Our History

1972 Know How Foundation (KHF) established as a trust under the Bombay Public Trust Act 1950

1989 Dr. M. R. Bhiday sanctioned research projects on earthworm biotechnology, waste management, organic farming and vermiculture

1992 The Institute of Natural Organic Agriculture (INORA) was founded by Late Prof. M. R. Bhiday, an eminent Physicist from and Dr. R. T. Doshi. INORA was registered as a division of Know How Foundation, a trust under the Bombay Public Trust Act 1950

1992 Started commercial wormery and vermicomposting center at Kamshet, Pune

1993 Developed first vermicomposting unit for Delhi Development Authority to treat 100 kg / day of kitchen and garden waste

1994 INORA developed videos and literature for use of common farmers on organic farming and vermicomposting

1995 INORA conducted 40 training programs for more than 8,000 farmers all over for balanced and integrated nutrient management in agriculture with special focus on vermicomposting

1996 INORA formed a Garden Club to promote sustainable living, urban farming and composting

1998 INORA established its first lab for manufacturing of Agriculturally useful microbial inoculants like Azotobacter, Rhizobium, Phosphorus Solubiliser, Trichoderma and Decomposition Cultures 1998 INORA established its first lab for manufacturing of Agriculturally useful microbial inoculants like Azotobacter, Rhizobium, Phosphorus Solubiliser, Trichoderma and Decomposition Cultures

1998 INORA started first vegetable market yard vermicomposting project at Pimpri Municipal Corporation to treat 12 tons per day waste. This project was inaugurated by the then State Governer P C Alexander and Commissioner Pravin Sinh Pardeshi

1999 Setup vermicomposting projects for NDDB, Anand after presenting the idea of earthworm biotechnology for dairies to Mr. Verghese Kurien. This was offered also for Vadodara Dairy, GSFC, Vadodara GNFC, Bharuch and IPCL, Vadodara

2000 Established vermicomposting units for 100 adivasi families for rural development department, Baruch district, Gujarat

2000 Standardisation of Vermi-bio filtration technology for treatment of sludge / bio solids generated from ETP and STP

1999 - 2000 INORA received grants from ministry of agriculture to setup manufacturing facility for bio fertilisers and bio pesticides

2001 Initiated projects with Pune Municipal Corporation at their 12 municipal gardens to treat garden waste

2001 Started awareness generation for decentralised waste management and project to treat 150 kg / day o f kitchen waste at Sind Society and 50 kg / day at Kalyaninagar Residents Association

2004 - 05 Implemented training program for 45 NGOs in Maharashtra to manufacture quality bio-fertillisers, bio-pesticides, compost and manures

2005 Established research and development center for bio fertilisers, bio pesticides, vermicompost, bio control agents, soil fertility analysis with training facility at 2006 Received organic farming certificate for group organic farming at villages in , namely, , Khechre, Andeshe and Mandede

2006 Developed first city farm in Pune at RESCON terrace to treat 50 kg / day of kitchen waste through composter planters and city farm to grow vegetables, sugarcane, yam, fruits, forest trees, paddy, bamboo, medicinal plants in 1,000 sq ft space

2006 - 07 Implemented National Center of Organic Farming service providers scheme for 250 farmers in of

2007 INORA members visited USA to study organic farming standards, organic strawberry growing at Pacific Ag, San Louis Obispo, California

2007 Established processing unit for sludges and organic wastes at industries like Infosys, Coca Cola, Pepsico, Godavari Sugars, Pandurang Sahakari Sahkar Karkhana

2007 Established a vermi bio filtration facility at L’Oreal Pvt Ltd in Chakan Pune for treatment of industrial sludge

2008 Developed 50 acre organic farm inclusive of certification at Thevur

2009 Emerged as major supplier for bio fertilisers, bio pesticides, compost, manures and treatment projects for organic wastes

2010 Received licenses under FCO and CIB for microbial preparations like Rhizobium, Acetobacter, Azotobacter, Bacillus megatherium, Trichoderma, Verticillium, Beauveria, Pseudomonas

2011 Established a Social Entrepreneurship program for waste management and trained 4 entrepreneurs to begin waste management and composting services in Pune with support of Praj Foundation 2011 Started Integrated Vermi-Bio Technology course with Progressive Education Society, Modern College, Pune

2011 Started work with 25 schools in Pune for awareness and training on composting of organic waste

2011 Implemented a 50 kg / day canteen and garden waste project with demo of organic gardening at Yashada Campus, Baner, Pune

2011 Developed a terrace farm at the office premises of Alfa Enterprises, Bhosari, Pune

2012 - Onward Conducted surveys in 11 villages in Mulshi Taluka for adoption of waste management and organic farming, particularly for paddy. This included CSR funding from corporate such as Cummins, Sudarshan Chemicals, Coca Cola, Forbes Marshal, Bharat Forge, S G Analytics

2012 - 13 Garden development at Mahindra Conveyers Ltd at Kasaramboli, , Pune

2013 Developed Nirmalya waste management project at Chinchwad Devasthan and Chatushrungi Devastan

2014 Established a municipal solid waste management project with Pune Municipal Corporation to treat 500 kg / day at KK Market, Bibwewadi, Pune

2015 Achieved 65 tons per day of waste treatment in Pune area