Healthy soil is the foundation of sustainable sericulture. We teach organic soil management, composting, and natural fertilization that increases yields while restoring soil fertility for future generations.
Soil is the living foundation of all agriculture. Decades of chemical fertilizers and intensive farming have depleted soils across North East India, reducing their ability to hold water, support beneficial organisms, and nourish plants.
Our soil health programs restore this vital resource through organic practices, composting, and regenerative techniques. Healthy soil grows healthier mulberry, which feeds healthier silkworms, which produce higher-quality silk. It’s a cycle of renewal that benefits farmers, communities, and the environment.
How we restore soil health
We test soil samples to understand current conditions — pH levels, organic matter content, nutrient availability, and microbial activity — creating a baseline for improvement.
We guide farmers through the transition from chemical to organic inputs, providing alternatives that maintain productivity while healing the soil.
We teach farmers to transform agricultural waste, kitchen scraps, and silkworm rearing byproducts into nutrient-rich compost.
We introduce techniques like cover cropping, mulching, and reduced tillage that protect and feed soil organisms.
What we do to restore soil health
Training farmers to use earthworms to convert organic waste into high-quality vermicompost for mulberry gardens.
Introducing nitrogen-fixing cover crops that naturally enrich soil between mulberry harvests.
Teaching farmers to make biochar from agricultural waste, improving soil structure and carbon storage.
Replacing chemical pesticides with biological controls and companion planting strategies.
Providing regular soil testing services so farmers can track improvements and adjust practices.
Using organic mulch to protect soil from erosion, retain moisture, and feed soil organisms.
Barpeta District, Assam
Ranjan Kalita’s mulberry garden had been declining for years. Despite increasing his use of chemical fertilizers, the leaves grew smaller and his silkworms produced less silk. A soil test revealed the problem: his soil was nearly lifeless.
Through our soil health program, Ranjan learned to make vermicompost, planted nitrogen-fixing cover crops, and stopped using chemicals entirely. Within two years, his soil transformed — dark, crumbly, and full of earthworms.
"I was scared to stop using fertilizers, but the training gave me confidence. Now my soil is alive again. I can see earthworms everywhere, and my mulberry has never been healthier."— Ranjan Kalita, Silk Farmer
Help us heal the land that sustains silk farming communities.