Implementing Agency: - NECTAR

A pilot project on making eco-friendly cowdung pots was successfully completed as an in-house project by NECTAR in Dharitree Nursery, Sonapur, Assam. It was found that in addition to preparing pots, various other items can be made from cow dung like Diya, Dhoop, Sambrani Cup, Rakhi etc.

Amongst the above-mentioned products, eco-friendly cow dung earthen lamps (Diyas) can be made, which will counter the Chinese made lamps specially in the festive season and thus boost the ‘make in India’ concept of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. The advantage of these cow dung diyas is that even if they are discarded after the festivities, they will decompose in a jiffy, leaving no residue. The concept of making eco-friendly cow dung diyas will help in generating local livelihood to various entrepreneurs / farmers / women entrepreneurs. The use of cow-dung products will further lead to cleaner and healthier environment.

Thus, an initiative was taken by NECTAR to manufacture eco-friendly Cow dung diyas in Dharitree Nursery, Sonapur, Assam, the same location where Cow Dung Pots were made.

The Cowdung Diyas were made successfully and was put for sell in the market before Diwali.

Implementing Agency: - NECTAR

It is seen that in all nurseries, the use of polybags for plant saplings is common. This adds to the problem of plastic pollution thereby causing hazards to the environment. To solve this problem, Mr Gopalbhai Surtia and Mr Pareshbhai Panchal, grassroots innovators from Gujarat, developed an innovative idea of making small cups and pots from the cow dung and agricultural waste to plant the sapling in nurseries. Also, to improve the sturdiness and make it pest resistant few natural binders are added. It is easy to manufacture and environment friendly product. Making pots from cow dung provides an avenue for generating economic benefits from cow dung for dairy farmers.

Looking at the benefits of the proposed idea, NECTAR had initiated a piolet project for making Eco-Friendly Cowdung pots in Dharitree Nursery Sonapur near Guwahati, Assam. The main objective of the project is to eliminate the use of poly bags in nursery thereby promoting, "No Plastic Environment".

Outcome and People Benefited: -

The pots made from Cow Dung are completely bio-degradable and provides manure to the roots and eliminate plant shock while transplanting. The project helped in the capacity building and generation of livelihood opportunities for considerable number of rural masses, especially the weaker sections.

Cowdung Pots of two different sizes (3 inch and 6-inch dia) were developed. The project was officially inaugurated on 18th August 2022 by DG NECTAR also with the officials from Forest department Assam.