From waste management to farming

KOCHI:  In an effort to encourage Kochiites to treat biodegradable waste at the source itself, Kochi Corporation and Yashoram Charitable Trust have launched an ‘Organic Garbage Degradation and Organic Farming’ drive in the city on Thursday.The drive involves utilisation of degraded organic garbage as manure for fruiting plants and vegetables. “Though the process might look tedious, it is actually very practical. Seven trenches need to be dug with one-meter gap each. In places where there is no vacant land, this can be done in pots on terrace tops. In these, sprouts of four plantains and three yams or tubers can be planted alternatively.The biodegradable waste produced in the household each day should be spread around the sprout in one of the seven trenches or pots each day. People can avail the service of getting the trenches dug and sprouts planted by investing an amount of Rs 550 per household. Guidance with regard to the project will be freely available with our organisation,” said A R S Vadhyar, founder of Yashoram Charitable Trust.The project will be carried out with the help of Corporation councillors and residents’ associations. It will also involve awareness creation camps and distribution of free seeds. In the wards which have more than 200 houses participating in the project, the ‘best organic farmer’ will be selected by the area councillor and residents’ association. The winners of each ward will be awarded Rs 1000 by the Yashoram Trust in November 2012.The initiative was inaugurated by Justice V R Krishna Iyer at his residence by planting a yam sapling. Speaking on the occasion, he said that he would lend all possible support to the project.