A civil society group in Hyderabad called the Centre for People’s Forestry (CPF) is helping farmers in four villages in Adilabad district turn waste into wealth. The group is assisting the farmers in producing vermicompost, which they can use to enhance their income through organic farming. The farmers have agreed to stop selling their bovine excrement to intermediaries and instead use it to produce vermicompost. CPF has helped the farmers set up the necessary manufacturing units.
CPF has been working with farmers in the area since 2022 to promote awareness of the benefits of organic farming and the intrinsic value of cow dung. The group has established tribal farmers’ service centres at the village level to guide farmers through awareness camps and organise field schools where farmers participate in field visits. These initiatives have been instrumental in setting up vermicompost units. In Utnoormandal alone, 58 units have been established within the past year.
Satyanarayana, senior programme officer at CPF, said that they encouraged farmers to diversify their crop patterns and consider cultivating fruits and vegetables. Most farmers in these villages are now earning nearly Rs 70,000-1.2 lakh annually through cultivation of fruits.
The production cycle of vermicomposting typically ranges between 30 and 45 days. It has enabled farmers to generate a monthly income between Rs.8,000 and 10,000. Most tribal communities in this area are dependent on cotton crops only. Now, most farmers are enthusiastic about this cropping pattern. CPF’s efforts to raise awareness among indigenous populations and training sessions for select tribal farmers have yielded tangible dividends. Trained farmers have since assisted in setting up similar units within their respective villages.
