Vermicompost business changed standard of living

Vermicompost Business: Vermicompost is a far better option than chemical fertilizers. This not only gives a good crop, but also does not destroy the nutritional value of the soil and it remains fertile for a long time. Due to the increasing trend of people moving towards natural farming, the demand for vermicompost is also increasing continuously. In such a situation, getting into this business is a work of profit.

Especially for those who lack both money and resources. Because the cost of making it is very low and does not require much technical knowledge. This is the reason why Ms. Kanika Talukdar of Borjar village in Assam started making vermicompost for livelihood. With this she is earning lakhs of rupees by becoming a successful entrepreneur in a few years.

Vermicompost adopted as an enterprise 

After the death of her husband, Kanika, a resident of Borjar village in Nalbari district of Assam, found it very difficult to support the house and a child. So in 2014 she came in contact with Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Nalbari. There, vermicompost became a part of the production related training program. After understanding the technique of making it, she thought of adopting it as an enterprise. She understood that organic farming is the need of the hour and it is difficult to do without vermicompost and organic pesticides. That’s why the demand for vermicompost will increase further in future.

Help received from Krishi Vigyan Kendra 

In the beginning her financial condition was very bad. So she chose vermicompost as her venture as it requires very little investment and organic waste and cow dung can be easily used in it. Because Kanika Talukdar did not have money, initially on the advice of experts, she prepared cheap tanks with the help of bamboo.

Not only this, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Nalbari provided technical support by conducting a Front Line Demonstration (FLD) on ‘Vermicompost Production Technology’ in their field. Motivated them to make compost by providing 1 kg earthworm (Eisenia foetida species). Apart from this, she was also given 4 vermi beds. However, in the first year, only 14 quintals of vermicompost were produced, earning them only Rs 16,300.

Profits started increasing every year 

In 2017, she made a profit of Rs 1,25,000 by selling 200 quintals of vermicompost. In this way both production and profits started increasing year after year. After In 2018, with the production of 500 quintals, there was a profit of Rs.3,25,000 and in 2019, there was a net profit of Rs.6,00,000 for making 1000 quintals of manure.

Product branding 

Now she has also branded her compost and sells it in the market under the name ‘Jai Vermicompost’. Along with Nalbari district, there is now a demand for their manure in many other districts of Assam. Recently they have also started production of vermiwash organic insecticide. Kanika Talukdar once found it difficult to even manage her expenses, but today she is one of the successful women farmer entrepreneurs of Assam.

Kanika wants to expand her business further and plans to open 20 more vermicompost units in the next two years. She is the only woman vermicompost entrepreneur in Assam, who is licensed to supply vermicompost from the state agriculture department, Goa.

Improvement in standard of living 

After starting the production of vermicompost, there was a lot of change in her standard of living. Now she is sending her daughter to a good school, which was difficult for her to even think about earlier. Not only this, she has been invited to deliver speeches on many platforms and has also been honoured by many institutions.

Inspiration to others 

Seeing the success of Kanika Talukdar, other women and unemployed people have also been inspired to produce vermicompost. Kanika helps those who want to produce vermicompost by demonstrating the technique for making it.