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With the help of the lowly earthworm…Farmer sees business potential in vermicomposting
Several months ago, Rudolph Trotman partnered with the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) to establish a vermicomposting bin as part of a Disaster Risk Reduction project (DRR). The surprising result has inspired him to expand this initiative into a business.
Vermicomposting is a biotechnological process whereby earthworms convert waste materials to a nutrient rich material. These earthworms consume organic waste and reduce the volume by 40-60 percent. The California Red worm (Eisenia fetida) was introduced in Guyana and has been used in vermicomposting bins to break down fresh cow manure at NAREI.
A diagram of a vermicomposting bin
Having had successful vermicompsting in-house trials, NAREI decided to transfer this technology to the farming community using a demonstration plot. Trotman, President of the Survivors Farmers’ Association, is one of the Number 4 Village, West Coast Berbice farmers to benefit from this climate change adaptation measure project.
Between November 2017 and September 2018 NAREI, other agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture, Guyana Red Cross and an international organization implemented the project. It benefited five communities: Lovely Lass, Now or Never, Number 4 Village and D’ Edward in Region Five and Fyrish, Region Six.
The project saw the construction of three vermicomposting bins to provide compost for farmers. This intervention was selected particularly due to its potential to naturally replenish the soil and nourish the plants, thus reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers.
The three concrete bins constructed were each 5ftX 15ft. They comprised four layers of stones, white sand, fresh cow manure and dry grass. They were covered with mesh to prevent penetration of sunlight. Trotman’s bin was supplied with 150 worms.
“At first when I started I was worried because I didn’t seeing any worms but man, about eight weeks after I was surprised to see the amount of worms there…those 150 worms turn into thousands…the multiplication of these worms just amazing and the soil powdery and looks different,” Trotman said.
Trotman has shared the benefits of his labour with some members of his group. In addition, to donating the worms and compost to other farmers, he is sharing his experiences.
“I believe I am a pro at this now just by looking after these worms everyday…These worms need to be kept cool and the soil moist…So what I did is get branches to avoid the sunlight from penetrating the bins…also when I wet the branches the water that remain on the branches drip for sometime in the bins,” he explained.
The farmer noted that the simplicity of this project and the astonishing results have inspired him to conduct it as a business.
“I will definitely do vermicomposting as a business…right now I am constructing a pig pen and as soon as I finish I will build some vermicomposting bins…I will sell the worms and the compost,” an optimistic Trotman said.
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