Anantnag farmer turns to vermicomposting for income generation

Srinagar, Feb 07: Abdul Ahad Lone is a farmer turned entrepreneur who has established commercial vermicompost units and turned it into a source of livelihood and employment generation.
It all started in 1994 when Lone was a farmer and established vermicompost unit comprising 30 concrete pits with capacity of 6 quintals per pit under the supervision and guidance of KVK Anantnag.
A resident of Simthan, Bijbehara, in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, he named it Ahad Agro Farma and went to many places to give awareness to people about the vermicompost. He claims that he is the person who introduced vermicomposting in Kashmir.
“When I started there was no concept of vermicompost in Kashmir and before starting it I was interested in farming,” 50-year-old farmer said.
In the beginning, Lone had to put in a lot of hard work. Today, the innovative farmer has the largest vermicompost units in Jammu and Kashmir and has huge expertise in making vermicompost.
He is the one who has also set up the vermicompost unit at SKUAST-Kashmir.
Later, he set up similar units at places like Bijbehara, Pulwama, Aanatnag, Budgam, Baramulla, Bandipora, Qazigund, Jammu, and Udhampur. The main unit is in Anantnag where he started.
Today, more than 75 people get employment at the units. His enterprise annually generates Rs 1.5 crore and annually the unit produces 2500 bags of vermicompost that is all sold in Kashmir.
“I am unable to meet the market requirement which is why I ask unemployed youth to take it as entrepreneurship. They can earn a profitable income out of it. The demand for vermicomposting is good. There are a lot of avenues in agriculture, floriculture etc.,” he said.
He said vermicompost has many benefits and chemical fertilizers are not good for human health. With Lone’s efforts the whole Simthan villages uses organic manure and get benefits.
“When we bring vegetables from market it has different taste and colour. The organic vegetables in which vermicompost is used in its growth has a unique taste and quality,” the farmer said.
He brings cow dung, kitchen waste, plant leaves, maize waste, grass etc. and turns it into vermicompost. During the process, they use earthworms to make the vermicompost. He also uses machines to filter solid particles.
Lone said unemployed youth can easily set up their vermicompost units. “I have helped many unemployed youth to set up their units. It requires minimum 1 kanals of land,” he said.
The entrepreneur said the govt. also provides loans under different schemes and youth should come forward and take advantage of these schemes and there is subsidy as well.
“Annually Kashmir needs 12-15 lakh bags of vermicompost. We only produce less than 1 lakh bags locally and rest comes from outside Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
“It is a very good business. I have been guiding youth also and encouraging them to explore it. Now organic is the way forward and organic vegetables fetch a good price in markets,” he said.
The farmer is also a recipient of many awards including progressive farmer and entrepreneur award by the Government of India, best farmer award by SKUAST-K, SKUASK-J and Krishi Vigyan Kendra Award.
Many farmers from nearby areas visit his production unit and to understand his business model. Several farmers have got training and motivation from his enterprise and are his torchbearers. The farmer provides information and guidance to farmers and helps them in many ways.