I am a little confused about the fuss that is being made over the fertiliser that reportedly contains human excreta.

In this time of world crisis, anything that can be recycled is good news. Some of the things that we throw away or cast aside as nothing, you would be surprise how much value they have.

Therefore, whatsoever waste that we can use to cushion some of our burden is most welcome.

I, however, ask the relevant authorities to educate the public properly of its use and to avoid any further misunderstanding.

'Humanure' incoffee planting

I can recall back in the 1980s when farmers were encouraged to plant more coffee. Many properties with banana were converted to coffee in the Guys Hill area.

These coffee plants were different from the ones my grandparents used to grow on their small farm. They were of a special variety, and needed something extra for them to grow and produce the kind of crop that was expected.

Therefore the holes were dug out and filled with either chicken manure or 'sludge' (human excreta). After a few weeks, when the manure was broken down, then the coffee trees were planted.

These coffee plants took a much shorter time to mature and the trees were short and sturdy.

The crops were so plentiful that sometimes the limbs would have to be propped up with sticks to prevent them from breaking.

Safe to use

My first encounter with this 'humanure' was when it was transported to the farm I was working on. It was very dark, odourless and looked more like dirt. We made enquiries as to what it was and were told it was 'humanure'.

We were a bit sceptical about using it, but were told that it had been treated and cured and so it was safe to use.

Unlike the chicken manure, which carried a foul odour, this 'humanure' had no smell, and judging from the tomato suckers that sprang up in it from time to time, looking very healthy, you could tell that it was good for the plants.

We use droppings from some animals to fertilise our plants so they can grow healthy and produce in abundance and it is also cheap, so why not use human waste, if it is properly treated?

In this global meltdown, we will have to cut costs in order to survive. We must simply educate people and cut out the unnecessary fuss.

I am, etc.,

LYLIN McKENZIE

Gayle PO, St Mary