Converting Waste Agricultural Biomass into a Resource - UNEP

Job Potential:
Farmers' cooperatives, private enterprises and non-government organizations
were assisted to establish compost production units. Mechanization of some
of the production steps was included in the program. The compost produced
was sold to farmers in 50 kg bags. Assistance was given in terms of:
1. Training in the production of the activator;
2. Advise on how to use it in proper composting procedures;
3. Analysis of the nutrient content of the compost produced;
4. Mechanization of the composting process;
5. Help in obtaining credit from banks and other institutions;
6. Conduct of efficacy trials of the compost produced;
7. Registration of the compost at the FPA; and
8. Securing a license as a compost manufacturer from the FPA.
Operations and Maintenance Requirements:
The fungus, grown in a medium of sawdust mixed with the leaves of ipil ipil, is
called compost fungus activator (CFA). There must be favorable conditions for
the decay process, such as adequate moisture, an appropriate initial C:N ratio
of substrates, and aeration. The composting period is shortened to just four
weeks.
Social Considerations:
Government technicians were trained in the production of the activator, and in
the composting process using this activator. These trainees in turn conducted
their own training courses in their home provinces. The target of the program
then changed to farmers, encouraging them to produce their own compost
using raw materials such as rice straw and animal manure available on their
farms.
Investment and Operating Cost:
One reason why large numbers of Filipino farmers were not very enthusiastic
in adopting the rapid composting technology was the high labor input involved
in making the compost and applying it as fertilizer. The labor demand was
about 6% higher than when chemical fertilizer alone was used. The higher
labor input involved: the gathering of substrates, piling substrates into heaps,
and applying a large volume of compost to the field. Filipino farmers would
prefer to buy commercial organic fertilizer (if this is available), rather than
make their own compost.
Advantages to Developing Countries
The Philippines is basically an agricultural country. Most of the populations
live in rural areas, and agriculture employs about 50% of the total work force.
A large amount of chemical fertilizers are used: 1.4 million mt in 1995. Of this,
37% was urea, half of which was imported. In 1995, the Philippines exported
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