Public Perceptions of Reuse of Faecal Sludge Co-Compost in Bhubaneswar, India

Abstract

Although faecal sludge (FS) co-compost contains vital nutrients, there are several barriers limiting adoption and reuse of FS co-compost in agriculture. This study in Bhubaneswar found that health risk and bad odour were the two topmost negative perceptions of FS co-compost reuse. The main factors influencing farmers’ negative perceptions of FS co-compost were bad odour and fear of infection, whereas socio-cultural/religious beliefs and bad odour were the key factors influencing the negative perceptions of urban households practising kitchen gardening (UHPKG). Fear of infection and bad odour were the key factors influencing fertiliser retailers’ negative perceptions, while inadequate information, unavailability, and lack of government policy on FS co-compost reuse were the key factors influencing Farmer Producer Organisations’ negative perceptions. The majority of farmers (95%) and UHPKG (72%) were unwilling to consume food crops grown with FS co-compost, mainly because of feelings of disgust, fear of infection, and religious and socio-cultural beliefs.

Public Perceptions of Faecal Sludge Biochar and Biosolids Use in Agriculture

“…In Sweden, stakeholders, whether or not involved in sewage sludge management, highlighted the disgust or unappealing image that is associated with sewage [36]. Similarly, farmers in Bangladesh who refused to eat food crops fertilized with faecal sludge compost gave a feeling of disgust as one of their main reasons [37]. Certainly, a common thread that runs through perceptions and attitudes towards the application of sewage sludge is its disgust effect.…”