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India’s major river deltas–including the Ganga–Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery—are crucial ecological and socio-economic zones, yet they face heightened vulnerabilities due to sea-level rise, saline intrusion, climate variability, and poor waste management (IPCC Climate Change 2021, 2021: Impacts. Cambridge University Press; MoEFCC State of Environment Report. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, 2020). Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) are increasingly recognized as cost-effective, ecosystem-compatible interventions for enhancing the adaptive capacity of such regions. Among these, vermicomposting—a process that utilizes earthworms to convert organic waste into nutrient-rich compost—emerges as a viable community-based adaptation strategy. This chapter explores vermicomposting using Eudrilus eugeniae as a localized NbS, based on a 60-day experiment in northern India involving a mix of household kitchen waste and cow dung. The study aimed to assess changes in physicochemical parameters including pH, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), C:N ratio, and moisture content. The results demonstrated a significant increase in nutrient values: nitrogen rose from 0.55 to 1.32%, phosphorus from 0.36 to 0.82%, and potassium from 0.48 to 1.14%, while the C:N ratio decreased to a mature level of 13:1. The pH stabilized at 7.3, indicating suitability for soil application, and moisture content was optimal at 38%. The process not only contributes to nutrient recycling but also reduces methane emissions and diverts organic waste from landfills. More importantly, its simplicity and low investment make it ideal for community participation, especially by rural households and self-help groups (SHGs). Thus, vermicomposting aligns with multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). This chapter advocates for scaling vermicomposting as a localized, inclusive, and resilient solution for India’s vulnerable delta communities.

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Vermicomposting as a Community-Based Nature-Based Solution: Enhancing Delta Resilience Through Sustainable Organic Waste Management in India

  • 章节

  • 发表日期：

    2026年

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  • Saras,
  • Nitish Kumar Nigam

摘要

India’s major river deltas–including the Ganga–Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery—are crucial ecological and socio-economic zones, yet they face heightened vulnerabilities due to sea-level rise, saline intrusion, climate variability, and poor waste management (IPCC Climate Change 2021, 2021: Impacts. Cambridge University Press; MoEFCC State of Environment Report. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, 2020). Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) are increasingly recognized as cost-effective, ecosystem-compatible interventions for enhancing the adaptive capacity of such regions. Among these, vermicomposting—a process that utilizes earthworms to convert organic waste into nutrient-rich compost—emerges as a viable community-based adaptation strategy. This chapter explores vermicomposting using Eudrilus eugeniae as a localized NbS, based on a 60-day experiment in northern India involving a mix of household kitchen waste and cow dung. The study aimed to assess changes in physicochemical parameters including pH, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), C:N ratio, and moisture content. The results demonstrated a significant increase in nutrient values: nitrogen rose from 0.55 to 1.32%, phosphorus from 0.36 to 0.82%, and potassium from 0.48 to 1.14%, while the C:N ratio decreased to a mature level of 13:1. The pH stabilized at 7.3, indicating suitability for soil application, and moisture content was optimal at 38%. The process not only contributes to nutrient recycling but also reduces methane emissions and diverts organic waste from landfills. More importantly, its simplicity and low investment make it ideal for community participation, especially by rural households and self-help groups (SHGs). Thus, vermicomposting aligns with multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). This chapter advocates for scaling vermicomposting as a localized, inclusive, and resilient solution for India’s vulnerable delta communities.