GITAM’s Homegrown Compost Pelletization Technique Empowers 250+ Andhra Farmers
Hyderabad: Food insecurity is a global crisis today. Besides the threat to farmers’ livelihood and agriculture, a bigger problem for India is loss and wastage, with India ranking 107 out of 121 countries, in the 2022 Global Hunger Index.
Working to address the crisis in farm livelihood and food wastage, GITAM (Deemed to be University) is empowering local farmer communities in Andhra Pradesh and helping them develop entrepreneurial skills while upcycling the food waste via a unique compost pelletization project.
Having received a grant of close to INR 40 lakhs from the Science for Equity Empowerment and Development (SEED) Division under the Department of Science and Technology (Government of India), the project tackles the dual issues of food waste and availability of quality agricultural compost for farming.
It aims to uplift the economic status of farmers by providing them with training in producing compost pellets — made by compressing composted food waste into small pellets, making them easy to handle and transport. The use of leftover food as a sustainable and nutrient-rich fertilizer has the potential to reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers, which negatively influence soil quality, leading to soil degradation and deterioration. Additionally, this project addresses food waste, a significant concern in India, where over 67 million tonnes of food is wasted every year. By converting food waste into compost, the project promotes a circular economy and reduces the environmental impact of food waste.
Having already conducted campaigns in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram, the varsity has collaborated with local farmer associations to create awareness among more than 250 farmers and to train 100 farmers in the production of compost pellets.
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