Circular economy model with black and greywater recycling in India by WASTE : impact evaluation

WASTE, a Netherlands based organisation in partnership with the Rural Development Organisation (RDO Trust), Nilgiris District has developed a model for producing high quality co-compost from waste water and faecal sludge for cultivation of exotic vegetables by women farmers in the District. In order to enable target consumers to buy the co-compost, WASTE has implemented THE DIAMOND MODEL that provides tools for private financing along, potential market linking strategies in addition to generating quality co-compost and providing access to grey water. The innovation has received monetary award and support from Securing Water for Food (SWFF). The aim of the innovation is to establish a local circular economy model in sanitation for agriculture that is scalable and enables women agri-entrepreneurs to have better quality of crops with market quality compost application and extended crop season to advance green growth in the Nilgiris.

This report studies the monitoring and evaluation of the innovation after a survey of randomised 50 independent farmers across 8 villages were conducted through field visits and interviews in July 2019. The statistics assessment took place across gender variations, household incomes, crop yield, agri-inputs cost, water usage practices, access and barrier to grey water and co-compost.

This report details the monitoring and evaluation of the recent innovation by WASTE among the small-scale farmers of Nilgiris district (horticulture district) in the state of Karnataka. Evaluator interviewed 50 independent farmers which were selected through a random sampling with a mix of both male and female headed households and established a criterion to assess household incomes, crop yields, water practices, expenses, and perceptions and expectations of the circular economy model.

The report measures the impact of innovation in the water stress regions and explores the possibilities which navigates issues related to soil fertility, gender disparities, climate change, income changes, water management, irrigation practices and technologies, and market dynamics of the region.

The respondents expressed positively if innovation would become sustainable and scalable. Positive impact of innovation would largely influence food security, women accreditation, income advancement and soil restoration for the entire region.