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1. Introduction of Morarka Foundation:M.F is a leading Voluntary Organization engaged in Research &

Development in Organic Agriculture. Started in 1995, the Foundation started

working on Agri biotechnology for reducing the cost of cultivation.

The

Vermiculture Technology developed by MF was awarded Gold Medal at

I ndia I nternational Tr ade Fair , New Delhi in 2002. The experience gained

by the MF enabled it to introduce Organic Agriculture for over, 2. 50,000

farm families in 16 states spread across the country. The Foundation is also a

recognized Training & Resource Centre for various schemes of Agriclinics

and Agribusiness Centers, Department of Agriculture, Ministry of

Agriculture, Government of India and various State Governments.

2. Abstract:Vermiculture is the process of culturing worms to decompose organic

material/Cow dung turning into a nutrient rich material capable of supplying

necessary nutrients to help plant growth. This method is simple, effective,

convenient and noiseless. It save water, energy, landfill, and help to rebuild

the soil. The worms have the ability to convert organic material/Cow dung

into nutrient rich material which reduces the needs for synthetic fertilizers.

Vermicompost improves soil structure and aeration as well as increases

water holding capacity. Worms helps the environment by decomposing

organic material turning it into a natural rich organic soil amendment.

Vermicompost composting is natures way of completing the recycling loop.

Being born, living, dying and being reborn again. Adding compost to soil

aids in erosion control, promotes soil fertility, and stimulates healthy roots

developments in plants.

3. Implementation Plan:Morarka Foundation will provide turnkey services and or consultancy as per

requirement of the client. MF will implement the plan and provide

technology support to execute the project along with initial hand holding

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support for system installation including training of the staff and labour

appointed by the client. After completion of one production cycle of

Vermicompost, MF will withdraw its technical supervision and would

provide time to time monitoring visits as per requirement.

4. Introduction of Vermiculture Technology:To being with, application of Vermiculture biotechnology for Vermi

composting is not at all new. In fact the origin of present day Vermiculture

has been the outcome of research carried out for treating households waste.

Once it was found to be successful at households level, up-scaling has been

done to produce Vermicompost for large scale use in Agriculture by utilizing

organic waste from many and diverse sources. In India, it has already been

about 10 years, that Government of India through Ministry of Urban

Development under Supreme Court directions, short listed Vermiculture

technology for treatment of segregated waste in urban areas. It has made it

compulsory for all Municipal Local Bodies above certain size to use

segregated urban household solid waste to produce Vermicompost.

Additionally, once Vermi Casting has been found to very effective in

agriculture, many commercial producers have started using Food and

Agriculture industry waste also for vermicasting. Vermiculturebiotechnology is a modern concept of harnessing an ecosystem for effective

utilization of organic residues with the help of earthworms. Earthworms play

a key role in waste recycling biology by serving as versatile natural

bioreactor to effectively harness the beneficial micro flora and destroy

pathogens. The role of earthworms in farming was known to farmers since

long, but their role in waste treatment is a new area.

5. Benefits of using Earthworms: Short life cycle, prolific breeding and high rate of organic material

consumption characterize earthworms.

They can be adopted to feed on any organic material.

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The biggest advantage of using earthworms for generating organiccompost lies in minimizing the time of composting.

Mixing up of secretions of earthworms with the composted materialenhances the microbial decomposition process.

Earthworms eat partially degraded organic material and this materialundergoes chemical breakdown by the enzymatic activity in their gut.

Thus organic material exposed to earthworm activity undergoes bothphysical and chemical breakdown through biological activity.

As compared to natural degradation, earthworm can be used to speedup the process by a factor up to 50-100%.

Earthworms ensure bio-sanitization and prevent sewage sicknessthrough effective regeneration of the adsorbent bio-medium. In this

process, there is no environmental pollution.

6. Why Eudr il lus eugineaeis used among so many species of earthworms: They are surface dwelling. This means they depend upon different

kinds of waste materials available on soil surface as their food

material. Other earthworms prefer mainly soil as their food and drawtheir nutrients from humus and other semi decomposed materials

available in the soil.

Hence they are the most suitable species for waste management. Their rate of feeding is the fastest, comparable to any other species ofearthworms available.

This means, they can eat up waste materials very fast and convertthem into compost.

Their rate of breeding is very fast comparable to any other species ofearthworms available. i.e. they can multiply 8-10 times in an year

which is a no match for other earthworms.

This ensures their survival rate in any kind of compost system. Evenif some worms die due to unfavorable conditions, others survive andcontinue their work.

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7. Microbial decomposition technology: The Eco-System consisting of macro and macro organisms has

enough ability to deal with bio waste. The eco system has also the

ability to deal with both toxic and non toxic substances butbiotechnology intervention speed up the process of waste

decomposition and reduce the burden and associated hazards of un-decomposed or partially decomposed waste.

The synergistic action of this has enough ability to recycle bio wastefaster than any conventional method without losing its nutrition value.

Composting is the only the first step in the process of breaking downorganic matter. Earthworms finish this process. By feeding on themicroorganisms which feed on organic waste, earthworms convert

organic material into a nutrient rich substance which provides many

benefits to plants. Over a short period of time the worms will break down the organic

matter into the fine nutrient rich "castings".

Vermi composting is the breaking down of organic material throughthe use of worms, bacteria, and fungi. In nature, organic matter isdecomposed through these organisms. By managing Vermi

composting you are essentially speeding up Mother Natures process

of breaking down organic matter. The prepared compost has reduced toxicity level compared to the

original waste

8. Benefits of Vermicompost: Increase soil fertility:By improving humus content in soil. Improves soil structure: Due to the structure of Vermicompost it

aids in loosening and aerating the soil so that more oxygen gets to

the roots. Regulates plant nutrients:The casting themselves have the ability to

fix heavy metals in organic waste.

Pest/ Disease resistance: Humus in Vermicompost withdrawsharmful and fungi bacteria from the soil, giving plants the ability tofight of disease.

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9. Vermicompost innovative uses:In addition to Vermi compost application in agriculture, many other

innovative uses have also been reported. According to our experiences,

almost two-third of total Vermicompost produced by us is presently beingused for applications other than agriculture. Some of the significant

applications are as follows.

9.1. Landscape, Gardens and Nurseries: It reduces water consumption. It improves the quality and appearance. It reduces the bulk (as compared to FYM). It eliminates the need for weeding operations. It increases the shelf life of flowers. It improves germination of seeds in nurseries.

9.2. Soil and Water Conservation : It helps in stabilization of earthen structures through better vegetative

growth.

It promotes grass production in degraded open grass lands. Enables reclamation of waste lands for plantation & cultivation.

9.3. Forest Development: Helps in early stabilization of transplants. Enables early regenerations of partly degraded forest areas. Increases overall vegetation in hilly regions.

9.4. Waste Management: Helps recycle segregated solid wastes from diverse sources.

9.5. Ecological Renewal: Helps in plantation of trees in extremely adverse conditions. This is

highly suitable for establishment of new plantlets in rocky soil

conditions.

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10.Operational manual: Identification of composting feasibility using vermicompost and DL

Composting technology.

Preparation of windrows of 10 L x 3 W x 1.5 H (Can be donemechanically)

Estimation of production cycle, total area required, production flow chart,approximate budget etc will be calculated.

Designing of sprinkling system. (If required) Designing of mechanical compost harvesting system. Designing of Sieving system. Enrichment of compost as per requirement The compost can be fortified

with Neem Cake, Phosphate Solublizing Microbes and other natural

ingredients to produce different product mix having higher nutrition value.

Providing supervision platform for monitoring the activities.11.Proposed List of responsibilities:11.1. Responsibilities of the client: To provide land for developing the facilities for operation of vermicompost

project. All civil construction work will be done by the client as per the design

provided by MF (if required).

Client will make its own collection and transportation arrangements forshifting of organic waste material (Cow dung) to the processing site.

Client will provide utilities like water, power and labour etc. for the project. Client will provide smooth passage to the workers of MF, to the production

site.

11.2. Responsibilities of Morarka Foundation: MF will install the Vermicompost unit. MF will provide operation manual of the Vermicompost system. After completion of one cycle, MF will make smooth switch over of the

management responsibility of the unit to any designated party by the client.

MF will make necessary arrangements on its own for procurement of alltypes of cultures (Sanitizer/Earthworms etc.)

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14.Photographs:

Keeping cow dung for 7-8 days for reducing temperature Preparation of beds using worms

Spraying water continuously for maintaining moisture Cover the beds with horticulture waste

Covered bed keeps ideal environment for worms Ready Vermicompost

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17.Budget:(A) Total area required for the project: 2000 Sqft.

S. No. Particulars Area/Quantity Rate/Unit Amoun

1 Capital Cost

1.1 Technical Expert & Supervision Charges include lodging & boarding 15,000

Total Capital Cost 15,000

2Operational Cost

2.1

Vermiculture (Live Earth

Worms)100 Kgm

@ RS. 350/- per

kgm

35,000

Total Project Cost (1+2) 50,000

*Other arrangements needed by party:

Tools and Tackles, (As per mentioned in Annexure 2i.g. Hand Cart, Fork,Spade, Pipes, Drum etc.) & Electricity and water.

Local arrangements of labour required for the composting plant. Local arrangements of Cow Dung. Local arrangements for infrastructure. (If any)