BTO- In the juncture of increasing foodstuff for livestock and market demand for clean and hygienic food, the model of raising earthworm (Perionyx excavatus) associated with animal husbandry has been carried out as a pilot by the household of Mr. Nguyen Van Tanh (Thien Trung hamlet-Thien Nghiep commune -Phan Thiet city). This model does not only have high economic effectiveness but also ensures the environmental sanitation thanks to the utilization of waste water and droppings.
In favor of the instruction and support of Thien Nghiep Farmer’s Association, in August 2012, Mr. Tanh bought 20 kilos of larvae (earthworm cocoons) in Cu Chi district (Ho Chi Minh City) and grew in his garden. During that time, he diligently read books and newspapers to gather some experience on vermiculture, a newly-developed farming model.
“Earthworm culture is a simple job which does not require advanced technology and qualification. Farmers can do it after joining in a training course or learning how to raise worms through professional materials. Moreover, earthworm farming does not cost much, but the most important thing is grower’s industriousness. Due to lack of experience at early stage, I fed worms on manure which had not decomposed enough, resulting (in) mass death and low growth”, said Mr. Tanh.
Tanh has started earthworm farming in two ways: in bed and in pot. According to him, the latter method helps growers save growing area. Another requirement is the worm farm must be ensured tight in order to limit direct sunlight and rain. Worms stay alive at an average temperature around 200C. Farmers can feed them in three-day-cycle. If earthworm growers strictly follow the technical process, they can harvest about 7-8 kilos of commercial earthworms from 2 kilos of worm cocoons raised on 1 square meter.
“Low capital gets high benefits
Tanh is one of the vanguard households applying this model. A large volume of feces discharged each day by the cattle and poultry (including nearly 500 chickens/ducks and 10 bulls) has been wholly treated without causing any environmental pollution. Furthermore, worm can be used as a source of food for livestock. Earthworm can be harvested one month after farming. Then it is dried or frozen to feed cattle and poultry, contributing to reducing 1/3 of breeding cost.
Since Tanh developed the model of raising earthworm associated with animal husbandry, his family has gained a number of remarkable benefits, as follows: all waste matter of animal husbandry; worm cast (vermicompost) can be used for micro-fertilizer production to manure plants, especially, using available materials such as: rotten water hyacinth leaves, feces of cattle and poultry, straw etc…
Commercial earthworm is currently sold in the market at a price of VND100,000 to 150,000 per kilo. Therefore, worm farming is considered as a lucrative production model due to its low capital investment but high economic efficiency.
It will be a perfect model if a family takes earthworm farming in combination with deploying VAC agricultural model. (VAC is the acronym formed from the three Vietnamese words: Vuon-garden or orchard, Ao-fish pond, and Chuong-pigsty or poultry shed. It is a farming method developed in the Red River delta of Vietnam). Vermiculture creates abundant food source for chicken, duck, goose, fish …. Vermicompost has high nutritional content that is suitable for a variety of crops.
Besides the nutritional value of worm meat, many other benefits of worm cast have significant role for agricultural production: it contains minerals, nutrient (which can dissolve in water), and provides over 50% of humus found on the topsoil, helping plants absorb directly and grow well.
Phuong Lan (Source: Binh Thuan newspaper)
Đăng ký: VietNam News