Shillong, Nov 12: Highlighting successful livelihood initiatives and encouraging farmers and rural entrepreneurs, the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) organised a press tour for journalists from Shillong to various locations in the Garo Hills to showcase community-based initiatives and achievements supported by Government schemes.
As part of the tour, the team visited Dabram village under Baghmara C&RD Block in South Garo Hills district, where they interacted with 36-year-old farmer Smt. Sengkey Ch. Sangma, who has taken up scientific vermicompost production with support from the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department under the Organic Manure Scheme for the financial year 2024–25.
With technical guidance from the Agriculture Department and ATMA, Baghmara C&RD Block, Sengkey adopted scientific methods of vermicomposting, including the selection of suitable earthworms, preparation of compost beds, layering of biodegradable materials, moisture management and harvesting techniques.
Using locally available resources such as cow dung, banana leaves, banana pseudostems and other agricultural residues, she established two vermicompost beds measuring 6 ft by 3 ft each on August 28, 2025. Through regular maintenance and proper moisture management, each bed produces approximately 150 kg of vermicompost per harvest, giving her a total output of around 300 kg from the two beds.
Speaking about the initiative, Sengkey said that the compost takes approximately one and a half months to mature. While she sells a portion of the produce to other farmers, she also retains some for use in her own garden, where she grows flowers and other plants. She added that the initiative has helped her make productive use of locally available agricultural waste while reducing her dependence on chemical fertilisers.
The activity has also opened up an additional source of income for the farmer. With an initial investment of approximately ₹25,000, she sells vermicompost at ₹50 per kg and earthworms at ₹4 each. With four harvests annually, the two beds can produce approximately 1,200 kg of vermicompost, generating an estimated annual income of ₹60,000 from compost sales. She has also earned around ₹3,000 from the sale of 750 earthworms, taking her estimated gross annual earnings from the activity to ₹63,000.
Sengkey said that there are currently around eight farmers engaged in vermicompost production in the district. However, local producers are still unable to meet the growing demand for organic manure, indicating considerable scope for expanding the activity.
The initiative has also encouraged other beneficiaries to take up vermicomposting as an income-generating activity. One such beneficiary, Mengstone R. Sangma, supplied 6,000 earthworms to the Horticulture Department at ₹3 per worm, earning ₹18,000 from the sale.
The growing demand for vermicompost reflects increasing awareness among farmers about the benefits of organic manure and sustainable agricultural practices. However, limited production facilities and resources continue to constrain local producers from meeting market requirements, presenting opportunities for more farmers to enter the sector.
Under the Organic Scheme, a total of seven vermicompost units were established during the financial year 2024–25, comprising four units in Baghmara C&RD Block and one unit in Rongara C&RD Block, according to the available block-wise figures. During 2025–26, eight additional units were established, including five in Baghmara, two in Rongara and one in Chokpot C&RD Block, taking the total number of units across the two financial years to 15.
The initiative demonstrates how technical support, scientific farming practices and the use of locally available resources can help rural farmers create supplementary livelihood opportunities, strengthen local agricultural markets and promote environmentally sustainable farming.
