Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
is limiting, the cultivatable area is approximately 300 m
2
[38]. Apart from
the nutrients recovered through the composting process, vermicomposting
also allows for the cultivation of worms that can be sold to start-up other
vermicomposting sites or as protein sources for animal feeds. In one year
time the amount of worms can increase by a ten-fold, and one kilogram of
worms (
Eisenia fetida
) will sell for about € 15 to €60, depending on the
demand and quality [39].
The different technologies as well as different resources recovered are
summarized in Table 9.
2.5 DISCUSSION
The participatory planning approach combining scenario development
(using a Future Workshop) with participatory planning has shown to be
a useful approach to raise awareness and interest of users and stakehold-
ers to the issues at stake. Complex technical issues could successfully be
discussed with a wide range of local users and stakeholders.
When approaching the water supply, sanitation, wastewater treatment
and solid waste management from the resource conservation and reuse
point of view a different approach to the water chain and a different inter-
pretation of the characteristics of the water and waste is required. By fol-
lowing this reverse water chain approach the potential of pollutants can be
seen as valuable resources, both in terms of physical resources (nutrients
or water), but also as economic resources. The brief descriptions of three
different decentralized technologies show that the implementation of all
three technologies can result in an improvement of the living conditions
of the inhabitants of peri-urban areas while there are also economic sav-
ings as less water or fertilizers will have to be bought and one will need to
pay less to a centralized body for the treatment of one's water or wastes.
In addition, the individual technologies presented require little space (1-3
m
2
) and hence generally fi t within the gardens of the local houses, even if
all three are constructed at one house although this can differ per case, and
can be constructed with materials available locally in México. The fact
that there is no need for large excavation for pipelines or external energy
sources for pumps and regulators is another technological advantage of the
