Waste to Wealth: A Study on Bio-Enzyme-Based Organic Fertilizers from Household Waste in Rural Maharashtra

This study demonstrates a scalable circular economy model converting household organic waste into bio-enzyme fertilizers (BEF) across 15 villages in Maharashtra’s drought-prone Ahmednagar district. Using participatory action research (n = 120 women entrepreneurs), citrus-peel bio-enzymes fermented with jaggery and water (3:1:10 ratio) yielded nutrients comparable to NPK fertilizers (N: 1.8%, P: 0.7%, K: 2.1%) at 90% lower cost. BEF application increased soybean yields by 22% and soil microbial activity by 35% while reducing waste landfill volumes by 72%. Adoption barriers included pH variability (4.2–8.7) and limited market linkages. The study proposes a three-tiered micro-enterprise framework—community collection hubs, decentralized production units, and FPO-led distribution—to empower 5,000 women by 2030.