Making money from dung

Chennai: Seeing cow dung serve no purpose among milk sellers in her town, Uma Maheshwari was struck by the idea of buying it from cattle owners and changing it into vermicompost that could be used by farmers instead of them relying on chemical fertilizers.

Working with members of her Self Help Group (SHG), she has used cow dung in a manner that is of value to farmers and also helps women, including her, to earn an income.

Priced at a nominal rate of Rs 8,000 a tonne of vermicompost, it is mostly bought by farmers in and around Kalpakkam and also some traders.

"Along with selling vermicompost, I also try to spread awareness and educate farmers about the need to move to organic means of farming. Chemical fertilizers kill the bacteria in the soil which otherwise help keep it healthy. And the ill effects they have on the health of consumers, it is known by everyone but ignored conveniently," she said.

For making vermicompost, she has set up a shed at her home and cowdung decompose. The vermicompost is checked upon every day and there is a person to look after the composting process.          

"Some water has to be sprinkled daily. I am able to produce about two tonnes of vermicompost each month. It becomes difficult in the summer due to heat and excessive sunlight," she said.

What started as a means of earning a few quick bucks through useful means has helped Uma turning waste into money, thereby helping farmers and also giving a means of livelihood to members of the SHG and to those she sources cowdung from.

"There is increased awar-eness and demand now as compared to what it started from. I hope it increases further in the coming days," she said.