Following the government's requirement for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to separate waste, the focus is now on ensuring that organic waste is composted by the ULBs. In cooperation with the global project Soil Protection and Soil Rehabilitation for Food Security implemented by the GIZ as part of the special initiative "One World - No Hunger", business models are being developed for the ULBs to produce organic compost for agricultural use in sufficient quality and quantity on a decentralised basis. On the one hand, compost, fulfilling specified quality standards, can be certified and profitably marketed in rural areas with the "HARIT" label (Sanskrit for "green"). On the other hand, a digital market platform called HARIT Ticker was implemented. The blockchain-based value chain management system:
- increases the efficiency of the organic compost value chain (e.g. faster transactions);
- connects compost producing ULBs with farmers, agricultural institutions and institutional buyers interested in using organic compost;
- facilitates and promotes the purchase and sale of organic compost through government subsidies;
- assists the ULBs to better manage stock, storage, production and distribution;
- enables real time monitoring as the local administration receives an up-to-date report on the production and sale of compost from the ULBs.
Apoorva, a 35-year-old farmer from the village of Peth in Maharashtra, has recently become one of the test users of the HARIT Ticker. He explains: "The new digital trading platform for compost gives me the opportunity to order high-quality organic compost from the city quickly and easily directly via app". Apoorva receives the compost directly from the nearest urban composting plant in Nashik or from the farmers' organisation in the village. Agricultural organisations play a key role, as they purchase larger quantities of the compost and thus reduce transport costs. With the help of blockchain-based supply chain management, a more efficient process is created along the entire value chain. Inventory, production, storage and sale of the compost are thus validated in a transparent, fast, cost effective and sustainable way.
