Major Constraints in Popularising Vermicompost Technology in Eastern India

Asoke Kumar Sannigrahi

Proof & Experimental Establishment (PXE), DRDO, Chandipur, Balasore, Odisha, India

Abstract: Vermicompost technology is emerging as a simple, easily adoptable and effective biotechnology for recycling all organic wastes all over India. It can be taken up in small scales at household levels or at large scale for commercial purposes. This technology is widely spread among farmers in states like Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Maharashtra, Gujrat, etc. while opposite trend has been noticed in Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar. The major constraints related to popularisation of vermicomposting are: (1) Technical constraints which include variations in technology suggested by different researchers, lack of awareness/knowledge on advantages of vermicomposting over traditional composting and lack of proper training facility to interested individuals, (2) Economical constraints that include the lack of government support for extending financial benefits/subsidies and lack of marketing facility/infrastructure, (3) Promotional constraints which include non-availability of efficient epigeic earthworms in nearby locality, difficulty in chemical analysis of produce for maintaining quality and lack of government initiatives for encouraging organic farming, (4) Social constraints like least liking by members of family and society and (5) Psychological constraints by considering the technology as less cost effective, more labour intensive and high input oriented. If constraints are dealt (a) by arranging proper locality based suitable training among the interested farmers and unemployed youths, (b) by providing necessary financial support to them after training and (c) by creating proper marketing infrastructure to sell quality product under a dedicated Non-Government Organization using one brand name, then the technology will be popularized in Eastern India. The Organic farming as well as soil health will be improved. The technology, at present, remains as talk of the day among literates in city or in conference, but it has to be penetrated among rural masses irrespective of their literacy, financial status and demographic differences.

Key words: constraints, eastern India, popularization of technology, vermicompost, vermicomposting procedure