A sustainable initiative to compost food waste, launched by the Dawoodi Bohra Community, has ‘borne fruit’, with a variety of produce set to be used to cook food in the communal kitchen at their premises.
An abundant harvest of tomatoes, chillis, garlic, and herbs like coriander, as well as blooms like roses, now adorn the community centre, located near Andalus Garden, and there are plans to grow more varieties this year.
Nutritious meals are cooked for the group’s gatherings during Ramadan, and the occasional food distribution drives among the kingdom’s underprivileged.
“It’s great to have completed the first composting cycle successfully and we look forward to many more,” community member and driver of the composting initiative Rashida Merchant, 45, told the GDN.
The homemaker from Adliya introduced composting in her community after successfully trying it with her houseplants.
The first compost bin was installed at the centre at the end of May last year, and food waste from the communal kitchen was collected, segregated and transferred to the bin.
“We had one big bin and about four smaller yoghurt tubs that were installed. Food waste like vegetable peels were layered in the bin with soil and dried leaves, and after every eight days, the contents were churned,” Ms Merchant explained.
Composting is the process of turning organic waste into nutrient-rich soil and offers numerous environmental benefits. It reduces waste in landfills, enriches soil and lowers greenhouse gas emissions, promoting a more sustainable environment.
Sustainability is at the heart of the Bohra community’s many programmes.
In November, the Dawoodi Bohras of Bahrain participated in the Buthoor Al Bahrain (‘seeds of Bahrain’) tree plantation campaign, alongside other individuals and groups in the kingdom.
The community joined the initiative under their global Project Rise campaign, which is dedicated to uplifting the lives of individuals and groups around the world. Some of the causes backed by Project Rise include eliminating hunger and encouraging healthy eating, improving healthcare, providing clean water and sanitation for all, access to education, and trash clear-ups and plastic reduction.
The Dawoodi Bohras of Bahrain have called the kingdom their home since the 1850s. Bahrain is the first country in the Middle East where Bohras settled and eventually set up business. Over the years, the community has grown to around 1,000 members today.
Speaking of plans for the composting initiative, Ms Merchant said, “For now we have completed one composting cycle. We are in the discussion stage for the next one and wish to continue this programme for the betterment of the environment.”
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