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Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2014) 3(7) 449-460

ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 3 Number 7 (2014) pp. 449-460 http://www.ijcmas.com

Review Article Role of in promoting Sustainable in India

Shruti Gupta, Tanuja Kushwah and Shweta Yadav*

Department of Zoology, School of Biological Sciences Dr HS Gour Central University Sagar (MP)-470003, India *Corresponding author A B S T R A C T

Over 50 years since its independence, India has made immense progress towards food security. Indian population has tripled, but food-grain production more than quadrupled: there has thus been substantial increase in available food-grain per capita. This was because of high yielding varieties, chemical , and improvement of irrigation facilities. The country now has a buffer stock of about 35 million of food grains. But according to Dr. Kalam s prediction India may have to K e y w o r d s import about 14 million tones of food grains by 2020 and then imports will grow at the rate of 2 per cent every (India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium). This is Earthworms, because our productions of food grains have reached to a saturation stage or stability Vermicompost, there is a need for making changes in our agricultural practices. One of these, use of green vermicompost in place of chemical . The use of chemical fertilizers have revolution, made our soil non productive while efficiency of fertilizers themselves have also Sustainable gone down. Intensive agriculture employing high yielding varieties in a Agriculture set up needs large quantities of same year after year has exhausted the soils of micronutrients while, micronutrients are on the verge of depletion. Vast amount of are removed by these in an intense rotation system. The removal of nutrients at this pace is degrading soil texture and structure. The green revolution in India has led to indiscriminate use of fertilizers to obtain two three crop yields per annum. In the course of time, the tropical soils which are prone to depletion in carbon level and other nutrients are turning unproductive due lack of proper organic amendments. Now, is costlier to maintain in hot climates because of high temperature and water stress. A tenfold increase in use of fertilizers, and machinery compared to a mere two fold increase in agricultural production is economically not viable in the country with marginal and medium land holders. It is known that for every tone of food grains produced, 50 kg N, 30 kg P and 90 kg K are utilized as chemical fertilizers

Introduction the treasure land of biological wealth, Historical Background of Agriculture in intellectual knowledge and spiritual India wisdom. It had also been the cradle of many ancient human civilizations like the India over several millenniums has been world famous Indus valley, Ganges delta,

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Cauvery delta civilization etc. During both When India attained independence, it pre and post Vedic periods, arts, science faced a severe shortage of food supply and technology had flourished well in during 1950 s and 60 s due to various various fields. Ancient mathematicians reasons. To overcome this problem, India India invented the Zero and made entered in the era of Green Revolution. By remarkable contributions to the field of this, self sufficiency in food production Algebra . An ancient astronomer named was somehow achieved with the Aryabhatta had discovered the earth s introduction of so called high yielding rotation and also the solar and lunar varieties, inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, eclipses. Five planets had been known to modern implements etc. These were the Vedic Indians even before the imported from western countries in the telescopes were invented. Ancient name of technological packages without physicians had established two excellent taking care of their adaptability to Indian medicinal systems viz., Sidha and conditions and the possible consequences. Ayurveda which are now recognized as The development of modern agriculture healthy friendly systems. production was achieved by creating large scale specialized farm production units, Similarly the biological wealth of India increased mechanization and use of could be evidenced in the report of chemical inputs. Kothari (2001). India is classified among the 12 mega diversity centers of the world Feasibility of Organic Farming in India in relation to crops. As many as 167 species of crops, 320 species of wild crop Organic farming has twin objectives of relatives and several species of system sustainability and environmental domesticated animals have been sensitivity. In order to achieve these two identified. The genetic diversity within objectives, it has developed some rules these species is outstanding. Some and standards which must be strictly examples are rice (50,000 varieties), adhere to. In India, with ever increasing sorghum (5,000 varieties), mango (1000 population, there is increasing demand for varieties), pepper (500 varieties), cattle food and with meager availability of (27 breeds), sheep (40 breeds), poultry (18 organic resources, total organic farming is breeds) and buffalo(8 breeds).This not possible. However, some specific amazing diversity is not a stake of nature, areas can be diverted to organic farming but a result of careful selection and even for export of high quality organic cross breeding, over centuries, by India s products, more specifically high value farmers and pastoralists. Hence, Indian horticultural crops. Thus, as a whole under agriculture, to such an extent, is much Indian conditions, only partial switching traditional and dates back to about 10,000 to organic farming is possible, presently. years. India with its traditional crop varieties and crop production techniques In Indian agriculture, use of chemical was able to feed its population and was fertilizers cannot be totally eliminated; exporting some selected produces to other rather it can be reduced, or minimized. It continents. All the Indian villages were has been proved by various experiments self sufficient, self sustained and self- that by conjoint application of inorganic reliant units. In fact, urban centers were fertilizers along with various organic dependent upon the villages rather than sources it is possible to sustain higher crop vice-versa. productivity, improved soil quality and 450 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2014) 3(7) 449-460 soil productivity besides meeting N, P and India, other alternatives viz. traditional K requirement. These organic sources methods have special advantages over also help in alleviating the increasing modern agricultural techniques. Also the incidence of deficiencies of secondary capital and skill requirements in the use of micronutrients. At present the commercial traditional technologies are generally low mineral fertilizers are the main sources of and their adoption often requires very little nutrients. Therefore, these organic restructure of the traditional societies. resources should be used in integration These traditional technologies are nothing with chemical fertilizers to narrow down but indigenous knowledge. By adopting the gap between addition and removal of such indigenous knowledge our ancestors nutrients by crop as well as sustain the did not face any problem of large pest quality of soil and achieve higher crop outbreak or economic crisis unlike the production. Nationwide adoption of today s fa organic farming is not possible due to Nowadays Natural Farming, Organic unavailability of organic resources, Farming, Eco-Agriculture, , reduction in productivity etc. which will Bio-dynamic Agriculture, Rishi Kheti, leave many people hungry. In this context, Sadhu Kheti and so generates lot of renowned Agricultural Scientist and curiosity among general public. Although, thinker Dr M.S. Swaminathan (2003) said all these words differ slightly in precise that a hungry man is an angry man and meaning and emphasis, the underlying if the hungry man happens to be a young conceptual idea is same. Their man, then we have a potential terrorist descriptions and methodologies are among us . derived from a close study of nature. They all agree in principle of least interference Thus, in India, adoption of organic in natural systems to raise healthy plants farming is possible only for crops having and animals. They all agree in limiting and high export potential in international in some cases eliminating use of artificial markets. On the other hand, full adoption chemicals and heavy machinery in of Integrated Green Revolution farming, agriculture. They all aim at quality and another option to organic farming is nutritious nature of the farm produce. possible to a large extent, in areas where, the basic features of green revolution such Role of Earthworms in maintaining as intensive use of external inputs, increased irrigation, use of high yielding and hybrid varieties, mechanizations, In underdeveloped countries, green limited damage to the environment and revolution has resulted in boosting the human health. For this purpose some production due to intensive agriculture. organic techniques are developed and Although it has resulted in good harvests combined with input technology to create and productivity by reaping three crops in integrated systems such as Integrated a year with good irrigation facilities, there Nutrient Management (INM), Integrated was no thought about its adverse impact in Pest Management (IPM) and biological the long run on the soil conditions and the control methods which reduce the need for environment, particularly during the last chemicals. four decades. With the extensive use of chemical fertilizer and improper irrigation, Hence, for the developing countries like productivity of the soil is getting reduced

451 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2014) 3(7) 449-460 considerably. The permanent and cheapest Darwin called the earthworms as farmer s solution to overcome the dangerous friends . There is great wisdom in this effects of modernized agriculture is to statement of the great visionary scientist develop a farming system which is who advocated to use the earthworms, the economically productive and long-lasting nature s gift in farm production. It is in sustainable farming or natural farming necessary to adopt and implement food & by simple and inexpensive practices like agriculture production system which must vermibiotechnology. Thus the old ensure: maintenance of soil microbiology agricultural systems viz., biological, and fertility by greater use of organic, ecological, regenerative, natural, biofertilizers; high productivity and biodynamic and low input agriculture are stability of yield over the years; reconsidered for their sustainability. productivity with minimum or no tilling; low use of agro-chemicals and Vermitechnology: A global movement integration with biofertilizers and biopesticides; productivity with minimum The movement was started in the middle use of water and even sustaining dryness of 20th century and the first serious or heavy rainfall; preservation of crop experiment for management of diversity (biotopes);preservation of soil, municipal/industrial organic wastes was water and air quality in the farm established in Holland in 1970 and ecosystem; preservation of benevolent subsequently in England and Canada. organisms (predators) flora & fauna in the Later vermiculture were followed in farm ecosystem; Preservation of USA, Italy, Philippines, Thailand, China, groundwater table; preservation of good Korea, Japan, Brazil, France, Australia health for all; reduction of water and and Israel. However, the farmers all over energy use. the world have been using worms for composting their farm wastes and Sustained vermiculture practices and use improving farm soil fertility since long time. of vermicompost in farm soil over the years would meet several of the above Promotion of Vermitechnology for requirements for a truly sustainable Sustainable Agriculture agriculture. Vermicompost is rich in microbial diversity and plant available Sustainable agriculture is a process of nutrients; improve moisture holding learning new and innovative methods capacity of soils, thus reducing water for developed by both farmers and the farm irrigation; improve physical, biological scientists. And, is also learning from the and chemical properties of soil; increase traditional knowledge, practices of the soil porosity & softness, thus requiring farmers and implementing what were good minimum tillage. in them and also relevant in present times. Vermiculture was practiced by traditional Vermi-biotechnology is an eco-friendly, and ancient farmers with enormous socially sound and economically viable benefits accruing for them and their innovative type of technology to manage farmlands. Therefore, there, is a need to the organic waste resource on low capital revive this traditional concept through input basis does not call for expensive modern scientific knowledge A laboratories or sophisticated industrial Vermiculture Revolution . Sir Charles instruments. It can provide employment to

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Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2014) 3(7) 449-460 millions of youth; can eliminate the biodegradation & stabilization and dependence on chemicals, convert wastes converting them into nutritive organic into fertilizers, can bring waste-land under fertilizer (vermicompost) management cultivation, can feed hungry citizens and was emphasized by Greek Philosopher can make a country green and prosperous Aristotle who called as intestine of in a span of just a few years. earth which meant that they can digest wide variety of materials from earth. It is basically composting with Restoring & improving soil fertility and earthworms (, Eudrilus boosting food productivity by worm eugeniae, Perionyx excavatus) in native activity and use of vermicompost all organic matters eventually (miracle growth promoter) without decomposes. It can be virtually anywhere recourse to the destructive agro- either indoor or outdoor conditions. chemicals. Organic wastes used for composting are Nations of world today are seeking the animal dung (cattle dung, sheep dung, most cost-effective, economically viable, horse dung, goat and poultry droppings), environmentally sustainable & socially agricultural waste (after harvesting and acceptable technology that can convert all threshing of the produce), forestry wastes organic waste into a valuable resource (wood-sawing, peels sawdust and pulp), to be used back into the human society. city leaf litter (mango, guava, oranges etc., Earthworms have potential of generating from residential areas) and paper and NPK equal to 10 million tonnes annually cotton clothes (if these are not being in India (and other nations too) as huge recycled for useful products, can be amount of organic waste is generated recycled with this technology) etc.The every year and 1,000 tonnes of organic earthworms perform all processing wastes can be degraded to 300 tonnes of naturally and resulting product provides nutritive vermicompost rich in NPK and stable organic matter. It increases water- all essential micronutrients by about few holding capacity and improves soil million worms whose population almost quality, pH, soil biological activities and double every year. The organic fraction of the soil productivity in subsequent years. the MSW (about 70-80%) containing plenty of nitrogen (N), potash (K) and 6.0 Vermitechnology and Sustainable phosphorus (P) is a good source of macro Food Production and micronutrients for the soil. Vermicomposting of all waste organics Earthworms have over 600 million years especially the food & waste of of experience in waste & land society and using the nutritive end-product management, soil improvement & farm to grow food again will establish the production. Sir Charles Darwin called concept of circular metabolism for a them as the unheralded soldiers of sustainable society. mankind and farmer s friend working day and night under the soil . Vermiculture Vermitechnology in India biotechnology promises to provide cheaper solutions for: The use of Perionyx excavatus was the beginning of pioneering attempt in India Management of municipal & industrial to employ earthworms for the degradation solid wastes (organics) by of solid waste. Later Eudrilus eugeniae

453 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2014) 3(7) 449-460 was brought to the laboratory in out of 14 species of earthworms collected University of Agricultural Sciences during the survey of middle Gangetic Bangalore to test the possibility of their plains of India helped us to put forward establishment in this subcontinent which our views that a very few species of has similar climatic conditions as that of earthworms can be used for composting its place of origin. Since, 1982 Eudrilus purpose and a few more as co-inhabitants eugeniae has been promoted for waste to hasten the process of decomposting degradation. When compared to Perionyx along with other soil organisms (Verma et excavatus, this species has surpassed both al., 2010). In India, which was under in feeding and reproductive rate. In the colonization for several centuries, exotic beginning, it was thought that the species of plants and animals have been response may be short lived, as many transported either intentionally or organisms show a tendency to perform unintentionally. The northern part of the extremely well in a new environment till country has more exotic species of they get established. Such a change in earthworms than the southern peninsula. their efficiency has not been observed in Agriculture Colleges under Jawaharlal the past many years. A series of Nehru Krishi Vishvavidayalaya, experiments has shown that it is an ideal Jabalpur, Kasturbagram and Indore also species to work on agricultural and agro- propagated the vermiculture technology based industry waste. Their sensitivity to to farming community in the state of density pressure and meandering nature Madhya Pradesh. There are many other demand larger area of space for their organizations which have been active in establishment. At the same time Eisenia popularizing vermicompost in many parts fetida also entered in Indian laboratory of the country. from Germany and is preferred species for composting activity in the urban areas Green Cross Society of Mumbai, a non- (urban waste). profit organization has set up several projects to convert organics into The University of Agricultural Sciences, vermicompost. A smaller-scale unit with Bangalore, India initiated vermiculture in a capacity of 4 tons of slaughter house India and they propagated the knowledge waste per day, and a large unit with of vermiculture to farming community. capacity of 20 tons of vegetable waste per The university released the technology to day, has been set up in Bombay, in the farmers in the year 1984. At initial collaboration with the Bombay Municipal stage, several controversies were Corporation. developed about the composting and selection of species of earthworms. Most Indian Aluminum Co. Ltd., Belgaum, of the researches were of opinion that Karnataka has initiated processing of indigenous species of earthworms should garbage and sewage from 500 homes. be used for composting instead of exotic Compostable garbage is processed in species. The group that opposed the use of seven concrete vermicomposting bins exotic species in this country lacked the (one for each day of the week). Sewage is knowledge of their feeding habits, habitat fed to a 200 square meter "" a preference, reproductive potential and bio-filter with a 30 cubic meter deep. The ability to survive in captivity to accept vemifilter can process up to 100 cubic them for vermicomposting. But a detailed meters of sewage per day, and the and in-depth study of the biology of 03 purified water is used to irrigate . 454

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This low-labor system needs little agriculture. Although it has resulted good operation and maintenance. harvests and productivity by reaping three crops in a year with good irrigation M.R. Morarka GDC Rural Research facilities, there was no thought about its Foundation, Jaipur is popularizing adverse impact in the long run on the soil vermicomposting in Rajasthan. They conditions and the environment, have conducted around 300 particularly during the last four decades. demonstrations on vermicompost in about With the extensive use of chemical 150 villages on various crops like bajra, fertilizers and improper irrigation, wheat, barley, gram, moth bean etc. productivity of the soil is getting reduced Vermiculture Research Station, Aligarh is considerably. constantly striving to work in western UP with farmers and other groups to develop Vermicomposting activity is being profitable vermicomposting project or implemented successfully in villages of business. They worked with farmers to Aligarh and Hathras district of Uttar develop practical solutions for organic Pradesh in India with the assistance of the resource management with a view to Department of Biotechnology, finding the right balance of materials and Government of India. A regular farmers methods to meet the goals. Vermiculture is meet was organized for creation of being practiced and propagated on large awareness on the production and scale in India too as a part of the ' application of vermiculture as well as Agriculture Development Program' (to establishment of entrepreneurship among convert all the agriculture wastes into the rural people. The project was ). Several organizations viz. implemented with the technical assistance government, private, NGOs etc. have of Dharm Samaj P.G. College, Aligarh come forward to educate the farmers in the (UP) in five Panchayat blocks, namely, use of vermicast or in situ Vermiculture. Lodha, Jawa, Khair, Tappal and Dhanipur In this context, the Vermiculture Research of District Aligarh and Hassain, Mursan Station, Aligarh (UP) India, standardized of District Hathras of Uttar Pradesh. In the procedure for the production of Rajpur village of Tappal Block, a vermicompost and transferred the progressive farmer, Shri Asha Singh is technology to farmers in different villages producing the vermicompost in bulk and of Aligarh and Hathras districts through, himself applying upto 50-60 mt per series of educational training programmes month in the fields of paddy and that in turn have successfully transferred vegetable crops. More than hundred the vermitechnology to farmers at farmers of Aligarh district have applied grassroots level. Vermiculture Research vermicompost in their fields and are not Station, Aligarh, harbors a reasonable only saving upto fifty per cent of diversity of species viz., chemical fertilizers but also got 10-15% Eisenia fetida, Perionyx excavatus and enhanced yield. According to the farmers Eudrilus eugeniae. self assessment through their farming, vermicompost is 4-5 times more effective Some success stories of Indian Vermi- than the conventional compost and this entrepreneurs has developed competition among the farmers to produce more and more crop In India, green revolution has resulted in yield through vermicomposting (Biotech boosting the production due to intensive News Letter, 2003). A progressive farmer 455 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2014) 3(7) 449-460 of Khushal Gari village, Atrauli Self help group approach is developing in Block,Aligarh owns a nursery of a major way in vermicomposting in all the plants and has earned an blocks of Aligarh district and village income of around US$ 2500 through banking institutions are highly impressed production and sell of earthworms and with the micro-credit system established vermicompost besides meeting his own by the village community. Good linkages nursery requirements. He also have been developed in the village cluster experimented the use of vermicompost in for marking the worms and compost grafting of horticulture plants and produced through cooperative building observed a major change in accelerating and self help groups. Trained the rooting of grafted plants. beneficiaries are being financed for the establishment of vermicompost units and Some of the enterprising graduate vermiculture to propagate the activity in students have established their own the village at large scale. vermiculture units, which enable them to meet their contingency requirements. Developing women vermi-entrepreneurs Realizing the success of this programme, rural banks of district authority have come In order to develop women vermicompost forward to finance and associate projects. different village s farmers and themselves to the rural community to respective Gram Sabhas of the villages work for the technology dissemination namely, Devinagla, Alinagar, Balukhera, and to encourage more and more farmers Jalupur Syore, Faridpur, Kheda Narainpur, to adopt vermicomposting. Establishment Pankhani, Bhadasi, Gyanpur etc. of of hatcheries and making available Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh were suitable earthworm quantity are the key surveyed. Pankhani (Dhanipur block), factors for awareness building and Bhadasi (Lodha block), Balukhera popularization of vermicomposting in (Dhanipur block), gyanpur (Chandosi rural areas. block) were selected for the purpose. As such some 15 women family of Pankhani, Mass rearing and maintaining worm 17 women family of Balukhera, 03 cultures and tapping of organic wastes for women of Bhadasi and 4 women of their maintenance has a good scope for Gyanpur (family members) from these developing it as a cottage industry in villages agreed to take up the developing country like India to mitigate vemricompost projects in their own the problem of affecting crop diversity houses. The women units were provided 8 due to intensification and use of inorganic kgs earthworms for two beds, tools (one fertilizers and pesticides. The tapping of Hazara and one punja). Women farmers this resourceful technology is of utmost of these villages are using vermicompost importance in the present day as soil is in their own rabi and kharif crops. the placenta of life to meet the requirement of rural India. This approach The painstaking efforts made in would help in developing a biovillage developing women vermin-entrepreneur cluster. The country has no dearth for units (Aligarh UP, India) during the study organic wastes, congenial climatic period have brought tangible results by conditions and required manpower. way of: (i) setting-up a hatchery-cum- demonstration unit, comprising 60

456 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2014) 3(7) 449-460 vermibeds;(ii) providing 4000 kg objectives, we have made an attempt to vermiseeds to beneficiaries;(iii) organizing analyze some 100 soil samples collected 13 training programmes on from women farmers fields in which vermitechnology where some 600 women vermicompost was applied. The study has farmers participated; (iv) setting-up of 270 revealed that there is an increase in carbon vermicompost units by women farmers in percentage from 3.28 to 6.19 in these rural areas; (v) production and sale of 19 fields. Further, the pH of the same fields mt vermicompost through sale-purchase- was decreased from 9.88 to 8.69 and counters by SHG of women farmers, increase in nitrogen (196 mg/100g to 252 fetching them an earning of Rs. 5 lakhs mg/100g), potash (13.2 to 21.6 mg/100g) annually; (vi) development of two vermi- and phosphorous (89.4 mg/100g to 219.3 villages for sustainable supply of mg/100g) was observed. This indicated earthworm seeds to new upcoming considerable improvement in soil beneficiaries; (vii) organizing exhibition, constituents with the application of bio-fairs, meetings by the project on vermicompost. vermitechnology, providing recent updates by experts, where some 4350 farmers and Honoring farmers for their exemplary others participated; (viii) participation of works project in the Govt. exhibitions, krashak gosthi , meetings to educate, train and Six farmers were honored for their provide information on vermitechnology exemplary works in the area of through interaction with farmers and vermitechnology and medicinal plants exhibits, models etc; (ix) analysis of field cultivation at Bio-Fair-2008 at soil where vermicompost has been used; Vermiculture Research Station, D.S. (x) new initiatives on organic cultivation College, Aligarh, UP, India. of vegetable and horticultural crops by SHG of women farmers, fetching them 1. Shri Asha Singh, a progressive farmer high prices. from village Rajpur, khair, Aligarh UP has earlier been recipient of first prize from Although the objectives of the vermi- U.P. government in 1997 for sugar cane project have been achieved far and wide, production. Shri Singh took exemplary and participating women farmers of the interest in vermicomposting since, 2002 study area (Aligarh) feel privileged and and has set up over 50 beds, thus far, empowered with Vermitechnology at their producing over 600 Quintal vermicompost hand, yet, there is still a necessity to per month. He has marketed the produce continue these efforts in adjacent districts @ Rs. 250 per Quintal earning Rs. to run this programme in order to ensure 7500.00 besides using the vermicompost participation of women in this new in his own crops. Shri Singh also venture. multiplied the earthworms and sold over 60 kg @ Rs. 100/- per kg. Thus he has Analysis of soil constituents of farmers been successful in generating self fields employment through the encouragement, support and technology provided by Vermicompost is being produced by the Vermiculture Research Station, D.S. Vermiculture Research Station, Aligarh College, Aligarh and has encouraged UP over the years. As one of the project fellow farmers.

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production of 152.50 Quintal 2.Shri Ikram Ali, an ambitious farmer from vermicompost/month and selling @ Rs. Hassain Vikas Khand, Hathras, Uttar 200/- per Quintal. Fifty percent of their Pradesh took-up organic cultivation of production she used in her own crops of medicinal plant Ashwagandha, applying Potato & Wheat. Smt. Rajni Devi has vermicompost during 2007. He has become very popular and encouraged produced 55 kg roots and sold these @ Rs. other women of the village to start 50/- per kg, earning Rs. 2750/-. Shri Ali producing vermicompost at their door- observed that there has been no effect of steps in villages. frost on the crop produced through vermicomposting whereas other crops of 6. Shri Dhyan Pal Singh & Shri Nathi mustard & potato cultivated with Singh are dedicated farmers continuing application of chemical fertilizers were their efforts to develop expertise in severely affected by frost. Shri Ikram Ali medicinal plants cultivation and marketing has been a source of inspiration to other since 2002. farmers who are now initiating organic As a follow up to the achievements of the cultivation of medicinal crops. National Medicinal Plants Board project (2002 2006) Awareness, training and 3.Smt. Kamlesh Devi has been a very cultivation of medicinal plants in western hard working progressive farmer. She U.P. , the farmers have formed a society received 38 kg earthworms from Herbal Agro Development Gramoudyog Vermiculture Research Station, Aligarh Society . This is a commendable step to UP during 2007 and produced 33 Quintal ensure marketing of medicinal produce & vermicompost/month. She is selling 8 vermicompost. The society includes 40 Quintal vermicompost monthly @ Rs. members of farming community. The 200/- per Quintal and rest 25 Quintal using society has taken-up plantation of 25000 for her potato crop. Her efforts have plants of Amla, in 250 hectare area and yielded good results and she has become a cultivation of turmeric, garlic, jatropha, role model for other women of the village. ashwagandha, kalmegh, gheekwar etc in 8 hectare land. A mandi is also being 4. Smt. Shkuntla Devi, with great constructed for sale, purchase of herbal enthusiasm from Dhanipur village, district produce, vermicompost, horticulture Aligarh UP received 2-days training in produce. These efforts of society through vermitechnology at Vermiculture Research Shri Dhyan Pal Singh & Shri Nathi Singh, Station, Aligarh during 2007. In the first who have encouraged fellow farmers in phase she prepared 2 beds and has been medicinal plants cultivation, deserve able to obtain 4 Quintal vermicompost. appreciation. She encouraged 37 fellow women of village Chhitupur who have now taken-up Future research endeavors production of vermicompost at mass scale. The richness of earthworm fauna in the 5. Smt. Rajni Devi, woman from BPL peninsula has wide scope to identify many group has been working since 2007; she of the species of earthworms that can be had been given 132 kg earthworms effectively used for conversion of organic through Vermiculture Research Station, waste into compost. Immediate Aligarh. She prepared 33 beds, giving a requirement lies in identifying the species

458 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2014) 3(7) 449-460 that have tolerance to high moisture as Ecosystem Engineer converting a content and high temperature to handle the product of negative economic & urban solid waste. Similarly the species environmental value i.e. waste into a that can withstand the heavy metal product of highly positive economic & concentration have to be identified to work environmental values i.e. highly nutritive on organic waste from industries. (brown gold) and safe Earthworms have gained renewed gold (green gold).Vermiculture can scientific attention in India and abroad for maintain the global human sustainability taxonomy because of their wide cycle producing food back from food & application in the production of farm wastes(Ismail,2005;Sinha et vermicompost, and as a source of animal al.,2008,2009).Earthworms and its protein for domesticated animals. metabolic products may work as the However, out of 418 species of driving force in sustainable food earthworms known from India (Julka and production while improving soil health Paliwal, 1993) only half a dozen are and fertility and protecting crop plants frequently used for vermiculture and from pests and diseases. They can vermin- composting. completely replace the use of agrochemicals in crop production. This is Vermicompost production should be what being termed as sustainable standardized by using different plant agriculture . biomass and animal wastes to obtain high nutrient levels in the compost. The macro Acknowledgement and micro nutrient status in the vermicompost needs to be evaluated and We acknowledge the financial support of research initiated on organic derivatives the Department of Biotechnology, present in the vermicompst. The step-wise Ministry of Science and Technology, breakdown of the organic matter by the Government of India, New Delhi, to carry activity of earthworms and associated out this study. microbes needs to be studied. This may help in knowing factors that account for References resistance to pests and disease of crops and in establishment of seedlings. There is also Ismail, S.A., 2005. The Earthworm Book. an urgency to study the earthworm and Other India Press, Apusa, Goa, pp: microbes associations both with respect to 101. beneficial microbes and soil borne Swaminathan, M.S., 2003. The Fight pathogens. Against Hunger: Report from the Millennium Project Task Force on Vermicomposting will be economical Hunger, Washington, DC. venture when it is taken up is the vicinity Julka, J.M. and Paliwal, R., 1993. of the waste generating places. It has to be Distribution pattern in Indian practiced by the farmer himself, rather earthworms In: Earthworm Resources than buying the compost produced by and Vermiculture. Zoological Survey others. With the available natural of India, Solan PP. 27-31. resources in the field vermicompost can be Kothari, A., Pathak, N., Anuradha, R. V., produced and it has to be a part of the Taneja, B. (2001). Communities and integrated farming system. Earthworms act conservation: naturaresource management in South and Central 459 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2014) 3(7) 449-460

Asia. International Forestry Review 3: 76-77. Sinha, Rajiv K., 2008. Organic Farming: An economic solution for food safety and environmental security. Green Farming-International J Agricultural Science 1(10-11):42-49. Sinha, Rajiv K., Sunil Heart, Ravindra K.Suhane, Pancham, K. Singh, Krunal Chauhan and Dalsukh Valani, 2009. Earthworms Vermicompost: A Powerful Crop Nutrient over the Conventional Compost & Protective against the Destructive Chemical Fertilizers for Food Safety and Security Am-Euras. J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 5 (S): 01- 55. Verma, D., Bharti,S., Yadav, S., 2010. Earthworm resources in Gangetic plains of India. International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation 2: 134-139

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