Mr. Saryug Prasad Yadav, having an MSc degree in Rural Extension and Development from Lebanon, is the first man who introduced the concept of organic farming in Nepal through a seminar in 1992. Having served the government of Nepal for 23 years and involved in the non profit sectors for the next 14-15 years, Mr. Yadav is now working in his own house in Balaju with an excellent technology suitable for agriculture, livestock, environment and waste management. Yes, the technology that is quite unfamiliar among the so called environment activists like you, the technology that is out of coverage despite the presence of so called journalists like you and the technology that is still behind the curtain of the stage although there is a huge potential audience like YOU.

The technology is no other than EM- Effective Microorganisms.

Excerpts from an interview with Mr. Yadav:

Are you the person behind this EM technology?

Let me clear that I am not the person behind this technology. This technology of EM was developed by Dr. Teruo Higa of the College of Agriculture at the University of Ryukyus, Japan. I brought this technology to Nepal in the year 1995 through my own NGO- Community Welfare and Development Society (CWDS) with the technological help from APNAN-Bangkok and EMRO-Japan. For the same purpose, I started EMCO Pvt. Ltd. in Biratnagar for the sustainable production of EM. I even have a mini plant at my home in Balaju.

How can you explain this technology to the persons who have heard about it for the first time?

EM is a liquid concentrate. It is a combination of various beneficial, naturally occurring microorganisms mostly used for or found in foods. It contains beneficial organisms from 3 main genera: phototrophic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria and yeast. These effective microorganisms secrete beneficial substances such as vitamins, organic acids, chelated minerals and antioxidants when in contact with organic matter. They change soil microflora and fauna so that disease-inducing soil becomes disease suppressing soil which in turn has the capability to develop into azymogene soil. The anti-oxidation effects of these microorganisms pass directly to the soil or indirectly to plants maintaining their NPK and CN ratio. The process increases the humus content of the soil and is capable of sustaining high-quality food production.

Why EM? Aren’t there other technologies existing?

EM includes high populations of lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus and Pedicoccus), Yeast (Sacharomyces), photosynthetic bacteria and fewer amounts of actinomyces and other organisms. These organisms are neither imported, exotic nor genetically engineered. So, it can be locally made and very cheap as well. Prior to the development of EM, the ability to manage these microbial populations on a large scale in an economically viable way did not exist. EM has therefore become a revolutionary tool for managing the dominant microbial populations and increasing the efficacy of most systems.

Could you please elaborate where it can be used?

The increased level of employment opportunities and development activities in urban areas are the reasons for the increase of urban populations. This increase has caused various environmental pollution problems as a result of social and economic activities in their daily life. Contamination of soil, water and air is inevitable as most people’s activities produce wastes. The accumulation of organic wastes develops odors which is unbearable after sometime and harmful to human health as well. There are 2 natural courses of the Nature- resuscitation and decomposition or contamination. Problems occur when the speed of contamination exceeds that of natural recovery process. To overcome this problem, there is a need to change the direction of flow. And the glory of EM is that it guides all microorganisms towards the course of resuscitation. This is because they are a group of microorganisms that generate antioxidant items that we could truly benefit from. It was proven successful in Kathmandu when EM application was done at collection center in Teku and at landfill site along Bishnumati river for few months during the year 2002.

Farmers are also using EM extensively in making compost out of their farm and livestock residues. Likewise, urban organic wastes can be converted to useful organic fertilizer through the process of fermentation with the application of EM. The inoculation of EM enhances the fermentation process of organic matter converting it to matured and useful organic fertilizer(compost) within 30-40 days. This is being practised in Kathmandu and outside as well within Nepal but on a very small scale by few NGOs and private agency and such organic fertilizers are available in the market.

The application of EM in treating sewage wastes has been also proven successful. The treatment of waste water(effluent) of the hotels with EM and its reutilization is also being practised in several countries including Nepal. Slaughter house and other industrial sectors can use this cost effective and efficient technology of EM in treating the waste water and contribute in mitigating the environmental concerns of all. EM can be used to enhance the biodiversity of the ecosystems in rivers, lakes, swimming pools, etc. It can be used to accelerate the decomposition of sludge and reduce pungent smell. EM can also be used in our daily lives as spray and washing in the toilets, bathrooms, kitchens and other parts of the house to remove unpleasant odors and suppress fungal growth.

EM extended is even added to the drinking water in a ratio of 1:1000.

So, is this EM production your business?

No. Not absolutely. I had not started this technology in Nepal from a business point of view. It was my passion to work in this sector and I love doing it. When the demand for it increased, I began producing it commercially. That’s it.

What is the current demand for this EM liquid in Nepal?

Few years back, the demand was going high for EM. But all of a sudden, it has decreased recently. About 500 litres is consumed monthly in the present context in Nepal.

Will I be wrong if I say that people have found EM technology a cheat and thus stopped consuming?

You will be TOTALLY WRONG. The authorized Japanese team comes here every 6 months and monitors our product. If the team finds any fault, they correct it and provide all the necessary guidance. So, it is 100% efficient.

Are there any precautions we should take in using this EM liquid?

Not actually. But there are few things that you should keep in mind before its use. If this liquid directly comes in touch with Gobar-gas plant, it reduces the production of gas gradually by suppressing the microorganisms needed for the process. And, next thing, the concentrated liquid should not be applied directly to plants. Dilute it with appropriate water and use it.

What would you like to say finally?

I never say- Buy it, Use it. But at least think about it. If you are convinced about this technology, you can directly contact me for further details at EMCO Pvt. Ltd., Balaju, Nepal.