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Vitamate (Humic acid) (Phase I: 2009-14)
Farmyard manure (FYM) is often not available easily in sufficient quantities, and hence farmers are using chemical fertilizer which reduces the fertility and the organic content of the soil. Humic content in soils is also reduced. To address this issue, MCRC developed a simple technology for producing humic acid, resulting in a product called Vitamate.
Vitamate is an organic liquid fertilizer rich in humic acid, designed for use as a foliar spray. It is produced through the recycling of locally available resources, specifically cow dung and leafy biomass, via liquid-state fermentation for 45 days. The resulting manure is rich in humic content, bioactive organic compounds and minerals that are essential for plant growth.
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| Current Status |
Vitamate is now used by over 1500 farmers annually for the crops such as paddy, oil seeds, millets, vegetables, fruits, and flowers. MCRC has also tested Vitamate in combination with Single Super Phosphate fertilizer at a 1:30 ratio for groundnut and paddy, resulting in a 5% increase in yield while reducing phosphate fertilizer use and lowering costs. More than 500 farmers in the Cuddalore, Villupuram, and Tiruvallur regions have adopted this method. MCRC also promoted local entrepreneurship by training farmers in Vitamate production, enabling them to generate income and fostering a decentralized model.
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