Barefoot Microbiologist

The chemical method of farming is associated with several long-term disadvantages; a) soil quality deteriorates with time with fewer microbes and fewer natural nutrients for soil, b) soil salinity increases with chemical fertilizer over time, c) pesticides impact farmer and consumers' health and also kills beneficial insects essential for pollination, d) during COVID lockdown the logistic chain of chemical farming inputs were disrupted and shows the importance of locally available material and e) expensive.

However, the possible alternatives of chemical farming, i.e. organic agriculture also have some disadvantages such as; a) low production rate, b) high time consumption, c) organic fertilizers take months to activate and increase soil nutrients. Biofertilizers and biopesticides are a group of microbes that belong to the soil and help increase nutrient bioavailability. As they are naturally produced microbes, they can be used complementary to the organic fertilizer.  

 Overall a solution is required that enables farmers to shift from a more natural regime of farming while keeping the production intact.

Our Solution consists of three main components: A DIY clean-air box for microbes’ culture, DIY media using locally available material for microbes’ growth and training for farmers in beneficial microbe’s culture. Once the laboratory is established, farmers can mass produce bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides of their own. 

Testing phase (2021-2022)

In case of microbes-based biofertilizer/biopesticide production, laminar air flow (LAF) and microbiology culture mediums are two main obstacles. Previously, a sophisticated laboratory set-up was required to overcome this barrier. We have designed a HEPA-filter and exhaust fan-based DIY clean air box that enables the farmers to produce bio-fertilizer and bio-pesticide in an aseptic condition. This system ensures a sterile environment throughout the production process, preventing contamination and maintaining the purity of the microbial cultures. 

We have tried and tested several compositions to prepare an alternative microbial culture medium. A unique combination of molasse and gram flour has been selected which serves as a microbial culture medium.

We have also demonstrated innovation in using locally available wine bottles for culturing microbes and using a rice cooker to sterilize medium and glassware. 

Before setting up the microbiological lab at the farmer's field, we did an extensive study on isolating and characterizing local biofertilizers and biopesticides and conducted field experiments in four different regimes for 8 vegetables (no-input, chemical farming, traditional organic farming and organic plus input from the microbiology lab).

Pilot (2022)

since 2021, we piloted a program called “Barefoot Microbiologist”. We developed a low-cost microbiology lab for farmers and deployed it in three locations in West Bengal (Raiganj, Purulia and Sundarbans), India. The inoculum of beneficial microbes was given to the farmers in batches enough to use for at least two years. At present farmers are producing 5 bio-fertlizers and 4 bio-pesticides microbes. They were stored in the deep freeze and extensive training was provided to the farmers to mass produce the bio-fertilizer and bio-pesticides, identification of contamination and maintaining the optimized lab condition. Instead of a temperature-regulated chamber, we have used shades for microbial culture. 

Results (2022-Now)

The data from three locations were collected. At present 1500 farmers from three locations are direct beneficiaries, using mass-produced bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides regularly. 32 farmers (both men and women) were trained in production of the biofertilizers and biopesticides. 

Overall, microbial laboratory and trained farmers in organic agriculture led to 21-46% reduction in farming costs. Close to 70% of the farmers stop using chemical input for their soil.   

Depending on the crop, the innovation increases production by 160%-210% as compared to the conventional organic agricultural practice. Every component of the low-cost microbe’s production is locally resourced. As the process is completely organic, water consumption is reduced by 30% as compared to chemical fertilizer regimes. The data is presently based on 600 farmers in three different eco-geographic regions over West Bengal, India.

At present at least 1500 farmers are using the products from our biofertilizers and biopesticides lab in three different eco-geographic locations. 32 farmers have been trained and running the lab. The cost of agriculture has dropped by 21-46%, and so has the dependency on inputs, making them more climate resilient. The lab also enables women's empowerment as more and more women are interested in the work. We have trained several women farmers as well. The regular maintenance of the lab and ensuring production by women-led groups help to maintain their ownness of the farmland which was previously downgraded due to the mechanization of agriculture. Last year, a particular insect (Bactrocera Cucurbitae) attacked multiple vegetables, and we were successfully able to control their population through the production of biopesticides. This draws the attention of local farmers who are now more interested in using the products. 

Recently we have been invited to showcase our work at National Level Organic Agricultural Fair (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/the-climate-thinker_climatechange-adaptation-farmers-activity-7167754810597883904-l2qN?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop) where more than 5000 farmers across countries have shown interest in this.  

Our organization is presently working with 9 Farmer's Producers Organizations in West Bengal. Upon displaying our work at national-level organic farming fair, we are also in touch with agricultural departments. Recently, the work has been presented in Organic Hat as well, where ministers and agricultural senior officials have praised the work. 

At The Climate Thinker, the project is led by a team of agronomists, microbiologists and implementation practitioners who are working in silos with 20+ field experts and volunteers. The laboratories are now run by the farmers and we provide technical support if needed. 

At present three laboratories, 32 trained farmers and 1500 direct beneficiaries (primarily small holders) are the output of the projects. We have collaboration with FIAM (Forum For Indigenous Agricultural Movement), the largest organic farmers consortium in the state.  

We aim to scale up the initiative, network with the implementation community, integrate with related innovations and receive mentorship from domain experts. We are also looking for financial assistance.

The solution is innovative due to -

a. DIY components in designing the clean air box, using household material to establish a microbial culture environment.

b. Effective material to ensure learning of farmers. The training program is tailor-made for farmers.

c. The program enables small-scale entrepreneurship among farmers through the selling of the products.

d. The project also enables women's empowerment and helps women to grow inputs for their land.

e. Moreover, the solution has been checked in three eco-geographical condition with different climate and proven to be effective.  

The theory of change for the program is -

Farmers, especially the small holders spend 30-50% in buying chemical fertilizers and pesticides. However, due to prolonged usage, they need to spend even more now a day.

The solution helps the farmers to produce agricultural inputs on their own, facilitating self-resiliency and climate adaptation. 

The farmers can sell the excess products which ensures sustainability of the procedure.

We act as a change-maker only to help the farmers during technical problems.

Our impact goals are -

a. Establishment of 1000 farmers-led microbiology labs in the country.

b. Establishment of a training institute for barefoot microbiologists.

c. Integrate the DIY lab into the governmental scheme, assuring subsidy on establishment.

We believe in Occam's Razor which states that the simplest explanation is possibly the most suitable. Our target beneficiaries are farmers who live in remote parts of the country. Therefore, we tend to keep our implementation as simple as possible. 

We take a sophisticated microbial laboratory and DIY every component of it using locally available material and running it in the field. From Laminar Air Flow to media of microbial culture, from expensive chambers for microbial growth to autoclave, we have a hack in all these components to make it low-cost and DIY. Together it became a simple system that allowed us to train farmers to use it regularly. Our innovation is therefore use low-cost tech and low-tech to support small holder farmers.

Full time stuff - 2

Part time stuff - 2

Consultant - 10

Field worker - 32

SInce 4 years

We have diverse group of people associated with this project. From scientists to farmers to developmental practitioners. We have representative from marginal community in our team.

Being a non-profit, there are no direct financial incentives for this for us. Whenever we have been contacted by a farmer's producers organization that can sponsor the basic cost of a laboratory, we readily do that. However, for establishing labs in other farmers who are interested but not able to invest, we relies on funding from corporate organizations and grants.

We rely on external support through philanthropy, and grants to scale up this program. However, as setting up the lab is very inexpensive, the farmers' consortium has been interested in funding us to set up a lab for them. However, for financially week farmers, we rely on grants and corporate social responsibility funds. This also support our salary as well