Effect of vocational training programme on vermicompost and other organic input production as income generating enterprise

The agrarian system of our country is in state of transition from subsistence oriented to commercialization. The modern farming system is gradually becoming unsustainable and the increasing problems of chemical agriculture, cost of cultivation and upsetting environmental as well as health impacts have many negative impacts over agrarian society. The vermicompost and organic input production plays a major role in organic production of all types of field crops, vegetables and fruits etc. Vermicomposting is a method of preparing enriched compost with the use of earthworms. It is one of the easiest methods to recycle agricultural wastes and to produce quality compost. This organic input production could become an income generating activity. Therefore a vocational training was conducted for rural youth and farmers (25–53 yr) of Bhurbandha, Morigaon for a period of 7d at Block office campus, Bhurbandha, Morigaon under Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Morigaon. The skill regarding production of vermicompost, azolla and pit compost were imparted to a group of 25 rural youth through lectures, demonstration and hand on training for different organic products like vermicompost, vermiwash, azoll, compost etc. After completion of the training course, the outcome was evaluated through a questionnaire using appropriate statistical tools like frequency and percentage. The study revealed that 45 per cent of the trainees of the rural youth adopted vermicompost production on a commercial basis as an income generating source