Vermicompost from banana leaves in Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tinsukia

OUR CORRESPONDENT

TINSUKIA: The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Tinsukia as a part of Swachhata Campaign under Swachhata Action Plan (SAP) initiated a novel plan to recycle banana leaves for manufacturing of vermicompost during post-Diwali days at the kendra's production unit.

The banana plants which are used abundantly to light diyas and candles are thrown away in huge quantities on roadsides and municipal bins and considered to be a major waste in post-Diwali days creating a huge challenge for Tinsukia Municipality to clean the trash. Keeping in this view, the KVK Tinsukia in collaboration with Tinsukia Municipal Board and district administration started collecting banana plants from garbage bins and roadsides after KVK provided the logistic support from Wednesday. The waste banana plants so collected will be utilized by KVK, Tinsukia for production of vermicompost and vermiwash in the demonstration-cum-production unit of KVK.

The Senior Scientist & Head of KVK Tinsukia Gayatri Deori Bhuyan said the banana leaves after breakdown within the compost provide a nutrient rich additive for soil. Vermicomposting with equal amount of cow dung and leaf waste including dried ones showed best results in both quality and in vermicompost duration, she maintained adding that the solid wastes are successfully transformed into a nutrient rich vermicompost. She also said 'From 10 tonnes of plants we can produce 5 tonnes of vermicompost in around 2.5-3 months. Usually we have to purchase banana plants from outside to run our unit but this time both TMB and administration assisted the KVK in collection of raw material."

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