Training on Compost Making

26-27 November, 2007

Workshop Completion Report

Conducted by

CABI South Asia

In Collaboration with

Welthungerhilfe / German Agro Action and

Lasoona

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary........3
Acknowledgement...........3

1.

Introduction.................................................................................................................... 4

2.

Training Objectives........................................................................................................ 4

3.

Training Contents .......................................................................................................... 5

4.

Training Organization and Conduct .............................................................................. 5

5.

Training Material............................................................................................................ 7

6.

Covered Training Contents (A review) .......................................................................... 7

7.

6.1.

What is composting?.............................................................................................. 7

6.2.

Why to use compost?............................................................................................. 8

6.3.

Making of compost? ............................................................................................... 8

6.4.

What to put in and what not to put in? ................................................................... 8

6.5.

The layers of compost............................................................................................ 9

6.6.

Management of compost heap and compost use.................................................. 9

Practical Demonstration (Participatory)....................................................................... 10

Annexes
Annex 1 Daily Training Schedule....15
Annex 2 List of Training Participants .........16
Annex 3 Pre and post-training evaluation test......18
Annex 4 Manual developed for compost making..20
Annex 5 Training Completion Certificate..... .....21

Executive Summary
CABI South Asia with the financial assistance of German Agro Action organized a training
workshop on compost making on 26th and 27th November, 2007, in Rawalpindi,
Pakistan. The training participants were progressive farmers, Agricultural Officers and
trainee from a NGO, LASOONA, village activists and representatives from different CBOs.
A total of 31 participants participated in this training workshop.
During this workshop, training contents covered were what is compost, why to use
compost, making of compost, what and what not to put in compost, layers of compost and
management of compost heap were addressed. Participants were explained about the
advantages of using compost, latest composting technologies, key principles in compost
making and its use. Participants were able to learn composting principles and how to
promote the improvement of soil physical, chemical and biological properties by the
correct use of compost. A participatory practical demonstration on compost making
process was also made during this training workshop.
Participants were given a pre and post training evaluation test to assess the effectiveness
of the training workshop. Post training evaluation test indicated that the trainees gained
knowledge and experience with aspects of compost and composting that will enable them
to more effectively communicate with other farmers. Each participant received a compost
training manual. An interesting consensus emerged from the discussions at the end of the
day: the only thing hindering compost production and its use is lack of information to
farming community. A train the trainees programme teaching scientifically based
principles of compost production and use can be the seed for encouraging the use of
organic waste from forms as source of soil improvement for fruit, vegetable and other crop
production.

Acknowledgements
The CABI South Asia would like to thank German Agro Action for their financial support for
this workshop, also to acknowledge the collaborative support of Lasoona in the
implementation of this workshop. We gratefully acknowledge Mr. Qamar Zia, Project
Manager, AKDN-MERP NRM Project, CABI, for his contribution in Urdu translation of
compost making training manual. Assistance from all those CABI staff involved in training
is also acknowledged.
Composting

1. Introduction
Introduction of Green Revolution put negative effects on the structure of agriculture. Its
after-effects are also alarming. Fertilizers were considered necessary for better
production. Following this, farmers started using fertilizers to gain more profits and gained
bumper crops for a few years. After that yields became static and even in the following
years, decreased but the use of fertilizers tended to increase. These fertilizers especially
urea ruined the lands by killing the micro-organisms which are considered necessary for
the natural fertility of the soils.
Farmers often have difficulty disposing of leaves, grass clippings and other farm waste. So
it has even become more important to find environmentally sound ways to dispose of
them. These by-products of the fields can be turned into useful compost with no more
effort. Compost is a basic source of organic matter which our commercial vegetable and
fruit growers rarely use in their fields. Addition of organic matter to crop production soils
tends to enhance their overall ability to retain both nutrient and water. Compost can be
incorporated as a soil amendment for vegetables, fruit trees and nursery crops. An
additional benefit of the compost can be disease suppression.
Recognizing these and other relevant realities, the German Agro Action (DWHH/GAA)
with collaboration of CABI SARC proposed a short training programme on Compost
Making for the farming community of the project area. GAA in collaboration LASOONA
identified training participants from different CBOs, village activists and progressive
farmers.

2. Training Objectives
The main objective of the training was to improve the perception, knowledge and skills of
the participants about the best possible, environmentally safe and inexpensive ways to
dispose of their farm waste. The specific objectives were as follows:

To provide updated knowledge to produce a safe, high quality compost product that
can be beneficially used as a soil amendment.

To provide the training and educational resources to encourage adults to actively

participate in the process of sustainable organic waste management by
composting.

Composting

To enable the farming community to develop ways to reduce the volumes of waste
being generated in their field.

3. Training Contents

What is composting?

Why to use compost?

Making of compost?

What to put in?

What not to put in?

The layers of compost

Management of compost heap

Compost use

Practical demonstration (Participatory)

4. Training Organization and Conduct

The CABI SARC organized the training on 26th and 27th November, 2007 and was held at
its head office in Rawalpindi with the financial assistance of German Agro Action. Daily
training schedule is at Annex 1. It consisted of in-door lectures, exercises, case studies
and discussions. Participants comprising of Extension Officers and Internees from
LASOONA, village activists, members from CBOs and progressive farmers. List of
participants is at Annex 2.

Figure 1. Session in Progress

Composting

Participants were registered and the

training started with the recitation of Holy
Quran.

Formal

introduction

of

the

participants was made so that every body

can interact and communicate well. On
26th

November,

18

participants

participated and second day on 27th

November,

13

participants

were

registered. Urdu language was used as

Figure 2. A review in local language

training medium.
All the participants were given days programme. Resource person from CABI SARC
explained the participants with the objectives and the overview of the training programme.
Training sessions were set and detailed lectures and exercises were made on the training
contents. Participants were also facilitated with local (Pashto) language so that every body
could understand the concepts of compost making. Participants were encouraged for
asking questions to make the concepts more clear. During and after different training
sessions, participants were given time to
make discussion on the subject in their local
area scenario. Participants were found very
interactive and eager to learn. Detailed
discussion on the compost making process,
its management and its use were made
during the sessions. Participants were given
pre and post training evaluation test to have
Figure 3. Questioning session

an idea about training impact.

A participatory practical demonstration on composting methodology was made in the field

in CABI SARC. Compost making material was collected and all the steps involved in
compost making process were demonstrated. Participants actively took part in making
compost heap. During demonstration activity, attendees asked different questions that
showed their interest in learning and application of the composting techniques.

Composting

5. Training Material
This training was divided into two parts. In the first part, the participants were given
lectures using white board and charts and flip cards, exercises on charts. All participants
were provided with compost making manual in undu, which was developed by CABI
SARC.
In the second part of the training, practical demonstration on compost making was made.
Composting sites was selected in CABI fields and all the steps involved the said process
were demonstrated with a thought that participants could learn more by practically doing
and seeing the things.

6. Covered training contents (A review)

6.1.

What is composting?

During this session, participants were told about the basic knowledge of compost,
comparison of synthetic and organic fertilizers and their effect on soil fertility and
environment as well as their economic value.

Figure 4. Composting materials

Composting

6.2.

Why to use compost?

The background of using compost was discussed in detail in this session. Participants

Figure 5. Field Demonstration

were explained about different composting benefits and useful effects. Trainees asked
many questions which were very helpful in understanding why we use compost.

6.3.

Making of compost?

Composting process and its requirements were explained to the participants.

Participants were told about the keys of making good compost and what are the most
important tips and points that one should keep in mind while making compost.

6.4.

What to put in and what not to put in?

Participants were told about the materials that can be used in composting and the
materials that can not be used in composting. Participants told that farmers usually
face difficulty in disposing of their farm waste. Resource person explained that how a
farmer can bring the waste materials into a useful organic matter to enhance soil
fertility.

Composting

6.5.

The layers of compost

Figure 6. Setting the composting layers

All steps involved in making a compost heap were explained to the participants.
Arrangement and proper way of setting composting layers in the heap were explained.

6.6.

Management of compost heap and compost use

After completion of compost heap, key points that are important in heap management
were discussed during this session. What are the most important things that we have
to keep mind while using compost were explained to the participants.

Composting

7. Practical demonstration (Participatory)

In the last session, participants were taken to the composting site for practical
demonstration. Composting material like wheat straw, maize straw, saw dust, ash, fruit
and vegetable waste, dried leaves, cut grass, farmyard manure, lime, cardboard, small
clippings, and green weeds were collected. First, the participants were explained about
all the steps involved in the process and later, a composting heap was produced with
the participation of all participants.

Figure 7. Participants busy in compost making

Composting

10

Figure 8. Composting in progress

Composting

11

Fugure 9. Completion of composting process

Composting

12

7.0 Training Evaluations

The participants were put to simple pre and post-training evaluation tests (Annex 3). The
purpose of the pre-training evaluation was to assess the level of participants knowledge
about marketing and identify weaknesses and gaps. The post-training evaluation helped
to assess training effectiveness. All the trainees expressed a positive feedback about the
overall outcome of the training and many of them are beginning to use compost in their
operations or encourage its use by others.

Figure 10. Pre and post training evaluation

Composting

13

Closing Ceremony
Training Workshop ended with the giving of Certificates of Completion (Annex 4) to all
participants by Regional Director CABI South Asia, Dr. M. Ashraf Poswal and Training
Coordinator Dr. Kauser Khan Niazi with their closing remarks closing Remarks.

Figure 11. Training participants recieving certificates

Figure 12. Closing remarks by Regional Director, CABI South Asia

Composting

14

Annex 1

Daily Schedule for Training on Compost Making

9:00 9:30

Welcome and Introduction

Training objectives and overview
Pre-training evaluation

9:30 10:00

What is composting
Why to use composting

10:00 10:20

Tea break

10:20 11:00

Compost making

11:00 11:30

Process

Requirements

Keys of making good compost

What to put in compost

-

Composting in heap

Compost layers

Compost in bin

What not to put in compost

11:30 12:00

Compost management
Compost use
Post training evaluation

12:00 13:00

Practical Demonstration on composting

13:00 13:30

Certificate distribution

Composting

15

Annex 2
List of training participants (November 26, 2007)
No.

Name

Organization/Area

Shirzada

Dandai

Tahseenullah

Dandai

Mohammad Nazir

Dandai

Asghar Khan

Dandai

Akhtar Ali Khan

AO Lasoona

Said bacha

Sarkool

Javaid Ahmad

UC Shang

Ali Bahader

UC Shang

Muhammad faraz

Dandai Perkalay

10

Fazal Manan

Ganangoo

11

Muhammad Jan

UC Shang

12

Habib-ur-Rehman

UC Shang

13

Zai-ur-Rehman

Sarkool

14

Syed Hussain

Sarkool

15

Latifullah

Lasoona (Shangla)

16

Muhammad Nisar

Lasoona (Shangla)

17

Niaz Ali

Lasoona (Shangla)

18

Badro

Dandai/DTT

Composting

16

(November 27, 2007)

1

Muhammad Amin

CBO (Kolai)

Taj Muhammad

CBO (Aspin Abad)

Barkat Ali

CBO (Aspin Abad)

Habib-ul-Haq

Youth Organization (Kolai)

Muhammad Seiaz

CBO (Sharakot Dat)

Younas khan

CBO (Badakot)

Muhammad Hanif Khan

CBO (Kaloot)

Nawab Khan

CBO (Sharakot Dat)

Zarmoran

CBO (Badakot)

10

Mufti

CBO (Badakot)

11

Muhammad Ayub

CBO (Aspin Abad)

12

Farhat Ali

A.O (LASOONA)

13

Abdul Khaliq

Internee (LASOONA)

Composting

17

Annex 3
Pre and post-training evaluation tests

Composting

18

Composting

19

Annex 4
Compost Making An introductory and training manual (Prepared for the training
participants)

Composting

20

Annex 5
Training Completion Certificate

Composting

21

Training Coordinator:
Dr. Kauser Iqbal Khan Niazi
Email: k.khan@cabi.org.pk
Resource Person:
Shakeel Ahmad
Email: shakeel@cabi.org.pk

Composting

22