This engineer clocks Rs4 lakh monthly from vermicompost business on 1.5 acres

Sumit Giri spent 20 days in Maharashtra and 10 days in Haryana every month while working in the marketing division of Hindustan Agro Industries Pvt Ltd. With a B.Tech in electrical and electronics engineering, he was the area manager for Nashik and Aurangabad, requiring extensive travel.

“My parents were living in Karnal and my wife worked as a professor in Chhachhrauli, both in Haryana. I visited them regularly. However, constant travel and eating outside food for eight years affected my health. I knew I had to choose between my marketing job and family,” Sumit tells 30Stades.

During the COVID lockdown, Sumit began researching new-age businesses that could be started on a small scale and expanded later. “I came across mushroom farming, fish farming and exotic spice businesses but when I learned about vermicompost, it immediately appealed to me,” says Sumit, who completed his B.Tech from Karnal University in 2012.

Why vermicomposting is profitable

Vermicomposting involves using earthworms to convert organic waste into nutrient-rich compost. 

“The profit margin in vermicomposting is high. The expenses on labour, cow dung and worms are about 30 percent of the revenues. So from an investment of Rs100, one can earn a profit of Rs70 after meeting the expenses,” Sumit says.

The global vermicompost market is expected to grow 6.1 percent between 2021 and 2028 to reach two billion dollars by 2028, as per Data Bridge Market Research.

Also Read: Couple finds super success with vermicompost; clocks Rs 6 lakh monthly turnover

India is currently the world’s largest exporter of vermicompost, followed by Sri Lanka, Turkey, Indonesia, and Vietnam, according to Sear Exim Solutions, which tracks export-import data.

Vermicompost improves soil fertility, aeration, and water retention, leading to higher crop yields. Being organic, it does not harm the environment and is rich in macro and micronutrients, vitamins, and growth hormones. With a rising awareness of natural and organic farming methods, the demand for vermicompost is also growing.

In India, the Eisenia fetida variety of earthworms is used widely due to their ability to rapidly process organic matter. 

From marketing to vermicomposting 

Sumit decided to take training from the Maharashtra government’s Agriculture Department in Nashik to learn more about vermicomposting. “I took training and purchased 2500 kg of earthworms from them at Rs350 per kg. This was the lowest price at which they were available back then. The earthworm rates have come down to Rs100 per kg now,” the agripreneur says.

Also Read: Nurse quits high-paying govt. job to make vermicompost; clocks Rs24 lakh annual turnover

Sumit took half an acre of land on lease in Yamunanagar, Haryana and transported the earthworms there. “Due to inexperience and lack of time on my end, about one-third of the earthworms died. I learned that vermicomposting was a full-time job and needed complete attention," he says.

In 2022, Sumit resigned from his job and prepared 70 vermicompost beds over half an acre.

“Each bed was 40ft by 3.5 ft. I purchased 1800 kg of cow dung and put 950 kg of worms in 70 beds. The first batch of manure took 5.5 months as I was still learning and the speed of vermicomposting was slow,” he says.

After 5.5 months, each bed gave around 700 kg of vermicompost, yielding 5 tonnes. “I sold it at Rs7 per kg, earning Rs3.5 lakh and there was no looking back,” Sumit adds.

He then increased to 100 beds and then 180 beds spread over 1.5 acres of leased land. “I pay around Rs 75000 per acre for land lease annually and the amount increases by Rs10,000 annually,” he adds. 

Revenues, profits and training in vermicomposting

Sumit says vermicomposting can be done on raised beds using cow dung and other organic wastes like leaves, etc. “The 180 beds are ready in two to 2.5 months. So there are four to five cycles annually,” he says. Each bed yields 600 to 700 kg of vermicompost.

Also Read: Five farmers who became organic manure millionaires

The annual turnover now is around 5 lakh kg, resulting in revenues of Rs35 lakh and a profit of Rs25 lakh. “Some retailers and local farmers buy directly from us. The rest of the manure is sold to wholesalers across North India,” he says.

“I also sell earthworms at Rs100 per kg and provide consultancy and training to farmers for a fee. That adds another Rs12-13 lakh to my annual income, taking the total to Rs48 lakh,” Sumit says.

He trains farmers to put up vermicompost beds, monitors their production and buys back their manure to help them in marketing. 

“I provide all the materials for the first batch of vermicompost to farmers who take training from me,” he adds.

Sumit has now purchased land to expand to a bigger area amid the growing demand. “The new unit will go live this year,” he adds.

(Riya Singh is a Ranchi-based journalist who writes on environment, farming, sustainability, startups, & women empowerment).

Also Read: Engineer quits job to make vermicompost; earns Rs30 lakh from just one acre

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