Photo Courtesy: nenews
Shillong: Sengkey Ch. Sangma is cashing in on dirt. The 36-year-old farmer from Dabram village, South Garo Hills, now breeds earthworms for extra cash. Her operation generates a gross annual income of ₹63,000.
She sells Eisenia fetida worms to other farmers at ₹4 each. She moved 750 worms in a single year, pocketing ₹3,000. Her work is part of the state Organic Manure Scheme for the 2024-25 financial year.
Technical support came from the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department and the Agricultural Technology Management Agency at Baghmara C&RD Block. Sangma started with a ₹25,000 investment on August 28, 2025. She built two 6-by-3-foot vermicompost beds using cow dung, banana leaves, and farm scraps. The setup is simple.
Each harvest yields 300 kg of compost. She sells it for ₹50 per kg, pulling in ₹15,000 per harvest. With four harvests a year, her compost revenue hits ₹60,000. She also uses the leftovers to feed her own crops, cutting her chemical fertilizer bill. Other locals are following suit. Mengstone R. Sangma recently sold 6,000 earthworms to the Horticulture Department at ₹3 apiece, banking ₹18,000.
Demand for organic fertilizer is surging. Officials say local production cannot keep up with the current market needs. The state established 14 units across South Garo Hills between 2024 and 2026. Sangma now acts as a local expert. She shares her skills with neighboring farmers, teaching them organic waste management. As one report noted, her venture illustrates how "agricultural waste, scientific training and the cultivation of suitable earthworm species can be combined to create an additional income stream for rural households."
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