Transformative Collaboration: How a City-Farmer Partnership is Revolutionizing Solid Waste Management in Chickballapur
Farmers in Chickballapur Embrace Organic Composting for Sustainable Agriculture
G.V. Suresh, a 27-year-old farmer in Gundlagurki, Chickballapur, has transitioned to using organic compost for his rose and potato crops, significantly reducing costs and promoting sustainable farming. This shift is part of the City-Farmer Partnership for Solid Waste Management project, launched by the Indian Institute of Human Settlements (IIHS) with support from Chickballapur City Municipal Council (CCMC) and Godrej Properties Limited (GPL). The initiative aims to convert organic wet waste into free compost for farmers, aiding in solid waste management and fostering eco-friendly agricultural practices.
This three-year project, which began in March, has already engaged 251 farmers across 21 villages, with 121 involved in waste segregation and 109 receiving compost. So far, approximately 759 of 1,008 tonnes of wet waste supplied have been processed into compost. This strategy addresses the waste management challenges often overlooked in smaller towns, where limited infrastructure and resources hamper effective disposal.
Pushkara S.V., a senior manager at IIHS, emphasizes the importance of extending such initiatives to smaller cities. Typically, urban waste management projects focus on advanced techniques requiring substantial investment, which smaller cities can’t afford. The Chickballapur project, however, proposes a cost-effective, collaborative approach where farmers process municipal wet waste into compost.
Initially skeptical, the Chickballapur municipality has seen the project’s success, reducing their waste management burden and focusing more on dry waste collection. Farmers, in turn, benefit from free compost on their farms, saving on fertilizer costs and enhancing crop quality and yield. Both Suresh and another beneficiary, K. Gangappa, report significant improvements in crop health and economic savings, highlighting the project’s positive impact.
Published – September 23, 2024, 09:00 am IST
Original Story https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/how-a-city-farmer-partnership-is-revolutionising-solid-waste-management-in-chickballapur/article68663956.ece
Category : Bengaluru
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