ARI promotes scientific waste management and sustainable gardening under swachhata special campaign 6.0

Under the Special Campaign 6.0, the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in Pune is undertaking scientific organic waste management, nutrient recycling, and sustainable green space maintenance on its campus. The Institute produces about 6,000 kg of compost annually from fallen leaves and garden residues through in-house composting pits, utilizing an 80:20 compost-to-soil mixture for gardening to improve soil structure and water-holding capacity. Additionally, ARI maintains approximately two acres of green areas supporting diverse plant species, medicinal plants, ornamentals, and an Orchidarium. The Institute also promotes nutrition-sensitive horticulture via its 6x6 Nutrition Garden Model, which demonstrates the cultivation of 23 vegetable varieties on a compact 6x6 metre plot to support household nutrition security.