Soil

The Truth behind Shivansh Fertilizer

In recent months, the internet has exploded with talk of Shivansh fertilizer that is supposedly revolutionizing agriculture in India and “saving” millions of farmers from the perils of chemical agriculture. Given that Indian peasant farmers have mostly garnered international attention due to the explosion of farmer suicides due to the inability to keep up with mounting debt associated with dependence on chemical agriculture, talk of natural, organic fertilizers that is saving small farmers certainly piques the attention of permaculture-minded folks.

The Etymology behind Shivansh Fertilizer

In the permaculture world, there is a tendency to create new names for surprisingly similar techniques. Everyone, it seems, wants to share in the feeling of having “created” some surprising and revolutionary technique or system that transforms the way we grow our food, protect the soil, and interact with the natural world. Extravagant names also have the ability to catch out attention.

When you look at what “Shivansh” fertilizer is, however, it should be obvious to anyone that it is nothing more than composting, a technique held dearly by permaculturists around the world and practiced by agrarian cultures in some form or another for thousands of years. This informational pamphlet on the Shivansh technique could very well be taken from a white board drawing by Bill Mollison himself.

What, then, is behind the name Shivansh? Shivansh, from Indian or Hindu origin, simply means “from Lord Shiva” or “part of Shiva.” For those of not well versed in Hinduism, according to Wikipedia, Lord Shiva is the “destroyer of evil and the transformer.” Given that Indian peasants have suffered the worst catastrophes and “evils” of the imposition of the Green Revolution agriculture techniques from GMO seeds to infinite amounts of poisons sold as miracle cures, introducing (or re-introducing) composting techniques probably should be seen as a technique that destroys the evil of chemical agriculture while positively transforming the soil and the livelihoods of small farmers.

Furthermore, culture appropriateness is an important aspect of any technique that is introduced into the communities and cultures of small farmers around the world. It makes me cringe when I hear small, Central American farmers who have been introduced to permaculture use the words “mulch” and “swale” (pronounced moolch and swalay, respectively in Spanglish). If Indian peasants find more relevance in Shivansh than in composting, even though they are the same thing, that is their right.

Too often, privileged permaculture practitioners from the global North usurp the agrarian knowledge and wisdom that was developed over thousands of years from rooted, rural communities around the world. Though in many places that traditional wisdom (traditional ecological knowledge in anthropological terms) has been forced out by the techniques that were imposed on small farmers through the Green Revolution, it is important for us permaculturists to understand the deeper origins of so many permaculture ideas and render credit to the indigenous and agrarian communities around the world.

Who is Behind the Shivansh Fertilizer Idea?

As is often the case, anytime fancy ideas begin to make their way through the internet and viral Facebook posts, some sort of NGO or non-profit organization is behind the idea. Small farmers who practice composting techniques and have been doing so for hundreds of years, rarely feel the need to broadcast those common-sense techniques to the wider world.

The Indian-born billionaire, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Manoj Bhargava began the organization “Billions in Change” several years ago in order to “bring useful inventions to the unlucky half of the world, enabling higher quality of life for billions of people.”

Among other “inventions”, this organization offers solar panels, water purifiers, battery packs and other items that they term as inventions. Among things they claim to have invented is the Shivansh fertilizer method, which, as stated above, is nothing more than the compost pile that has been utilized by farmers around the world for thousands of years.

The Benefits of the Shivansh Fertilizer Method

Despite the obvious incoherency of a billionaire Indian businessman claiming to have invented a technique that millions of farmers around the world use on a daily basis, there are a few benefits to the promotion of this method that are worth mentioning.

Firstly, the Shivansh fertilizer method is being “taught” in communities where much of the traditional ecological farming principles have been lost. Since the arrival of the Green Revolution, a generational gap has formed between the knowledge held by grandparents who used organic, traditional farming methods and their grandchildren who were raised on lands where glyphosate, pesticides, and GMO seeds were the norm. Re-introducing the compost pile is certainly an important step to help young farmers rediscover how to protect the soil while diminishing their reliance on chemical inputs.

Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, the Shivansh fertilizer method specifically mentions that small farmers can use “whatever is laying around” to build their compost pile. They recommend interspersing brown (carbon rich materials) with green (nitrogen rich materials) and also advocate for repetitive, consistent turning of the pile to have a finished compost in 18 days. While some hardcore composters might disagree with the recommended, shoulder height of the compost pile or the “incorrect” percentage of brown to green materials, my own thought is that most compost piles are forgiving enough to allow for variances.

The recommendation to use whatever organic material can be found locally is a very appropriate approach to composting for small farmers. Unfortunately, many “expert” permaculture composters recommend people to purchase outside inputs to make their compost truly “authentic.” The problem, of course, is that advocating for seaweed extract in the compost pile for small farmers living 1,000 kilometers from the coast isn´t exactly feasible. Allowing people to create compost from the materials they have on hand is a much more sustainable approach for small farmers.

One Last Critique

Though many permaculturists are wed to the compost pile (call it Shivansh if you so prefer), my own personal experience has taught me that “composting in place” is much more efficient and a more ecologically sound way to improve soil quality. Masanobu Fukuoka, the small Japanese farmer who was a proponent of no-till agriculture, didn´t understand why people would take the rice straw from the fields, put it into a compost pile, waste energy turning it, only to reintroduce that same rice straw (now as compost) into that same field. His system was founded on letting the rice straw decompose on the field in a no-till agriculture system that continually built soil.

Though compost might be a necessity for small garden beds, it certainly takes a lot of work to make and apply sufficient compost to a hectare-large farm when simply allowing crop residues and other organic material to compost in place on the field itself is much more efficient.

Tobias Roberts

After working in the development industry for over a decade, Tobias decided it was time to stop advising Central American farmers how to do things if he didn´t have a piece of land to live coherently with what he taught. Together with his family he runs a small agro-forestry farm, tourism cooperative, and natural building collective in the mountains of El Salvador.

18 Comments

  1. i am a layman. can we use this method of composting to reduce stubble burning in punjab/haryana so as to reduce the air pollution?

  2. Hi Sanjiv,

    As the article mentions at the end, the best is to leave the stubble to decompose on the fields. It will feed and protect the soil by mulching it at the same time.

  3. I to have found making compost is too time consuming. Here in Hawaii, I just mulch my trees with whatever organic materials I can find. I look at it like composting in place.

  4. Wondering if someone might have done a Soil Food Web course by Elaine Ingham – can you get the same results consistently without all the science, eg qualitatively ? If you have done it, would you say the investment was worth it ?

    Thanks !

  5. Composting is a wonderful thing and has been around a long time ,but educating simple people with no education with its use is what the billions in change bloke is about very few people want or have the ability to get out of their comfort zone to do so
    Some people are just happy to sit at there computer and tell other educated about their knowledge

  6. I haven’t understood your purpose if writing this article. What is wrong in advocating and supporting a good idea if it clicks with the masses. I also know of other concept of self sustained small farming concept known as Amrut Mitti coined by an agricultural scientist in Maharashtra. That also sounded quite logical. I have grown up in fields environment in punjab. I have closely seen various agricultural practices in Dayalbagh, Agra also.
    India has been known since centuries as leader in field of Yoga. Yet it was Baba Ramdev who beyond any doubt took Yoga to common household of India almost less than a decade ago only. His ways just clicked with the masses and due credit must be given to him.
    Similarly, Prof Bhargava also deserves his part of praise and credit. The concept of organic farming is picking up fast in India and the need of hour.
    Again I couldn’t get your intentions regarding writing such a piece as if you wanted to discredit someone’s genuine and sincerr efforts. Regards

    1. so true Inderpal ji, yes it is hot composting but very precise and very Indian so that anyone can apply the process and benefit it and there is no harm in giving it Name and a formula

    2. The purpose of this article is that the author tries to argue that the billionaire did not invent the Shivansh fertilizer since people around the world, for a thousand years, have been doing this method of creating fertilizer. The author also states that the generational gap between grandparents and grand grand kids have cause them to forget about organic fertilizers due to the popularization of pesticides and fertilizer.

  7. I think you are missing the point Manoj Ji never implies he “invented” the compost or solar panels, he has a group of engineers who make these things simpler and easier to use and more practical and a working farm which worked to find the best mix for farmers.

  8. Good on you Amanda. To be fair, I think the writer never intended to discredit Manoj but somehow made a slip in using the word “invented”. An apology would be appropriate.

  9. I too miss the point, why would you hate on something that brings positive results to people and the world…. who fucking cares who invented it. If it is as you say, an “existing” technique, then why do so many people around the world not employ it? we’d be living in a much healthier world. Either way, you bad mouthing this is just evidence of your own flaws and insecurities. If you had the best interest of mankind at heart you wouldnt be hating on this, you’d be trying to spread the information as far and wide as possible. Shame on you.

    1. Lol … the “shivansh” “fertilizer ” never gave credit to Berkeley method of composting. So no shame on shivansh?

  10. salaams, namaste, pranaam,
    “A rose by any other name smells just as sweet” !!

    well done to all and hope that the efforts can be taught in many other languages

    There are multiple benefits to using organic methods apart from costsavings eg. reducing usage of chemical fertilisers and pesticides and encouraging the ecosystem to develop.

    Carry on with the good efforts

    Humankid proposes…God Almighty disposes !!

    the succesful will always be those whose intentions are sincere
    ☺😊
    ☺😊
    aaimz bolton lancashire uk..06/03/18

  11. I guess his “problem” is with the new name getting trendy outside of India as being something new.
    Also, from the way it was worded (and opposed to the author’s interpretation), doesn’t sound like they claim to have invented those so-called inventions, but that they’re bringing them from wherever and whoever they come from.

    Now, to my question: how to say “mulch” or “swale” in spanish?
    My language is sister to spanish and I have no idea on how to translate these words! And even though I’m decently fluent in english, I try not to use foreign words when speaking one language.

  12. Check this link out. http://shivanshfarming.com/our-team/
    Errr…look at the part on Technical Avisors & Knowledge Partners
    I think any culture can call composting whatever name they wish provided the end goal of ending dependence on synthethic fertilizer is achieved.
    Transcribed from Mr Manoj’s clip on youtube, “There is a way, we discovered(just as we discovered natural or organic farming methods), that you can make your own fertilizer, in 18 days. It’s a layering system. We’re calling it Shivansh”.
    Understand composting perspective of the man in the field (I don’t like the word peasants as it is rather demeaning) in India or wherever it maybe, is key.
    Any system used should be Simple,Zero to Low Cost, Duplicable ,Attainable and More impotantly, easily obtainable materials.
    Anyone who has has some insights of India, would understand the inputs used are readily available to most communities.
    In addition to Shivansh Farming, the Kyusei method, has also been introduced in India as are KNF & JADAM and permaculture.
    In my opinion, getting the man in the field on her/his feet is the most Important goal followed by zero dependence on synthethic inputs, irregardless of what the method is called.
    As a keen follower of natural and organic farming, a start up farmer myself, I “discovered” that one or another of these requires materials that are hard to come by or may be costly.
    I have read “The One Straw Revolution”, if I recalled correctly, he had been working for some years, just like many who suddenly decide to go off grid or go into no till farming, permaculture and the likes. Look at the tools and resources used.
    Now compare that with many man/women on the field in India and most parts of the world, who are dependent on planting.
    Borrowing the words often used by JADAM, there is no good or bad, just balance.
    If Shivansh Farming can help thousands or millions, call it by any name, does it matter?
    Note: Instead of retiring comfortably, I lost it. As a start up farmer with limited resources, the hidden costs in each method becomes apparent. Unfortunately, it will take too long with the “One Straw Revolution”, perhaps, the next phase as the current zero synthetic pesticides & minimal synthetic input farm evolves.

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