Demonstrating the potential of ecosan: Glimpses from Krishi Mela, Bangalore

The Centre of Excellence [CoE] in Ecological Sanitation, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore set up an exhibition on ecosan in November 2009. This exhibition was organised as a part of the four-day annual mega-farmers’ festival, Krishi Mela-2009. Krishi mela inagurated by the Karnataka State Governor Mr H. R Bharadwaj on 19th Nov 2009 was attended by over 2 lakh farmers from different parts of the state.

Krishi Mela over the years have emerged as an opportunity for the farmers of Karnataka to get exposed and oriented to the new inventions and arrivals regarding agriculture. The event was also a platform for all the other stakeholders in farming like farm technology companies, self-help groups, seed and fertilizer companies, financial institutions, research organization, agri-based small scale industries to enhance their skills and market. The University and different agricultural research institutions showcased their recent innovations and successes in the field of agriculture.

The CoE used this platform to share information on its action research on ecological sanitation and educate the farmers on the same. The poster exhibition focussing on ecosan explained the concept, presented a comparison between current practices of excreta management and ecosan, and most importantly the nutrient value of human excreta using a cost benefit analysis. It also threw light on the application of human urine in agriculture and the protocols for application of urine.

The Centre of Excellence in Ecosanitation, Department of Sciences and Agricultural Chemistry is supported by Arghyam, UNICEF and SEI. Here research is underway on application of urine as a nutrient supplement on various crops. The CoE is working on demonstration plots within the campus and in the fields to develop the protocols for human urine application. Experiments are also being extended to cover cattle urine. The information based on research is disseminated to farmers through Krishi vigyan Kendra, Krishi melas, exposure visits, workshops, mass media etc.

Prior to establishment of CoE, Arghyam supported India's first ever PHD on ecosan by G Srideviof the Department of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry under the guidance of Prof Sreenivasamurthy. Maize, banana and radish were fertilized using human urine (Anthropogenic Liquid Waste, ALW), and compared with plants fertilized using chemical fertilizer to provide an equivalent amount of nutrient. It was found that anthropogenic liquid waste performed well in comparison to chemical fertilizer, consistently showing better results in all parameters like grain and stover yields in maize and yield in banana. Sensory parameters in a blind test also showed good results. The attraction was a demonstration plot with an ecosan toilet pan and compost. It also attempted to establish the linkages between the composting toilet movement that provides a solution to environmentally-friendly handling of human excreta and making agriculture affordable.