Study on public perception on the reuse of co-compost from faecal sludge in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

The recovery of nutrients from faecal sludge (FS) for use in agriculture could help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensure long-term viability. However, the reuse of treated human excreta in agriculture has experienced low uptake due to negative public perception. To achieve the SDGs, a paradigm change in perception, processing management and reuse of FS is required. Value addition methods like co-composting could open a new perspective on FS as wealth instead of waste. This study aims to investigate and evaluate public perception of the reuse of co-compost from FS in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. A pragmatic mix of quantitative and qualitative data gathering procedures were used. The primary data was gathered from 96 farmers, 15 fertiliser retailers, 104 urban households practicing kitchen gardening (UHPKG), 2 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and the Odisha State government through surveys with the aid of structured questionnaires and key interviews of key informants. Cluster random sampling was employed to choose farmers from villages in the Bhubaneswar urban area and UHPKG within Bhubaneswar city, while purposive sampling was used to select the fertiliser retailers, FPOs, and a senior government official from Odisha state. In addition, separate focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 8 farmers and 8 UHPKG that were not involved in the survey to gain an in-depth perspective of their perception of FS co-compost reuse. Finally, a desk review of secondary data was also done to complement the primary data collected. The major findings of the study are as follows: only 5.2% of farmers and 28% of UHPKG were willing to consume all food grown with FS co-compost as fertiliser. The remaining 94.8% of farmers and 72% of UHPKG were unwilling to eat all food crops fertilised with FS co-compost for various reasons, namely fear of infection (health risk), religious reasons, disgusting, socio-cultural taboos, and lack of information about FS co-compost. Factors influencing negative perceptions of reuse of FS co-compost in agriculture include socio-cultural and religious beliefs, fear of disease infection, bad smell and low awareness of FS co-compost. Fertiliser retailers do not sell FS co-compost because there is no market or demand, it is not available for them to sell, it is less profitable and not reliable. FPOs are willing to use FS co-compost and promote it to their members if they are convinced of its health safety, high crop yield, product quality, odourless, availability and accessibility. Also, the Odisha State government plans to develop a policy for the reuse of FS co-compost and to use the dried sludge at faecal sludge treatment plants (FSTPs) in the next few years to make FS co-compost for reuse in agriculture. Health risk and unpleasant smell/odour are the main perceived attributes of FS co-compost that influence negative public perception about its reuse in agriculture compared to other attributes. Overall, public awareness about FS co-compost reuse in agriculture was very low, which contributed to the negative perceptions held by some stakeholders