Initial results from raising earthworms

In early 2023, the Farmers' Association of Da Huoai District and the District Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development supported 26 households in the area to implement a model of raising earthworms combined with raising livestock and poultry. Up to now, many households have been successful with the model, initially supporting earthworm biomass for other households to replicate the model.

Many households in Da Huoai district have succeeded with the model of raising earthworms combined with raising livestock and poultry.

Households were supported with 50 kg of earthworm biomass for breeding in communes and towns in the area. When raising earthworms, the worm products are used as food for livestock such as chickens, fish, frogs, eels, etc., and the worm manure is used to fertilize vegetables. On the other hand, the food of worms is mainly buffalo, cow, pig, chicken manure, etc., so it is possible to take advantage of waste materials as food for worms and protect the ecological environment.

In Da Huoai district, many households raise livestock and poultry in the form of small-scale farms. Therefore, the model aims to develop a circular economy in agriculture, improve livestock efficiency, access production methods and use of vermicompost and high-quality organic microbial fertilizers in plant care. Aiming to produce safe and sustainable agricultural products; building a green, clean and beautiful rural environment.

Madaguoi town has 36 households raising cows with 71 heads; 69 households raising pigs with 1,939 heads. Recently, some households in the town have been supported with earthworm biomass for raising animals. Mr. Nguyen Van Hai's family (Group 6), in addition to growing 1 hectare of durian, also raises cows to improve their income.

According to Mr. Hai, since raising earthworms, the amount of cow dung has been utilized as food for the worms, thereby reducing the bad smell, the quality of earthworm manure is also good. Currently, he is applying earthworm manure to some slow-growing durian trees and growing vegetables in his home garden. From the initial earthworm biomass support, the biomass has now increased more than 10 times.

The way to develop the model of Da Huoai Farmers Association is to support the initial earthworm biomass for households; if the farming is successful, the biomass will be given according to the initial quantity received to other households. This is a good, practical and effective model for farmers who combine farming with raising livestock. Recently, Mr. Nguyen Van Hai gave the biomass of earthworms and supported and instructed on how to raise them to Mr. Phan Sach (Residential Group 5).

Another successful farmer with the model is Mr. Nguyen Van Ngu (Residential Group 2). Currently, his family is combining the model of raising earthworms and raising free-range chickens. According to Mr. Ngu, this model is very effective, takes little time to care for, and investment in livestock barns is also very simple. In general, raising earthworms combined with raising free-range chickens is a double benefit, creating a cycle, reducing the amount of money spent on food such as bran, corn, etc. In addition, the quality of the chicken meat when sold is favored by many people.

Chairman of the Madaguoi Town Farmers' Association, Nguyen The Anh, said that through surveys from households, it was shown that raising earthworms has many benefits; in the coming time, the Association will increase mobilization of households to continue receiving earthworm biomass raised in their home gardens.

In communes such as Da Oai, Da Ton, Madaguoi... there are also many households that have succeeded with the earthworm farming model from an initial supporting biomass of 50 kg.

Raising earthworms does not require much effort, only feeding 1 to 2 times a week. In particular, when building a barn to raise earthworms, you must pay attention to not let direct sunlight shine on them, keep the humidity and avoid insects, worms, mice...

Mr. Hoang Thanh Nam - Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Da Huoai district said: Raising earthworms combined with raising livestock and poultry is a model that has initially shown effectiveness in the locality. In particular, raising earthworms does not require complicated techniques, so it can be applied to small farms or households in the locality. On the other hand, raising earthworms does not require a large area, the barns are also quite simple, people can take advantage of abandoned barns, foam boxes for raising animals. Through the model, it can be clearly seen that the amount of livestock waste used as food for earthworms has been significantly reduced, thereby ensuring environmental sanitation in the countryside. Earthworm manure can be used to fertilize crops, vegetables, etc., thereby significantly reducing costs in agricultural production.

Da Huoai district is moving towards green, sustainable agriculture, protecting the environment, using biological products and organic fertilizers to increase productivity and quality of crops in general and durian in particular. The initial success of the earthworm farming model in some communes and towns has created opportunities for farmers to have a significant source of income by creating a circular cycle in agriculture.

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