Dear Inge and Rogier

Photo 3 shows a row of vermicomposting tunnels
http://www.ias.unu.edu/proceedings/icibs/ic-mfa/lardinois/091.jpg

This system at TF (Table 3) uses agricultural wastes (I presume crop
residues) and vegetable market wastes. Additives that are used (according to
the information provided in the paper) are many and includes poultry wastes,
cow dung, water hyacinth, alage, different types of meals, micro-nutrients,
etc. In the preparation of the wastes, it says "bacteria are used to reduce
the volume".

Q: Does the "bacterial pre-treatment" stage mean composting and for how long
is this treatment ?

Q: Are any of the wastes shredded, e.g. the water hyacinths.

Q: is it possible to use the wastes directly, i.e. without shredding and the
preparatory stage using bacteria ?

Q: I like to know whether there is any feelings as to vermi-composting or
bacterial composting is easier to operate and if there can be any difference
in the operation costs for the process per unit income ? In Jagannatha's
paper, the value of vermicompost is given as 2,000-3,000 Rs. per ton while
bacterial compost is  Rs.300-500 per ton for Cuttack City (Mysore).

>TF is the only program which earns its total revenue from its sales.
>It offers a wide variety of compost products at
>different prices that have been designed to suit different crop
requirements.

could this be due to the use of vermicomposting as the process (instead of
bacterial composting) !

regards
jacky