------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660 Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vermi-composting may be answer to garbage woes in State ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ by Bindiya Chari
For some enterprising persons, the garbage menace is no longer a problem, because they have found a way to treat waste Vermi Composting (VC). Considered an effective way of processing any kind of waste through biological process, in VC, earthworms utilise waste resources as their feed and in the process convert it into value-added products called vermi-compost.
Explains Mr H R Prabhudessai, in-charge of VC programme at Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), Old Goa, "VC serves a dual purpose. It produces rich manure and also takes care of your debris."
In Goa today, quite a few number of people have taken up VC either to tackle the garbage problem or to derive manure. Their efforts are most commendable since most of them have tried VC, on their own without help from any official quarters.
Mr Mohan Tendulkar from Malkarnem in Sanguem got interested in VC after reading about it in books. In 1995, he happened to lay his hands on a magazine carrying an article on VC. "I was very impressed by the whole concept of VC and decided to try it out," says Mr Tendulkar, a successful vermicomposter of present day.
But success neither came to him easily nor immediately. His initial efforts were fraught with failure. His fault he did not take up the right method of VC as he was following book methods, not very conducive to Goan environment.
At least twice in the initial stages of his venture, all the earthworms died. Nonetheless, he continued with his learning efforts through the time-tested trial-and-error method. He improved on his methods after he learnt more about VC from his visit to Bangalore while he was part of a farmer's party taken on study tour by the Agriculture Department (AD). He also updated his knowledge by studying the functioning of VC units of Dharwad.
Similarly, many others have also burnt their fingers initially by undertaking VC sans basic scientific knowledge of the process. These people merely replicated the VC methods practiced in other States. Some tried it in pits, while others followed in-situ VC method, where a type of ecology needed for breeding of earthworms is conceived.
However, whether it is in-situ or pit method, both are not very suitable for Goa, officials say. Soil here is infested with all sorts of insects like ants, termites, etc. Hence, earthworms in pits are likely to get infested by insects unless one uses a lining. An earthworm needs to be protected from insects and could be guarded if scientific processes are adopted for VC, argues Mr Prabhudessai.
"Tank method suits Goa'', advises Mr Mathew Pereira. Mr Pereira has been actively doing VC for the past few years and has constructed three concrete tanks at his residence in Colvale. A tank should be surrounded with a channel carrying water to debar insects from entering into the tanks. Size of the tank must be proportionate to the quantity of waste generated and it takes one to one-and-a-half months to get the results.
However, at the initial stage VC process could extend to two to three months. Most importantly, once the garbage and earthworms are laid in layers for VC, care must be taken to maintain the moisture to foster earthworms.
All kinds of waste can be used for VC. The type of waste used for VC depends upon the availability of the same. Mr Tendulkar uses agro waste. Being a village there is not much garbage and so agro waste is used. He has formed a Self-Help Group (SHG) called Suvidha to educate his village brethren and train them in VC. Together with his group he generates 400-500 kg of vermi compost every month.
Furthermore, Mr Tendulkar conducts demonstrations in schools, colleges, hotels, etc and helps set up VC units. He says he is very busy with demonstrating virtues of VC that he hardly finds time for his own units.
Mr Pereira, on the other hand, utilises garden and piggery waste. Sometimes, he procures vegetable waste from Mapusa market. Mr Pereira strongly advocates VC for controlling increasing nuisance of garbage in the cities.
"The government must be forced to follow effective, economical and natural methods like VC to treat garbage. Pune Municipal Corporation is successfully treating waste through VC. Tamil Naidu government has done a great deal of work in promoting VC. But we are far behind," informed Mr Pereira.
The Goa government, meanwhile, has got to go a long way in experimenting VC. Few novices interested in taking up VC feel that a little push from the Agriculture Department would help expand VC activities in the State. Sayonara Dantas from Assagao desired to adopt VC on a mega scale, but couldn't proceed because of financial constraints. Dantas has a small-scale VC venture in operation. Her garden and kitchen waste are her inputs and she yields some 100 kg of vermicompost per month which is sold for up to Rs 20 per kg.
"We had approached the agriculture department with our plan of action for VC, however there was no feedback from the department. Only if they could assure some financial assistance, many would set-up their VC units. In fact, the growing hill of garbage could be contained if civic bodies adopt VC," she points out. The AD is apparently in the process of planning to introduce a scheme for VC.
Mr Amrose Vaz is one more such enthusiast who has taken up VC as a hobby. Resident of Saligao, Mr Vaz works in a bank and learnt VC on his own.
There are many who shy away from VC. Mr Pereira, who has so far helped more than 20 people to set-up VC units, think people need to be educated more about VC. He himself gives demonstrations in schools and colleges.
"Information on earthworms and their functioning will help people abolish their inhibitions about them. People hesitate because they think earthworms are slimy little creatures, not to be touched, he adds.
Dr Prabhudessai says it's phobia for earthworms that keeps people away from them. If trained in VC, people will take care of their kitchen waste, he adds.
The ICAR has trained more than 200 people in VC but few are seen making use of it. "We train people in VC at ICAR. Our experience is not very promising. On the first day, the attendance is 100 per cent, on the second, it drops to 40 per cent'', Mr Prabhudessai said, sharing his experience.
Putrification is another deterrent for people to take up VC. Experts advise the use of Microbial Inoculant (MI) to control putrification and the foul smell can thus be effectively controlled. --------------------------------------- HERALD 13/10/03 page 1 --------------------------------------
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