The 'Compost Banao, Compost Apnao' campaign aimed to popularize the use of city compost, but clearly, it hasn't been as successful as one would hope. Let's dig into some of these issues and also discuss potential ways to get things moving in the right direction.
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers' in 2016 laid a Policy on Promotion of City Compost in India to meet the target laid by Swachh Bharat Abhiyan that all organic waste produced in Indian cities is processed into making compost by October 2019.
Importance of City Compost
First of all, city compost is crucial for India's agriculture for a multitude of reasons. The nation's soil quality is degrading, in part due to overuse of chemical fertilizers, which strip the soil of essential nutrients over time. According to a study published by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), more than half of the country's soil is deficient in key nutrients like phosphorus and zinc. Given that compost is rich in organic matter and micro-nutrients, it can replenish soil quality, making it more fertile and suitable for growing crops.
Challenges Faced
Inconsistent Quality and Pricing
The quality of compost is often questionable, and the price is not stable. These inconsistencies can make farmers reluctant to use city compost as an alternative or supplement to chemical fertilizers.
Lack of Direct Incentives
Though the policy provides subsidies to compost manufacturers, there are no direct incentives for farmers to use compost, making it less appealing compared to subsidized chemical fertilizers.
Conflict of Interest
Companies dealing in chemical fertilizers don't have a vested interest in promoting compost. They are merely "supposed to" co-market it, which doesn’t compel them enough to take meaningful action.
Poor Waste Management Infrastructure
Many cities lack the infrastructure for robust waste segregation and management, making it challenging to produce high-quality compost at scale.
Recommendations for a Better Policy Framework
1. Legal Mandates: The policy needs to include legal targets for fertilizer companies to meet a certain quota of compost sales, making them accountable.
2. Quality Control and Testing: Reform fertilizer control norms to include compost quality standards. Develop better testing laboratories and establish frequent quality checks.
3. Direct Incentives to Farmers: Provide direct subsidies or incentives to farmers for using city compost. This can make it more cost-competitive with chemical fertilizers.
4. Education and Awareness: Use various platforms to educate farmers about the benefits of city compost, and perhaps also offer 'trial periods' where they can test the benefits firsthand.
5. Decentralized Waste Management: Promote the collection of segregated waste at the source, so that high-quality compost can be made from organic waste.
6. Market Development: Develop and market a quality brand of city compost that farmers can trust.
7. Better Distribution Channels: Utilize existing government and private sector networks for distributing agricultural inputs to include city compost.
India's need for quality city compost is evident, and the potential benefits are significant for both environmental sustainability and agricultural productivity. But for this to happen, the government and relevant stakeholders need to take the issues seriously and commit to real change. What's needed is not just a policy but a comprehensive framework that addresses the root problems and provides actionable solutions.
You're invited! Let's talk..
neeraj@unown.org
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