged as a result of The participants were told that the second Phase-I in both villages. There were layer should be sprinkled with water mixed fourteen participants from Gohilpura and with cow urine, keeping the surface slightly ten from Kotna. Trainers and the project moist. The project worker visited every unit worker discussed the options of unit on alternate days and provided necessary selection. Fourteen participants from Gohilpura selected small units while ten International Journal of Rural Studies (IJRS)

vol. 18 no. 1 Apr 2011 ISSN 1023–2001 www.vri-online.org.uk/ijrs Article 6 Page 5 of 9 from Kotna selected large units. SVADES demonstrations and explained the was asked to provide kits but not vermicomposting process to the second earthworms which are earthworms costly. group of participants. The project worker The project worker developed a strategy of summarized the whole session and “pay an interest” by providing at least fifty directed trainers to adopt practical work. percent of earthworms to the new recipients of the project, after the first PROJECT OVERVIEW round of manure production. In all, there were forty-four participants d) Execution of vermicomposting who adopted vermicomposting in the first process with second group and second phase of the project as Trainers in respective villages were guided described in the following diagram: to follow the steps of Phase-I, gave

Figure 2: Diagrammatic representation for execution of the project.

Table 1: Types of units adopted by farm men and women from Gohilpura and Kotna Sr. PROJECT UNITS PROJECT PARTICIPANTS No. GOHILPURA KOTNA 1 Small (using bamboo basket) 20 - 2 Large (preparing bedding) 4 20 44 TOTAL

Stage III Monitoring and Evaluation of in a project execution. Every week visit to the project both the villages were made by the project The project worker monitored each phase worker to check and understand progress of the project execution namely waste of first and second group of participants segregation, collection of garbage and and also to interact with the trainers maintenance of soil humidity for the first regarding vermicomposting process. Total group participants, by personal visits. The production of vermicompost manure in monitoring was done to check for small and large units by project Collection of required amount of garbage, participants within the project duration of Growth of the earthworms, Maintenance September 2007- April 2008 was as of the humidity in the vermicompost unit, follows: Production of manure and Problems faced Table 2: Total production of manure under the project

Sr.No. Production unit No. of units Production of manure (in Kg.)

1 Small 20 1132

2 Large 24 6162

TOTAL 44 7294

Testing the nutritive value approached the agriculture department of Gujarat State Fertilizer and Chemical To test the nutritive value of the manure, Limited (GSFC), Vadodara to test samples the project worker and SAVDES and match them with the ideal requirement International Journal of Rural Studies (IJRS)

vol. 18 no. 1 Apr 2011 ISSN 1023–2001 www.vri-online.org.uk/ijrs Article 6 Page 6 of 9 of nutrients in fertile soil. All the samples  With regard to reasons for were rich in nutrients. participation in the project, 95.45% RESULTS AND DISCUSSION : participated in the project to develop The project worker constructed a reaction cheaper manure, followed by management scale to evaluate the project after its of biodegradable waste (90.90%). More completion. The results after than three fourths (77.27%) participated to administration of the reaction scale are generate a source of income, as well as to reported under four categories: learn something new thing (72.72%). 6.1) Background Information  With regard to assistance in the project activities, all the participants Opinions of the project 6.2) took help for execution of the project. participants regarding 77.27% took help from family vermicomposting project members followed by neighbours and 6.3) Trainer’s opinion friends (72.72%). A very few percent 6.4) Benefits of the project of the participants took help from labour (18.18%). BACKGROUND INFORMATION  With regard to types of help sought Background information revealed that 81.81% of during project activities, participants the participants were in the age group 15 – 40 reported that 56.81% took help for years, living in joint families. 50% were male and introducing earthworms into the unit 50% female and 40.9% were educated to higher and taking care of the units, whereas secondary level. 54.54% were also doing business 50% took help for using manure in like running shops and driving cars and 45.45% farms/kitchen gardens. 40.90% took were occupied in service as aanganwadi workers, help for collecting waste, putting waste nursery assistants or labourers. 70.45% had a into the unit and selling the manure. monthly family income ranging between Rs.1001  With regard to problems faced by the and Rs.2000. All the participants possessed their participants in the project, 86.36% did own farms, were using animal waste as natural not face any problems. 13.63% faced manure and 97.72% were using chemical manure problems of flies, mosquitoes, ants, in their farm. 88.37% spent Rs.100 to Rs.500 snails and other insects. monthly to buy manure whereas 11.62 percent of  With regard to the participants’ the participants spent between Rs.501 to Rs.1000. opinions regarding promotion of OPINIONS OF PROJECT vermicomposting to others, all the PARTICIPANTS REGARDING participants said that they would like to VERMICOMPOSTING PROJECT promote vermicomposting to others. 81.81% would like to promote this  Regarding content and teaching technique to their relatives and learning materials all the participants neighbours. 77.27% reported felt that it was complete and easy to promoting this technique to their understand. Regarding instruction and friends followed by family members. procedures of teaching methods used 3) TRAINER’S OPINION by project worker, (demonstration and All the trainers provided training to other discussion) both the methods were groups within and outside the villages. found suitable, and easy to With regard to the problems faced while understand by all participants. 90.90% imparting training to others on found field visits an effective method vermicomposting by trainers prepared while the rest had not gone on these under the project, 62.5% of the trainers visits for personal reasons. didn’t face any problems whereas 37.5%  All the participants felt that faced problems giving instructions to vermicomposting was useful as a others. waste management technique and 4) BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT showed an interest in continuing the With regard to the reasons for adoption of vermicomposting project. vermicompost by others in their villages, all the participants felt that other people should adopt vermicomposting. 54.54% International Journal of Rural Studies (IJRS)

vol. 18 no. 1 Apr 2011 ISSN 1023–2001 www.vri-online.org.uk/ijrs Article 6 Page 7 of 9 felt that other people should adopt  The efforts of the project worker vermicomposting, as it is a technique for were published by local print media producing cheaper manure. 31.81% namely The Times of India, Gujarat reported that this technique could be Samachar, Sandesh and Loksatta- adopted to generate income for the family. Jansatta. As a result, seven different With regard to vermicomposting as a individuals/organizations contacted useful technique, findings revealed that all her and asked her to demonstrate the participants felt vermicomposting was this technique for adoption. an economically, ecologically and socially  New groups of participants in both helpful technique. Furthermore: villages are ready and trainers will  In terms of economic benefits, follow the same steps. 95.45% felt that this technique was useful Efforts of collaborative organization to obtain cheaper manure. 90.90% To expand the project, collaborative reported that this technique is helpful to organizations offered a trainer’s visit promote family incomes. 72.72% felt that package for newly interested groups. this technique could reduce the use of Through this, trainers will develop their chemical fertilizer. potentials and will be given the chance to  Regarding ecological benefits replicate project work. 93.18% felt that it saves land degradation B) Effectiveness and provides long life to the products. This goal was visualized and measured, Participants also felt that vermicomposting keeping in mind optimal use of manure for is helpful by getting nutrient rich manure domestic and commercial purpose as well (90.90%t) followed by management of as its consistent use by project biodegradable waste (81.8%) and participants. In all, 7294 kg manure was rehabilitation of soil (79.5%) respectively. produced in the project, by forty-four 63.63 felt that vermicomposting leads to a participants. Out of that, 7107 kg worth sustainable environment. Rs.35,535.00 (1 kg = Rs.5) was regularly used by participants for their own farms  In terms of social benefits 90.90% and the rest was sold to earn a profit. felt that this type of project helped them to Commercialization of the vermicompost raise their status as organic farmers, manure was done as per participant’s followed by feelings of making social demand. SVADES provided a platform, bonds stronger, by bringing like-minded where with the help of the project worker people of the community closer as well as participants sold their manure at two major becoming responsible citizens by keeping outlets, an exhibition of Reliance Ladies the environment clean (88.63% and Club and in United Way Mela, 2008 in 86.36% respectively). Vadodara. Few participants explored their Achievement of the project at a glance own avenues to sell manure. In all, The visualized effect and progress through different outlets, 187 kg achieved in the community-centered vermicompost manure was sold and project of vermicomposting was also earned Rs.1445.00. The profits were checked, measuring three main goals of distributed among participants according capacity building namely; A) Replicability to their share of manure. B) Effective use C) Sustainability C) SUSTAINABILITY A) Replicability This goal was achieved by strengthening This goal was visualized and measured by individual project participants as well as checking project worker, participants and through management of resources. collaborative organization’s ability to a) Strengthening individuals’ capacity communicate to expand the project.  During project execution at the i) Efforts of project participants end of phase-I, the second group of One-third women of Gohilpura expanded participants in both villages was ready to their vermicomposting units from small to adopt project activities, and later on large without seeking any assistance from trained. the collaborative organization.  Eight leaders were selected and ii) Efforts of project worker trained to sustain future project activities. International Journal of Rural Studies (IJRS)

vol. 18 no. 1 Apr 2011 ISSN 1023–2001 www.vri-online.org.uk/ijrs Article 6 Page 8 of 9  Trainers conducted four training CHARY, S.N. and VYASULU, V., Environment Management, Dariyagunj, New Delhi, 2001, pp. 1-10. programmes, two within Gohilpura and DAVE, S., An Action Project on Waste Management Kotna and two in outside communities like Through Vermicomposting at Household and Industrial Reliance ladies club of Vadodara and level, Baroda 1996. Dissertation (M. Sc.)…….The M. farmers of Moti Koral village, Nareshwar, S. University, 1997. DHAMA, O. P., Education and Communication for Vadodara. Development, Oxford Publication, New Delhi, 1985.  Two more new groups are ready GUPTA, M., Organic Agriculture Development in India, within two selected villages to adopt ABD Publishers, Jaipur India, 2004, pp. 73-79. GALA, K., Vermi composting Manual, Nature CARE vermicomposting. (OASIS), Vadodara, 2004, pp. 12-31. b) Management of resources KOHIL, A., KOTHARI, S. and CHOUDHARY, A. P., To make availability of earthworms easy Management of Environment Pollution, Encouave within the villages, sustainable publication, 2003, pp. 108-118. Krikhi Darkhon. (T. V. Programme), Dibrugarh management of resources was visualized. Doordarshan, Assam, Oct 2007. 30 min. The project worker emphasized the MODI, N. L., Compost manure, a viable alternative, importance of earthworms and asked Yojana, Vol.33, No.11, June 1986, pp. 25-33. participants to “pay an interest” by OZA. G.M., Calcutta: Waste Recycling Capital of the World, Environment Awareness, Vol.14, No.3, July- providing at least 50% of earthworms to Sept 1991, pp. 115-120. new recipients of the project after the first PANDYA, P., Vermicomposting – Manual, Shaktikunj round of manure production. Haridwar Publication, Uttaranchal, 2002. Conclusion REDDY, K. and REDDY, N., Environment education, Neelkamal publications Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 2003. The project results were quite SUPE, S.V., An Introduction to Extension Education, encouraging. Vermicompost manure was Mohan Primlani for Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. used by participants regularly to achieve Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 2002, pp. 35-42. better results in their plants and farms. It SAXENA, H., Environmental Management, Rawat publication, Jaipur, 2002, pp. 64-67. indicates that adoption of such practice SOCIETY FOR CLEAN ENVIRONMENT (SOCLEEN). needs to be promoted to large numbers of Grow Chemical free Fruits and Vegetables with people in society. It solves the problem of Vermiculture Biotechnology. Baroda, 2006. garbage management and also develops TRIPATHI, G., Vermi resources Technology, Discovery publication,2002, pp.81-101. sustainability of soil nutrients and provides WEBLIOGRAPHY better natural manure. However, adoption http://info.lut.ac.uk/departments/cv/wedc/papers/jain.html by handfuls of people will not serve much http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermicompost#Vermicompost_ purpose. Everyone must unite in properties http://agri.and.nic.in/vermi_culture.htm promoting and adopting vermicompost http://www.arushigramudyog.com/vermicompost.htm manure to ensure a better environment in. http://www.manuremaiden.com/blog/2007/12/what-is- manure-vermicomposting.php References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermicompost ANNADURAI, K. and PALANIAPPAN, S.P., Organic http://journeytoforever.org/compost_worm.html Farming – Theory and Practice, Scientific Publishers http://www.wormdigest.org/content/view/441/2/ India, Jaipur, 1999, pp. 74- 92. http://www.karmayog.org/library/html/libraryofarticles_613. BRITHA, M., Methods for Development Work and htm Research, Sage Publication, New Delhi, 2005, pp. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/bigha 169-190.

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