§1What this business is
Dung is collected from households and herders, carried to a compost yard and layered with crop residues; microbial inoculants are added and the piles are kept moist and turned every 10–15 days. After 45–60 days the compost is sieved and packed in jute or HDPE bags. Buyers are farmers growing mandua, jhangora, wheat, vegetables and spices, apple, peach and plum orchards, flower growers, nurseries and urban rooftop gardeners.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
A rural youth, SHG or FPO in a goat- or mule-rearing area with links to farmers and nurseries.
Who it is not for
Someone expecting high margins or fast cash.
Advantages
- Raw material is cheap and plentiful in hill villages (a donkey gives 2–3 kg of dung a day, a goat 0.5–1 kg)
- Organic farming and orchards need good manure
- Small start at ₹12 L with simple tools
- Gives herders income from waste
Drawbacks
- Low price per bag — margins are thin
- Collecting from scattered households takes time and transport
- Composting takes 45–60 days per batch
- Quality must meet fertiliser rules to sell as organic manure
Skills you need
- Compost management (moisture, turning, inoculants)
- Dung collection logistics
- Quality testing and grading
- Selling to farmers, FPOs and nurseries
Why difficulty 2/5: Simple process and low capital; thin margins and fertiliser-rule compliance are the main issues.
§3Market
Who buys
- Farmers growing cereals, vegetables and spices
- Apple, peach and plum orchards
- Flower growers
- Nurseries and urban rooftop gardeners
How it sells
- Direct sale to farmers and FPOs
- Nurseries and retail outlets
- Loose or bagged supply
Good to know
- The profile suggests value-added forms such as neem-enriched bio-manure, vermicompost blends and pellets.
- It says donkey and goat manure suits arid and hilly soils.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Compost sieves | 3 | — |
| Shovels and spades | 10 | — |
| Weighing machine | 2 | — |
| Protective gear (gloves, masks) | multiple | — |
| Packaging (sealing and bagging) machine | 1 | — |
| Small pickup van for collection and distribution | 1 | ₹3,00,000 |
From: Uttarakhand DUY project profile — Organic Manure Production from Donkey and Goat Dung in Uttarakhand
- Donkey and goat dungfrom households and herders; a donkey gives 2–3 kg a day, a goat 0.5–1 kg
- Crop residues
- Microbial inoculants
- Jute bags or HDPE sacks
From: Uttarakhand DUY project profile — Organic Manure Production from Donkey and Goat Dung in Uttarakhand
§5Licences & registration
- Fertiliser Control Order — state authorisation/registration to sell organic manure, and product meeting FCO specifications
- Udyam registration
- GST registration (if you sell branded packed manure)
- Gram panchayat or local body permission for the compost yard
§6Schemes & subsidies
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
The profile names MUDRA (PMMY) loans and PKVY/NMSA support; PMEGP also fits a ₹12 L unit; CGTMSE for a collateral-free loan.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Land preparation & compost yard ₹2.00 L + storage shed & office ₹1.50 L + tools & equipment ₹1.00 L + small pickup van ₹3.00 L + raw material collection ₹0.50 L + training ₹0.50 L + six months' wages ₹3.00 L + marketing & packaging ₹1.00 L + contingency ₹0.50 L = ₹12.00 L.
Working capital: Six months' wages ₹3.00 L and raw material collection ₹0.50 L are in the project cost. The profile names MUDRA loans and PKVY/NMSA support.
Year not printed on the profile — check current vehicle and equipment prices.
§8Export potential
Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export
Export council / board: DGFT (IEC)
- Buying countries usually demand phytosanitary or veterinary certificates for manure — check before you plan exports.
- You need an Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT before the first shipment.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Badly composted batches with weeds or pathogens
- Monsoon making yards waterlogged
- Low prices from cheap competing manures
- Non-compliance with Fertiliser Control Order specifications
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working organic manure from goat and donkey dung unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Fertiliser Control Order — state authorisation/registration to sell organic manure, and product meeting FCO specifications, Udyam registration), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Organic Manure from Goat and Donkey Dung?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
- Uttarakhand DUY project profile — Organic Manure Production from Donkey and Goat Dung in Uttarakhand
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.