Liquid manure for vegetables and other crops from human hair. The technology developed by Kerala Agricultural University for transforming human hair into liquid manure was released at the VAIGA (Value Addition for Income Generation in Agriculture) expo in Thrissur on Saturday.

Human hair collected in barber shops and beauty parlours, considered a waste menace hitherto, has been turned into a plant growth supplement, thanks to the sustained research efforts of a team of scientists headed by D. Girija, Professor & Head, Department of Microbiology, College of Horticulture.

One kg of human hair yields a-litre-and-a-half of liquid manure through physical and chemical processing. One litre of the manure, easy to spray on crops mixing five times water, contains 5 gm of potassium, 20 milligram calcium, 3 milligram magnesium,72 milligram sulphur, and 3.3 milligram of zinc, in addition to other components. It has been tested on common vegetables such as okra, amaranthus, and brinjal.

It was found that the manure significantly encourages plant growth and productivity.

Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran released the technology by handing over the protocol to Thampi U.N., general secretary, All Kerala Barber-Beautician Association.

Minister for Agriculture V.S. Sunil Kumar presided over the function and KAU Vice Chancellor R. Chandrababu presented the technology. With a view to attracting the youth to farming and encouraging farm-related entrepreneurship, the Agriculture Department will start 50 initiatives under the Farmers Production Organisation, Mr. Sunil Kumar said.

“The government has entered into a contract with the governments of Jammu & Kashmir and Gujarat to exchange value-added farm products. More and more youths are taking up agriculture as a vocation,” he said.

The government will start six markets in urban and rural areas. The aim is to increase the revenue of farmers by avoiding middlemen.

The event will conclude on Sunday. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will participate in the valedictory function and distribute agriculture awards.