With everyday rise in population the demand of living standards, food, basic amenities is increasing putting an increased pressure on our natural resources be it water or soil etc. Today India is the worlds 2nd largest country in terms of population and caters food to around the world leading in production of many fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, major spices, select fresh meats, select fibrous crops such as jute, several staples such as millets and castor oil seed. It is also the 2nd largest producer of Wheat and Rice the two basic cereal crops of the world.

BUT IS THIS FOOD SAFE TO CONSUME ?

Increasing pressure on the same piece of land to produce higher results has led to increased dependency on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, though this provides us the food we need but in turn is affecting human health due to long term effect of residual products, damaging environment by killing useful insects, degrading future capabilities of soil etc.
Green Revolution increased production but ignored the environment, so the question is was it really Green Revolution or was it just to feed the population ? Shouldn't Green Revolution also refer to environment and sustainability ? It is true that millions of mouths were fed during the green revolution but it forgot to highlight the future consequences -
1. Land degradation
2. Residual chemical effects
3. Water pollution
4. Ground water table depletion and pollution

Today India requires another Green Revolution in true sense referring to both the production as well as sustainability & environment protection - Organic Agriculture is a stepping stone towards this goal. Though India has a cultivated area of 60.5mha only a mere 1.08mha area is under organic agriculture. Leaving a wide scope for both the entrepreneurs as well as farmers.

A small tool in this process is Vermiwash, in simple words a multi-purpose organic amendment.

What Is Vermiwash ?

Vermiwash is an organic liquid fertilizer collected after the passage of water through a unit of worm culture. It is used for -
1. Micronutrient Foliar Spray
2. Bio pesticide
3. Organic Fertilizer
4. Fertigate in nurseries

Preparation of the Basic Unit

1. Use of Vermicomposting pits
This will not only reduce any extra costs of building a unit but will also give an increased amount of compost for farm purpose. Though this technique will reduce the quality of  Vermiwash. Vermicompost pit is prepared and base is given a slope of 10-15% on the lower side of slope 2 bricks are removed and a cemented channel is made. Vermiwash can be collected from this channel in buckets or containers.
                                              

2. Vermiwash Unit

Establishment Of Unit
A bucket or earthen pot of minimum capacity - 50 litres with a small tap attached at the bottom.

• Divide the height of the bucket into 6 equal parts.
• Fill the bottom part with pebbles or broken pieces.
• Then fill 2nd part with sand(coarse is preferred as solution passes easily)
• Now put a thin layer of partially decomposed dung.
• Now fill 3rd 4th part with dung and soil mixture of 1:1 ratio and release the worms on this.
• Now fill the 5th part with soil and dung mixture of 1:1 ratio.
• Cover the top with straw to avoid birds.
• Keep the unit in shady place.
• Now hang a small bucket of (1/10th capacity of unit) i.e. 5 litres.
• Punch a small hole so that water drips slowly.

                                                               

Functioning/ Handling of Unit

1. For the first 2 days keep the tap open and let the solution flow freely, this is required so that the impurities are cleared off.
2. Now keep tap closed for 12 days and start collecting from 13th day of establishing.
3. Above mentioned unit will give 7-10 litres per day for 10 days after which the soil and dung mixture is to be replaced.

Important Notes

1. Pre-wash sand and pebbles.
2. Dung should not be fresh as it releases high amount of methane that can kill the worms.
3. Unit should be in shady region.
4. Unit should be moist but not wet this means that excess water will kill the worms as well as reduce the quality of Vermiwash.
5. Check the unit for eggs of worms to keep the population count.( less eggs means problem in moisture or other factors)
6. Vermiwash has a shelf life of 2 months only.

Is it 100% Organic ?

Water is passed through burrows of Eisenia fetida (Australian worms/Tiger worms) cultured in an unit containing soil and partially decayed cow dung this is then filtered through traditional filter layer of sand and brick pieces, leaving out the question of use of any type of chemicals and hence making it 100% organic and eco-friendly both in production as well as use.