Almitra Patel

In: UA Magazine 9 - Financing Urban Agriculture

Composting of city wastes is a legal requirement for all urban local bodies in India. However, central and state governments have yet to perceive it as a social good that requires official support. This paper describes India's current agricultural scenario, the proven benefits of Integrated Plant Nutrient Management (IPNM) and the use of city compost in drought-proofing crops and restoring degraded soils. It further elaborates some of the problems faced by compost producers, the attitudes of farmers and chemical fertiliser producers. The strategic and economic benefits of co-marketing synthetic fertiliser are argued, with compost produced in composting facilities owned by the fertiliser producers. Finally, several state and central government initiatives are suggested.