Self-Making organic fertilizer from waste source

Farmers in Vinh Tan commune, Vinh Cuu district classify waste at source, make use of organic waste to compost fertilizer for clean production.
Photo: Phan Anh

Accordingly, the implementation of waste separation at source, reuse of organic waste as fertilizer is being replicated in rural areas of the province. This model helps to solve difficult environmental problems when turning waste into a resource that brings many practical benefits to farmers.

Reduce organic waste burden
Waste is currently classified into 3 categories including: recyclable waste; food waste and other waste. People still have the habit that all types of domestic solid waste are put together and collected and treated. While sorting waste at source brings many benefits. Specifically, recycled waste can be sold to recycling facilities; Food waste can be used as organic fertilizer. If it is possible to separate waste at source and reuse recycled waste and organic waste, the remaining amount of waste that needs to be collected and treated will be greatly reduced.

According to a report of the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, currently, garbage generated during daily life in the province is about 1,895 tons/day. In which, the amount of waste treated by the compost method (a biological method to compost organic waste into fertilizer) is about 1,446 tons/day.

Tran Trong Toan, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said that the separation of waste at the target source is to encourage rural people to use organic waste as fertilizer. Only unusable waste will be disposed. Currently, domestic waste in rural areas in the province is about 864 tons/day, of which about 70% is biological waste. Meanwhile, the implementation of garbage classification in rural areas has many advantages, farmers should separate waste at source and all food and organic waste is used as fertilizer for crops. Recycled waste can be recycled and sold to recycling facilities. Thus, the amount of waste in rural areas brought to waste treatment areas will decrease sharply, contributing to reducing costs and reducing environmental pollution; At the same time, difficult environmental criteria in new rural construction will be well implemented
Associating with clean agriculture
If the source of organic waste is directly discharged into the environment or burned, it will cause pollution, while if it is reused, it will become a raw material for the production of organic fertilizer, bringing high economic efficiency. This is also a solution to contribute to the development of clean agricultural production in the direction of organic.

Mr. Thang Van Tu, farmer in Song Thao commune (Trang Bom district) took advantage of the fruits and fallen leaves available in the garden such as: pomelo, jackfruit, banana and bat droppings, bird's nest, snail... to composting itself as an organic fertilizer for the family's 8-hectare pomelo garden. Mr. Tu also applied IMO preparations combined with Soapnuts to create biological pesticides and diseases for plants. This solution helps Mr. Tu's family reduce 60-80% of the investment cost of fertilizers and pesticides. Mr. Tu compares: "In the past, when using fertilizers and chemical pesticides, the price of pomelos was about 20,000 VND/kg, only then would growers make a profit. But when I made my own organic fertilizer and bio-protective medicine, I only needed to sell 12 thousand/kg of pomelo to make a profit. Grown in the organic direction, the plants grow well, the fruit is safe, so it is favored by the market."
This is also a solution that can be applied well in the field of livestock. Mr. Vo Vu Manh, a duck farmer in Thanh Phu commune (Vinh Cuu district) shared that in the past, the source of duck manure was very stench, the treatment of this waste source was an expensive burden. After using IMO, Mr. Manh easily treats livestock waste, saving costs, ensuring that the barn does not cause odors. Animal waste after treatment becomes a source of organic fertilizer for safe agricultural production.

According to localities in the province, in the coming time, localities will promote the separation of waste at source. In particular, farmers take advantage of organic waste as raw materials for self-composting organic fertilizers to use for clean agriculture.