Qualitative analysis of the consequences of businesses vermicomposting from the perspective of rural women in Fars province

Abstract
Today, the material resources available to supply soil organic matter cannot
respond agriculture practices. In Iran, More than 60 percent of the cultivated soil
organic carbon content is less than one percent and in considerable part of the soils
is less than 0.50 percent. While critical point of soil organic carbon for the stability
of soil structure is two percent. Rural waste management and convert them into
vermicompost is affordable way to provide organic material. In this regard, in order
to the supply of organic matter for agricultural soils, vermicompost production in
Fars province is expanding. This study was conducted to investigate the impacts of
vermicompost production from the perspective of women in the Fars province and
it was done by qualitative method and conducted in-depth, structured interviews.
Results showed that vermicompost production have many positive effects for rural
communities including: economic impacts (increase production, reduce costs, and
strengthen the non-agricultural economy), environmental impacts (reducing
pollution of water, soil and air, reducing the volume of garbage, preserving the
beauty of the rural landscape), and health impacts (producing safe products, reduce
cancer, reduce the number of insect pathogenic). Rural women said that use of
vermicompost in the farming also increases soil productivity. The findings showed
that the most important health impacts of vermicompost production are organic
production and reduce diseases, especially cancers. Rural women believed that
produce vermicompost from organic waste is one of the important ways to reduce
environmental pollution. The practical suggestions are provided for improving the
production of vermicompost.