Local farmers in Ukhrul and Kamjong districts now have a powerful new tool in their quest for sustainable natural farming. On Friday, the Ardent Foundation officially launched “AF Compost,” a premium organic vermicompost designed to boost crop yields without the use of harmful chemical additives.
The product is the result of a strategic collaboration between the Ardent Foundation and the Zingsho Mapithel CS Ltd., a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO), under the Foundation, dedicated to supporting local growers.
Boosting Yields the Natural Way
During the launch ceremony held at the Ukhrul Press Club, Dr. Rimai Joy, Director of the Ardent Foundation, emphasized that the initiative was born out of a critical need for high-quality, organic soil enrichment.
“The vast majority of our local population are farmers who rightly avoid chemical options, but their crops still require consistent, natural nutrient supplements to reach their full potential,” Dr. Joy explained.
According to the developers, the vermicompost—a nutrient-dense humus created through the decomposition of organic waste by earthworms—will be a game-changer for the agricultural community in the region. Trials have shown that applying the compost at least twice a year can increase total crop yields by up to 30 percent, benefiting everything from paddy rice to fruit trees and flowering plants, they said.
Uplifting Local Agriculture
The project received a significant technological boost from the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) India, which provided the specialized machinery and equipment required to produce the organic fertilizer at scale. Dr. Joy extended gratitude to the NIF, India for the support.
As a government-recognized Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (SIRO) under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ardent Foundation focuses on the socio-economic upliftment and empowerment of tribal communities across Ukhrul and Kamjong districts through various development schemes.
Beyond fertilizer production, the Foundation operates the “AF Nursery,” which supplies high-value saplings such as avocado, apple, persimmon, macadamia and others to local farmers at subsidized prices to foster commercial orchard farming.
Farmers not priced out
Dr. Joy said that the Foundation has capped the retail price of AF Compost at a highly affordable rate of Rs 150 per 5kg package to ensure that smallholder farmers are not priced out of better yields.
The product is already hitting the shelves. Interested farmers and gardeners can purchase the compost in Ukhrul town at the Eden Mart, Phungreitang West, near Gandhi Chowk and Multicare Pharmacy, Opposite the UBC in Phungreitang, he informed.
With the launch of the organic manure, the Ardent Foundation hopes to bridge the gap between traditional farming wisdom and modern, sustainable productivity, ensuring that the fertile lands of Ukhrul and Kamjong continue to thrive for years to come.