Port Blair, Aug 04: Vermicomposting is a great way to improve the flavour, yield and overall health of plants and vegetables. The finished product from the vermicomposting process is called vermicast (worm castings). Vermicast is a very desirable soil amendment that increases the biodiversity and fertility of the soil.
Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase-II, said to be the world’s largest behavioural change & Flagship programme, will focus on scalable and commercially viable solutions to make the sanitation economy attractive to private businesses. The program will strive to generate revenue through Solid Waste Management activities.
One such example is of the two SHG’s namely Star SHG &Sanis SHGwhich are conducting vermicomposting in the two compost pits of Shivapuram Cluster at Gram Panchayat Shivapuram, under Rangat Block in the North & Middle Andaman district. They do compost mainly by using dry & wet cow dung, dry grass, earthworms etc. Rural women can play a vital role in vermicomposting as they make major efforts for development and production.
Vermicomposting enterprise is a relatively new enterprise that is spreading rapidly among women in rural areas. As the vermicomposting enterprise is less expensive in terms of costs and relatively more intensive in terms of labour, it provides them fair employment with less investment. Therefore, through SBM(G), the Rural Development department intends to promote vermicomposting as a major solid waste management technique for ensuring sanitation & livelihood of rural populace.
