Badamgatti is a small hamlet in Haveri district under the Karnataka Community Based Tank Management Project (KCBTMP) implemented by the Jala Samvardhane Yojana Sangha (JSYS), a nodal organisation of Water Resources Department (Minor Irrigation), Government of Karnataka.

The objective of this project is to improve rural livelihoods and reduce poverty by developing and strengthening community-driven tank renovation. The project proposes to cover 2005 pilot tanks with an estimated command area of 72,000 ha.

The unique feature of JSYS project is the involvement of local community in planning, implementation and post-project management. The community shares a part of the capital cost (6 per cent each in cash and voluntary labour). Institution building in the form of Tank User Group, Tank Management Institute, Self Help Groups, appointing a water man (revival of traditional Neeraganthi system), etc. are also included in this World Bank funded JSYS project. Capacity building of the villagers by conducting on-farm demonstration in water and crop management and providing training and input for income generating livelihood activities including vermiculture are also the components of the project.

Now-a-days, there is an increasing awareness worldwide about organic inputs in view of energy shortage, food safety and environmental concerns arising due to the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Organic agri inputs include green manure, farm yard manure, vermicompost, rhizobium inoculants for legumes, azotobacter and azospirillum inoculants for non-legumes, blue green algae, azolla, etc. The compost prepared by using earthworms is called vermicompost. Earthworms bio convert the organic waste into plant nutrients and thereby act as a catalyst in protecting our environment.

Realising the importance of vermicompost for sustainable agriculture, JSYS took initiative for the promotion of vermicompost production activity. When the project started, Shri Matti Basaveshwara Integrated Tank Development Society came into existence in Badamgatti village. A tank user committee was also formed, which got revolving fund from JSYS. This committee in turn gave Rs 2,500 each to 10 farmers including two women to establish vermicompost units. Each farmer contributed Rs 2,500 on his own for the unit costing Rs 5,000. The units started the activity in March 2006.

The University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad conducted training and field demonstrations in establishing vermicompost units, which had a motivating effect on Badamgatti rural women. Not only two women members, but wives of eight other farmers got together and started Shri Laxmi Saraswathi Self Help Group. The Agriculture University, the Cluster Facilitation Team, an NGO (NEEDS) and JSYS District Project Unit, Hanagal encouraged the women by providing technical guidance and required input. High yielding strains of African earthworms Eiseni foetida, Eudrilus euginae and Perinoyx excavatus were supplied to them.

Economics: Brick tanks of the size 3x1x0.6 m were constructed and care was taken to create adequate number of holes to facilitate the drainage of excess water. Cow dung and agro waste (straws, green leaves, cattle shed waste) in the ratio of 1:3 were mixed and allowed to decompose for about two weeks. The tanks were well aerated and kept moist by the periodic sprinkling of water, especially the first 6 to 8 weeks. However, a few days before harvest, watering of the tanks was discontinued to allow migration of worms towards the bottom bed. So cemented trenches were constructed around each tank and it was filled with water to prevent the attack from a number of predators like rats, snakes, frog, lizards, ants, etc. BHC powder was sprinkled around the tanks and they were covered with thatched roof to protect them from rain and provide shade.

A viable unit should have two tanks. The capital cost of each tank is Rs 2,000 and the recurring cost for one cycle (3 months) would be Rs 500 per tank. Considering Rs 5,000 for a unit, consisting two tanks, one kg earthworm was used for one ton raw material (farm waste) per tank. One tank yielded, on an average, 600 kg of vermicompost per cycle, valued at Rs 1,800. In a year, there could be four cycles. Further, one unit can sell 5 kg of earthworm seed material per annum at the rate of Rs 300 per kg. An income of Rs 1,500 for the sale of earthworms and Rs 14,400 from the sale of vermicompost will earn a gross income of Rs 15,900 per unit. So, net income from the unit would be Rs 11,900 per annum.

Ms Rajeshwari Hiremath proudly says, “I have sold 10 kg of earthworms to the tank user groups of nearby villages and got Rs 3,000. Now I can manage my house on my own. There is much demand for vermicompost. Farmers come from distant places to lift our stock for their cash crops like arecanut, coconut and other high value horticulture crops.”

This SHG, as a whole, has produced one ton vermicompost valued at Rs 30,000, which is used by the farmers of their own village and also neighbouring villages.

Shri Laxmi Saraswati SHG was honoured for its achievement in promoting vermicompost activity in the district by Haveri District Administration on Republic Day this year. Now there are about 20 units in the village, which have made an impact on nearby villages too. Not only has the need for fertilisers in Badamgatti village stands reduced now, but rural women have got full time employment in the village too, resulting in the reduction in migration to cities.

Thus, Badamgatti women have set an example and showed the way for sustainable agriculture for the other half a million villages of our country.