Sikkal KVK Success Stories

Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems (CIKS), Sirkazhi is a non-governmental organization working for the farmers of Nagapattinam district which is promoted organic farmers federation, producer company and self help groups. The KVK, Sikkal demonstrated the technologies like TANUVAS GRAND supplement, Vermicompost production, varietal assessment of different crops through CIKS for the farmers of in and around Sirkazhi. Community Vermicompost unit, Adhamangalam is one of the initiation of CIKS which is successfully promoted Self Help Group as Entrepreneurs.  

Location	Adhamangalam Village, Sirkazhi Taluk, Nagapattinam Districts
Name of the SHG	Ponni Iyarkai Vivasaya Magalir Kuzhu
Organiser	Mrs.M.Sudha and Mrs.Thamayanthi

Background:

This women self group was formed in the year July 2009, through the intervention of Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems, Sirkazhi for providing training and orientation towards strengthening of organic farming technologies. It was started with 12 women. Basically women in the village are more familiar to agriculture related operations. They wanted to do agriculture related business with the available resource materials in the village itself. Some of the good practices adopted by the group are self confidence, group co-ordination, positive attitude which made CIKS think of starting a community enterprise.

Initially, the group members were trained on vermicompost production by CIKS staff & TANWABE SHG, Allivilagam during September 2010. They started the unit at Mr. Jayapal’s (a progressive farmer) land, Aadhamangalam with the credit support from CIKS (loan amount of Rs. 50,000) and with marketing support by Sirkazhi Organic Farmers Association (SOFA), Sirkazhi. The vermicompost is sold to nearby nurseries and local farmers. The SHG was also supported by NABARD under UPNRM Project (December 2010 – December 2012), with a loan amount of Rs. 1.8 lakhs at 12% interest/annum, through SOFA for rearing of milch animals. The loan was completely repaid on time and the production was taken up successfully. Based on the successful completion of loan, Vrutti Bengaluru (NGO) has provided loan for strengthening of vermicompost unit to 2 selected women groups (Rs. 4.4 lakhs) during January 2013. Business plan for vermicompost production has been developed and the units were replicated in other villages in Nagapattinam district.

Production Details

Date of Start	September 2010
Unit Size	40 x 20 feet
No. of beds	14 beds
Average production / year	24 tonnes
Production cost / kg	Rs. 4
Selling cost / kg	Rs. 6 - 7

Impact of the Unit

Each woman is able to earn Rs. 700 - 900 per month (working once a week for 8 hours). The vermicomposting technique developed in this unit has been successfully replicated in another four Blocks of the Nagapattinam District, and many individuals have also adopted this in their farms.