Cattle dung is a
resource. Our farmers are aware of its use as manure in agricultural
fields but for want of alternate cheap cooking-fuel, they are left
with no other option except to burn it in hearths. This age-old
practice of burning dung cakes in the most inefficient manner should
be dispensed with to conserve cattle dung for sustaining, rather
improving soil health and in turn agricultural productivity. We are
one of the leading countries in developing and promoting biogas
technology. Still we have to travel a long way to make full use of
this technology for developing our rural areas.
For better results, concerted efforts are needed in dovetailing the
biogas programme with the Cattle Improvement Schemes on the one hand
and with the Watershed Programme on the other. Good work done by
trained masons, technicians, NGOs, etc., should be recognized by
organizing healthy competitions at the block and district level and
awarding the best performing persons and organisations. Plant owners,
using biogas and manure efficiently should also be awarded on an
annual basis. Do-it-yourself manual on the operation and maintenance
of biogas plants for plant owners, construction manuals for masons,
manuals on laying gas distribution pipe line and fixing burners and
lamps and operation of duel-fuel engines for technicians, biogas plant
users’ manual, etc. should be brought out in regional languages and
widely distributed. The use of digested slurry in conjunction with
chemical fertilizers should be encouraged to increase the fertilizer
use efficiency. Further research data indicate that the use of
biogas-slurry manure reduces the adverse affect of injudicious
application of pesticides on soils. Therefore, to generate awareness
among farmers, field demonstrations on the use of biogas-slurry manure
should be organized. Also greater R&D efforts should be made to focus
on diversified value added use of manure, e.g. for hardening of tissue
cultured seedlings, abatement of soil-toxicity, as a source of
micro-nutrients and root stimulant for fruit and vegetable crops, etc.
Several private dairies and gaushalas possess large number of cattle
heads and many-a-time face the problem of disposal or use of cattle
dung in towns and cities. To overcome this problem, the biogas
technology coupled with electricity generation should be promoted with
focus on production and marketing of manure.
1. Fuel - cow dung patties (gootte) for cooking
2. Fertilizer - composting makes it even more powerful
3. Heat source - cow dung is naturally hot -compost makes hotter put
in glass house to heat glass house or run pipes thru it to get hot
water.
3. Purifier - natural antiseptic qualities
4. Floor coating - used mixed with mud and water on floors in mud
houses. Improves water absorption of mud. Prevents muddy puddles
resulting from spilt water.
5. Mud brick additive - improves resistance to disintegration
6. Skin tonic - mixed with crushed neem leaves smeared on skin - good
for boils and heat rash (SP used it for heat rash in Mayapur.)
7. Smoke producer - smoldering cow patties keep away mosquitoes. Can
also make smoked paneer over such smoke. Tastes great in pasta! :)
Ash - from patties used in cooking. -
8. Pot cleaner - used dry absorbs oil and fat wet as a general cleaner
9. Brass polisher - tamarind removes oxidation - wet ashes polishes
10. Fertilizer - alkaline - cow dung ash is basically lime with a few
other mineral mixed in
11. Mud additive - dries up slippery mud puddles
12. Mud brick additive - mud and lime (cow dung ashes) becomes like
cement
13. Pond PH balancer - thrown into pond neutralizes acid.
14. Tooth polish -
15. Sun-dried organic recreational-aerodynamic-device -cow patty
Frisbees ;)
16. Fan for fire - large cow patties can be used as make shift fans.
17. Deity worship - ingredient in panca gavya
