Support Small Farmers in India

Income Generation through Vermicompost: The use of organic manure endorse the nutrition value of the soil and helps prevent the termites to grow in the farm, hence, Seva Mandir is trying to engage farmers to adopt the method of its production and using it in their farms. Each farmer is provided with two kg of Worms and a training on how to prepare the Compost on their own. This is also followed by hand-holding support from Seva Mandir and a timely follow up with them.

In the past when the vermicomposting was taught to the villagers of Babri and Gadunia Village it was not a complete success. The program was reviwed and an improved program was designed. Therefore, in 2006, the Vermicompost operation began again with a total of 19 farmers. They built the Pucca (Cemented) Beds under a shady area near a water-source. The Watershed Program that was taken up in 2003 in Babri and Gadunia Villages has resulted into an increased ground water-table and therefore watering adequately and timely to these Vermicompost Beds was not an issue any more.

The farmers had been able to produce a total of 500 Kg Compost in the last year and had used it in their farms for Maize and Cotton Crops. They were also being able to stock the surplus for their consumption for the next year’s crop. The prduction was also higher and the farmers could see the difference in production and quality of the grains.

During the end of the year 2007 another group of 50 farmers also shown their interst in producing the compost. Since some of these 19 farmers had Worms in access from their previous Beds they agreed to sell off some of their Worms to the new Group. As a result a few farmers from the older group sold 40 Kg, 30 Kg, 64 Kg and 28 Kg at Rs. 100/- per Kilogram to the New Group.

One of these farmers namely – Bhikha said –“ We will grow more compost and Worms. We will make two Beds this year instead of one. I used the compost prepared in my own farms and I could see the differnce. The corns in my farm were greener and bigger.”

This whole excersie of Vermicomposting has earned the farmers in this region a lot of confidence and they are now on an lookout to earn more money by selling off their Worms and Manure in the neighboring areas.