Demonstration on windrow composting of crop residues and farm wastes was conducted on 10.02.2022 at Kebbedoddi village, Kanakapura Taluk, Ramanagara District under Farmers FIRST Project. Composting of crop residues using Arka Decomposer was demonstrated in the farm of Mr. Gopal S/o Karigowda, Kebbedoddi village, Kanakapura Taluk, Ramanagara District. Dr. D. Kalaivanan, Scientist from the Division of Natural Resources, ICAR-IIHR and Co-PI of the Farmers FIRST Project highlighted the importance and need of windrow composting of crop residues and farm wastes at farm level for getting quality compost and also for improving soil organic carbon content. He has explained the process of fast decomposition of crop residues and farm wastes into compost and the benefits of using microbial consortium (Arka Decomposer) in composting crop residues and farm wastes. He further mentioned that all types of crop residues, cattle dung, left over feed material from cattle sheds; house hold food waste, papers, etc can be composted and converted to nutrient rich compost. He has also stressed that non-biodegradable materials like plastics, polybags, tins, aluminium foils, rubber, etc have to be removed from house hold waste before being added to the compost piles. During the demonstration, farmers shared their views and cleared their queries about on-farm compost making. Mr Shivakumar, G., Field Assistant of the project coordinated the demonstrations programme. About 20 farmers from Kebbedoddi village were actively participated and benefitted in this demonstration.
