Producing Organic Compost during the Dry Season

I Wayan Ngurah, Agricultural Program Facilitator

Organic fertilizers are a natural solution to improve soil fertility and providing essential nutrients for plants. Now, in the dry season, the Manikaji farmers and EBPP Manikaji students can no longer cultivate crops because the soil is too dry and there are no water sources. However, they can still harvest various types of vegetables that they grow during the rainy season to support their families’ daily food needs. As the EBPP Agriculture Facilitator, I allocate much of my time to work with the students in the school environment to prepare more organic compost that will be used during the upcoming rainy season, expected in November or December. Composting is especially relevant to the students' home environments, where the remains of decaying plants, leaves, branches, or even animal manure are often found.

Compost has several important benefits for plants, such as providing complete nutrients needed for healthy growth, improving soil structure to make it looser and more fertile, and increasing soil microbial activity, which is essential for nutrient decomposition and cycling. In addition to being easy to get, composting increases students' awareness of the importance of recycling and waste management. They also gain valuable knowledge about sustainable agriculture. I hope that in the future they will continue to apply this knowledge so that it can have a positive impact on the environmental sustainability.