Ruopfülenuo Huozha
Potentialities of exploiting earthworm activities for our economic interest are multiple. These simple creatures can turn ‘wastes into gold’ i.e. by converting decomposable organic wastes into valuable compost through vermicomposting. This compost improves the qualities of soil and gives better crops and also reduces pollution of air, water and environment in general. The vermicompost production in the State can support the ‘organic policy’ of the State.
There may be possible constrains which need to be overcome for State to go ‘totally organic’, such as limited supply and availability of manures to replace the chemical fertilizers. Under such situations, the farms that do not produce their own organic manures will have difficulties in purchase. Dependence on imported manures will not be suitable in the long term.
Therefore, the vermicompost, being richer manure and more eco-friendly could be the substitute against chemical fertilizers for optimum and quality production of crops. As such, production of “VERMICOMPOST” is promoted at the farmers’ level under different schemes of the Soil and Water Conservation Department. This will not only augment the nutrient requirements of crops to produce healthy food materials of higher nutritive value but also to generate employment opportunity particularly for the youth and village dwellers.
In the northern countries, several firms have developed factory-like processors for vermicomposting. In India, some companies have come up and the potentialities are even means for self employment generation with high economic returns. There are many funding agencies like the National Project on Organic Farming, Ghaziabab through the support of NABARD, the Khadi and Village Industries etc. with 25% subsidy and 50% bank loan.
In order to promote Organic Farming in the State, the vermicomposting has been included as an item for trial, through practical demonstration and electronic media during the ‘Year of the Farmer 2006’.
The Soil and Water Conservation Department is providing free technical consultancy services to the interested farmers especially during the ‘Year of the Farmer, 2006’. The Directorate of Vermicomposting Unit is open to the public for demonstration at the production centre and can also procure finished products under the brand name ‘Nagaland Vermicompost’.
Process of Vermi-composting:-
• Construct a tank/reservoir made out of bricks or boulders with cement plaster and provide it with a shelter;
• Covered the second layer with paddy or wheat straw or any other substitutes for facilitating proper aeration;
• The third layer is spread with loamy or black soil;
• The next layer sprayed with diluted cow dung/FYM, which forms as part of food for the worm;
• Then releases the earthworm over it @ 500 to 600/ square meter area;
• The main and last layer is filled with locally available vegetation-leaves of plants, herbaceous plants, grasses, kitchen wastes including bio-degradable materials such as urban wastes, agricultural and forest residues which should be covered with gunny bags.
Cautions:-• Watering/spraying water over gunny bags is required from time to time;
• Keep away ants from the composting pits by making a small channel surrounding the pits and maintain proper drainage;
• The end product can be harvested within two to two and half months time.
For details:-
Contact ‘Vermitechnology Centre’ Directorate of Soil & Water Conservation Department, Nagaland, Kohima for demonstration and resource materials “Vermicomposting for sustainable Agriculture” and others. Phone No. (0370) 2222597.
(Source:-Cat Plan Doyan, Directorate of Soil & Water Conservation)
A DIPR Feature
