Farmers can save and earn more through vermi technology
A group of farmers from different villages were selected and given training
Sought after:There is a good demand for the vermicompost among the locals.— photo: special arrangement
Whatever be the crops, after harvesting the residue left
in the field poses a major problem as removing it requires manpower and
money.
In some places farmers simply burn the dried
leaves, stalk in the field itself as it is an easy option. But over time
this practice makes the land barren and kills several beneficial
organisms that aid good growth.
Cost reduction
“And
today with the cost of fertilizers hitting the roof it will be
advisable if farmers can effectively use these wastes to make some sort
of manure like vermicompost and put it back to the soil. By doing so
expenses can be reduced and soil fertility be upgraded,” says Dr. V.
Kantharaju, Programme Coordinator, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Gulbarga,
Karnataka.
A group of farmers from different villages were selected and given training by the KVK staff on vermi composting methods.
Awareness
The
farmers were also made aware on the importance of natural farming
through vermicomposting methods and how this could help them cut down
expenses in buying fertilizers.
Since this method helped them save some money several farmers willingly took it up.
“Also
the income obtained from such activity can be reinvested by the farmer
in enhancing his farm resources and infrastructure for higherreturn. He
can go for crop diversification and better income,” says Dr. Kantharaju.
“For
farmers, seeing is believing. When they heard about other farmers doing
well in this line, they started visiting our KVK office and expressed
willingness to try the same.
“Today we have been able
to help such farmers in setting up their own small vermicomposting
units and manufacture their own inputs,” says Dr. Kantharaju.
Loan
A
dryland farmer, Mr. Shivanand in the region who underwent a similar
training, started his own unit in small way. In due course, with help
from KVK staff, he got a loan of Rs.4 lakh from a local bank.
“I
constructed 48 pits from the loan amount and today am able to produce
100 tonnes of compost a year. 50 tonnes was used for my personal use and
the remaining sold at Rs.300 per quintal. The worms were also sold for
Rs. 300 a kg,” says the enterprising farmer.
Production doubled
Within
a year he doubled his production to nearly 200 tonnes. He also started
to enrich his compost with neem cake, Trichoderma, Pseudomonas,
Rhizobium, and Azospirillum.
The farmer also developed a diversified cropping pattern using the vermicompost from his own unit.
He
planted papaya in five acres, musk melon in one acre, and cucumber in
some remaining area. With continuous guidance from the expert team who
periodically visited him, he earned Rs. 3 lakh from papaya, Rs. 1.5 lakh
from water melon, Rs. 1.5 lakh from musk melon, and Rs. 1 lakh from
cucumber. He constructed a new home, purchased land worth Rs. 5 lakh
from the income.
He has also employed about 10 permanent and temporary labour to look after the daily work in the production unit.
Better revenue
The
success of Mr. Shivanand spread like wild fire and several people are
visiting his farm to learn how he has been able to succeed in terms of
revenue.
Mr. Shivanand has also been conferred several awards.
Readers
can get in touch with Dr. V. Kantharaju, Programme Coordinator, Krishi
Vigyan Kendra, Aland road, Gulbarga: 585 101, Karnataka, email:
kvkglb.in@gmail.com and kantharaju74@gmail.com, Phone: 08472 274596,
Mobiles: 9448584749 and 9480696315.
