Vermi compost is strong alternative to chemical fertilizers: Baghel

Central Chronicle News
Raipur, Nov 21: Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel released an amount of Rs 2 crore 37 lakh to cattle farmers, villagers, Gouthan committees and women self-help groups who sell cow dung in Gouthans (cow-shelters) in the online programme of transfer of money under Godhan Nyay Yojana organized at his residence office here today. Out of the amount released by the Chief Minister, Rs 2 crore 6 lakh will be given to cow dung vendors and Rs 31 lakh as dividend for Gouthan committees and women’s groups. While addressing the programme on this occasion, Baghel said that vermi compost and super compost manure made from cow dung became a strong alternative to chemical fertilizers.
Referring to the shortage of chemical fertilizers, especially DAP, in Kharif season 2021, the Chief Minister said that when there was acute crisis of chemical fertilizers in the entire country, Chhattisgarh remained untouched of it by the grace of Chhattisgarh Mahtari, Gau Mata and Mata Kaushalya. Chhattisgarh has met the shortage of DAP with vermi compost, super compost manure made in Gouthans. He said that in the near future also there would be a likelihood of problem in the supply of chemical fertilizers especially DAP.
He appealed to the farmers of the state, Gouthan committees and women self-help groups to promote the production of vermin compost, super compost to meet this shortage. Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey, Chairman of Gou Sewa Aayog Dr Mahant Ram Sundar Das, members of the Commission, Advisor to Chief Minister Pradeep Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary Subrat Sahoo and other officers were present on the occasion.
The Chief Minister said that meaningful results could be seen and heard in agriculture with the use of vermin compost and super compost made from cow dung. ‘To reduce our dependence on chemical fertilizers and reduce the cost of farming, it is necessary that we produce and use more and more vermi compost. This will be in the interest of the state and the farmers’, he said and added that ‘we have to further strengthen the Gouthans, so that we can overcome the challenge of shortage of chemical fertilizers through this’.
Managing Director of Godhan Nyay Mission, Dr S Bharti Dasan informed that an amount of Rs 111 crore 56 lakh had been paid to cattle rearing farmers so far in lieu of procurement of cow dung through Godhan Nyay Yojana. An amount of Rs 41 crore 65 lakh has been paid to the Gouthan committees so far. Total 10 thousand 564 Gauthans have been approved in the state and 07 thousand 751 of them have become active so far. He informed that 9 lakh 6 thousand 151 quintals of vermi compost and 4 lakh 6 thousand 831 quintals of super compost had been produced in Gouthans, out of which fertilizer worth Rs 79.78 crore had been sold. He also gave information about development of grazing ground.