Custard apple farmer starts vermicomposting; clocks Rs30 lakh annually from 2 acres

When automaker General Motors stopped production at its Talegaon plant near Pune in 2020, Mangesh Prakash Lawande was among the over one thousand workers who were left unemployed. Having completed his mechanical engineering at an ITI, he worked in the Talegaon plant for over a decade before it was shut down.

Mangesh’s family had been cultivating custard apples for three generations in Jejuri village, Purandhar Taluka of Pune district. He returned home and planted 400 saplings of custard apple on a two-acre land parcel to make a fresh beginning. 

Due to COVID-19, he was home-bound and began researching why his father’s custard apple orchard did not yield high output. He learned about soil quality, its nutrient profile, carbon content and the possible reasons behind low production.

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“Farming is a science. We must know when to add which nutrient, how much water is required, when is the highest probability of a plant catching disease and how much manure is required. Overdosage and underdosage are both harmful,” Mangesh tells 30Stades.

Soil testing to vermicomposting

In 2021, he went to Delhi to attend a two-day training programme on soil testing and also purchased a soil testing machine for Rs2 lakh.  “When I tested the soil on my farm, I realised it was highly deficient in micronutrients and organic carbon,” says Mangesh, who also offers soil testing services to other farmers.

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Soil organic carbon is the carbon component of organic compounds that increases oxygen in the soil and improves water drainage and retention, reducing the risk of nutrient leaching. 

“Vermicompost is the best source to meet both micronutrient and macronutrient requirements of plants,” says Mangesh. Vermicompost contains copper, iron, manganese and zinc and is a rich source of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulphur and boron.

“Realising the crucial role of vermicompost in successful farming, and the unavailability of good quality manure, I decided to make it myself,” says the agripreneur.

He invested Rs15 lakh in preparing his vermicompost unit over a 60ft X 60ft area on his 2-acre farm. “The main structure is cemented and has a roofing sheet. I have done underground piping so that any extra water released from cow dung can be sent back to a tank and reused for making manure as it is nutrient-rich,” he says.

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The business of vermicomposting

Mangesh procured earthworms from a supplier in Aurangabad and made 20 beds of 30ft X 4ft X 1ft. The other key requirement for vermicompost is cow dung to which other organic materials like tree leaves, crop residue, vegetable waste, biogas plant slurry or crop residues can be added.

“I used cow dung and added earthworms to it,” he says. Earthworms convert the dung and organic waste into manure. 

“Every two months, I get about 50 to 60 tonnes of vermicompost. A 50 kg bag is sold for Rs600,” he says.

He also prepares vermiwash, a liquid organic fertilizer made from earthworm compost that contains nutrients and other beneficial substances for plants. “Just 10 ml of vermiwash mixed with a litre of water is enough to provide nutrients to plants. It can be added to soil or sprayed on plants,” he says.

Mangesh has also recently introduced vermicompost granules, which he calls ‘booster’. Booster granules contain vermicompost, cotton seed oil cake and six other nutritive substances that promote plant growth and improve immunity, he says. He sells a 40kg bag for Rs1000.

“My monthly turnover is around Rs2 lakh and the rest comes from the sale of custard apples,” Mangesh says.

“Vermicomposting is a profitable business. Both organic and traditional farmers (who use chemicals) use vermicompost. There is more demand than I can meet right now,” Mangesh says.

Custard apple farming

His 400 custard apple trees are also yielding good returns. About four years old now, they yielded 10,000 kg in the current season (June to December). “The price of custard apple ranges from Rs60 to Rs250 depending on demand,” he says, adding the net income (after deducting expenses) this year was Rs6 lakh.

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The custard apple yield increases for some years before stabilizing at around 20 kg per tree. The trees have a lifespan of over 40 years if maintained well.

Mangesh has built a pond on his farm to ensure adequate water supply for the plants. “During rains, I lift water from the well and add it to the pond. There is enough water for irrigation in April,” he says.

The irrigation needs are low because he uses mulching with sugarcane bagasse, which reduces evaporation and water requirements. “I look after the trees with regular application of manure and sprays. That’s why young trees also yield good fruits,” he says.

(Rashmi Pratap is a Mumbai-based journalist specialising in business, financial, and socio-economic reporting)

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