The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is making a sea change in the way Goa treats its rural garbage besides altering the employment scene in remote areas of the state.

ICAR researchers say that around 800-odd youths in the state have been trained in vermiculture technology under which garbage is converted into manure and supplied to the farms at a good rate.

“This has also helped the rural youths to be economically sustainable. Also it solved the vexed garbage issue,” the ICAR researcher and agronomist, Mr H.R. Prabhudesai, said.

Engineering the programme to suit Goa’s environmental conditions, the ICAR has developed a special tank where vermicomposting can be done.

“Unlike areas of Karnataka and Maharashtra, where the vermicomposting can be done in open space, the institute has designed prototype of tanks which are 2.5 metres deep and one metre wide, where garbage can be converted into manure,” Mr Prabhudesai said.

The researcher said that the African crawler, a variety of earthworm, feasible for Goan soil conditions has also been identified to be used in vermiculture. “Eudrillus Euginae, which are suitable for Goa, are giving splendid results for vermicomposting,” he said.

Researchers have found that this variety breeds well in Goan environmental conditions. Also their reproduction capacity helps in saving capital investment to purchase worms.

Mr Prabhudesai said one earthworm reproduces in the form of 250 others, which increases the profit. The ICAR initiative has resulted in at least eight to ten units of vermiculture that have sprung up in the state.

He said that mini small-scale industries are taking shape in the form of these units. The State Government has encouraged vermicomposting by providing 50 per cent subsidy for the construction of unit and purchase of earthworms.

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