Youths of tribal village have achieved self-sufficiency through production of vermicompost; this has, to a great extent, checked migration of unemployed youths to other states
Malkangiri: Not very long ago youths of this tribal-dominated district used to migrate to other states to work as bonded labourers. Delayed payment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) was one of the reasons behind the exodus. The situation is gradually changing for the better.
The tribal youths have now started vermiculture, a method of composting waste material through earthworms and other worm species, to enhance their earning. This has, to a great extent, checked migration of unemployed youths to other states.
Daiguda is one such village in Dalapatiguda panchayat of Mathili block where the youths have achieved self-sufficiency through production of vermicompost.
At the outset, only five vermiculture projects were launched in the village and six unemployed youths were engaged. It was started under the Rainfed Area Development (RAD) scheme on behalf of the watershed mission of the soil conservation department.
These six youths were given training and taken to various regions of the KBK (Koraput-Bolangir-Kalahandi) districts for field experience. They began their projects under the RAD scheme after gaining enough experience.
They were given 30 poly beds at the beginning and each bed produced about seven quintals of compost after three months. This way, they earned Rs 2.10 lakh from the compost and another Rs 50,000 from earthworms in only three months.
Using the money, the youths bought two cattle of Jersey breed and replaced their poly beds with beds made of brick and cement. The total capacity of these beds would now be about 50 tonnes, claimed the youths.
Meanwhile, the district administration took note of the success of these youths and decided to establish a vermiculture centre in the village.
The project director of the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), during the last fiscal, had asked the watershed mission to construct 100 vermicompost beds.
The villagers were given training and taken to other centres to gain field experience. With their hard work, the project has become a major success.
The district administration has recommended the project for a national award. The award panel expressed satisfaction over the project, especially on the mass participation.
The youths are using cow dung, mahua leaves and straws, things they used to burn earlier, to produce compost.
Dalapatiguda sarpanch Damu Nayak and Daiguda village head Sana Burudi said the project has solved the bonded labour problem in the village.
While about 100 families of the village manage to earn more than Rs 3,000 a month from this project, the farmers don’t have to apply chemical fertilizer in their farms, it was learnt.
PNN
