Extension Education Institute (EEI), Hyderabad organized an online on campus training program titled ECHO - Waste Management in Agriculture and Allied Sectors from 06 th to 10 th January, 2025.

Agricultural development is usually accompanied by wastes from the irrational application of intensive farming methods and the overdue of chemicals in cultivation, remarkably affecting rural environments in particular and the global environment in general. Agricultural wastes are the residues generated from crop cultivation and processing the by products. These residues are generated from a number of agricultural activities and they include cultivation, livestock production, sericulture and aquaculture etc. It is important that proper waste collection, storage, treatment, transfer, and utilization is essential for a healthy environment. These wastes when managed properly through the application of the knowledge of agricultural waste management systems can be transformed into renewable materials for human and agricultural use. This kind of waste management helps to reduce pollution, conserve resources, and improve the health of the environment and Improves food safety and contributes to economic growth. In view of the above, the Extension Education Institute (EEI), Hyderabad organized an online on campus training program titled "ECHO - Waste Management in Agriculture and Allied Sectors" from 06th to 10th January, 2025. Contents covered in the programme were - IFS – Resource Recycling, Waste Management in Agriculture and Allied Sectors – An Overview, GoI Programmes and Schemes in Agri and Allied Sectors, Role of Crop Residues in Organic Crop Production, Bio-Energy from Agriculture Waste and Soil Conditioner from Water Hyacinth, Composting from Agri Waste – Models and Case Studies, Waste Management in Fisheries Sector, Livestock Waste Management, Current Best Practices followed by GHMC in Solid Waste Management, Gender Budgeting, Waste Management for Organic Tomorrow: Experience Sharing, Wealth from Waste. During the inaugural event of the programme, Dr. M. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Director EEI mentioned that Agricultural waste management refers to all the coordination, handling, and controlling of the waste generated from agricultural activities. The primary goal is to prevent soil and water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and health risks for humans and animals. Hence it is important for all the extension functionaries to undergo training in waste management concept. As part of the the valedictory programme Dr. M. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Director EEI stated that, Agricultural waste refers to a wide range of organic and inorganic materials discarded after agricultural processes like crop production or livestock farming. Think crop residues (stalks, rice straw, leaves, or husks), animal manure, waste feed, agricultural chemicals, and all the packaging used in the production and supply chain. Given the diversity of these materials and the large amounts produced annually, agricultural waste is a double-edged sword. It has enormous potential when appropriately managed because it’s biodegradable and nutrient-rich. So, it can become a valuable resource through composting, conversion into biofuels or into biogas. Agricultural Waste can be used for Composting, Biogas generation, Mulching, Biomass conversion, Recycling packaging materials etc. Participants were appealed to apply all the leanings in the back home situation for the benefit of the farmers. The participants expressed that the entire training programme is very much useful for them as it has given the complete picture of the waste management. They also felt that the sessions like Bio – Energy from Agriculture Waste and Soil Conditioner from Water Hyacinth, Waste Management for Organic Tomorrow: Experience Sharing and Wealth from Waste were helpful for them to sensitize the farmers during their regular extension works at filed level in concerned states. The programme was coordinated by Dr.N. Praveen, Professor, EEI, Hyderabad. A total of twenty one (21) trainees participated from the departments of Fisheries, Agriculture, staff of SAUs and Animal husbandry sectors representing Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamilnadu states. The program was coordinated by Dr. N. Praveen, Professor, EEI, Hyderabad.