As part of its CSR initiative to promote sustainable and eco-friendly farming practices in the peripheral areas, SAIL, Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), in association with NIT Rourkela, provided vermicompost bags and earthworms to 20 women farmers from periphery areas on 22nd August, 2026. Mr. R Bara, DGM, CSR, Mr. Gokul Minz, Consultant, NIT, Mr. B B Behera, Consultant NIT, Mr. G R Nayak, Section Officer (CSR), and Mr. B Ekka, Section Officer (CSR) were present on the occasion.
The distribution was carried out under the project “Waste to Wealth: Sustainable and Innovative Organic Farming Techniques especially for Women Farmers of the Peripheral Areas of RSP.” The beneficiaries were provided the materials to enable them to start vermicompost preparation and make productive use of organic waste in their own farms.
The initiative seeks to encourage the adoption of organic farming practices and promote the conversion of biodegradable waste into nutrient-rich manure. Besides supporting environment-friendly agriculture, vermicomposting can help farmers reduce their dependence on external inputs and improve the availability of organic manure for cultivation.
Notably, an MoU was signed between SAIL-RSP and NIT Rourkela on 8th October 2025 for a period of three years for implementation of the project. The project covers training and demonstration for 600 local farmers from four revenue blocks — Lathikata, Nuagaon, Bisra and Kuarmunda — on organic farming techniques, with special emphasis on women farmers. The project also envisages demonstration of techniques such as vermicomposting, preparation and use of bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides, and seed treatment, through a third party. Free synthetic bags for vermicompost preparation are to be distributed to each trained farmer.
