Composting is the natural process of "rotting" or decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms under controlled conditions. Raw organic materials such as crop residues, animal wastes, food garbage and some suitable industrial wastes, enhance their suitability for application to the soil as a fertilizing resource, after having undergone composting.

Compost is a rich source of organic matter. Soil organic matter plays an important role in sustaining soil fertility and enhanced the physico-chemical and biological properties of the soil. As a result of these improvements, the soil becomes more resistant to stresses such as drought, diseases and toxicity; helps the crop improved uptake of plant nutrients and possesses an active nutrient cycling capacity because of vigorous microbial activity. These advantages help farmers reduce cropping risk which may result to higher yields and lower outlays on inorganic fertilizers and recent study shows that vermicompost outperformed different organic based fertlizers.