ENHANCING SOIL FERTILITY THROUGH PRODUCTION AND USE OF BIO-FERTILIZERS
Soil infertility is one leading causes of low crop yield across the Sub Saharan region (Sanchez, 2002). This has been attributed to increasing population that is pilling pressure on the land leading to soil degradation and exhaustion. Another major contributing factor to this problem is the unstainable farming practices carried out by farmers such as mono-cropping, crop removal, etc. Soil infertility affects the livelihoods of the majority of the population that depends directly on agriculture for food and income.
For the past three years of using this local innovation, there have been interesting testimonies on the use of the bio-fertilizers such as Bocashi and the liquid Jeevamritha. The Bocashi has been found to improve on the physical properties of the soil such as the water holding capacity, improved soil structure and also increasing the level of available nitrogen in the soil for plants. The Jeevamritha is important for increasing the microbial activity in the soil hence accelerating the rate of organic matter breakdown a process that releases important nutrients for the plant in the soil. All these have led to improved yield of crops where the bio-fertilizers are applied which is a good thing for the farmers.
There is now a huge potential for business while dealing with these bio-fertilizers. In fact some farmers have taken up the opportunity by producing and selling them in their communities in little quantities.
