The problem of using electricity to stimulate earthworms.

The earthworm stunner uses a 4,000-5,000V electric current, connected to two iron rods inserted into the ground. After just one minute, earthworms of all sizes crawl up from the ground and are caught.

Recently, in many communes of Cao Phong district, Hoa Binh province, groups of people have been frequently seen electrofishing for earthworms. They use a device consisting of two pointed rods connected to a 4,000-5,000V battery pack, purchased for 1.6-2.5 million VND. The device can use either a battery pack or a rechargeable battery.

This group typically chooses orange groves, where the soil is loose and shows signs of soil mounds, to attract earthworms. When they insert an iron rod connected to a worm-catching device into the ground, within a minute, earthworms of sufficient size, covering an area of ​​about one square meter, will emerge. On average, one person can catch about 10 kg of earthworms per day.

A person who collects earthworms said that each kilogram of live earthworms is bought for 30,000 VND. The worms are cleaned and then dried on racks. "About 13 kg of fresh earthworms will yield 1 kg of dried earthworms, which sell for around 600,000 VND," this person said, adding that the dried earthworms are sold to Chinese traders, but "it's unclear what they're used for."

After being electrocuted, the worms crawl to the surface and are caught. Photo: Contributor.

Fearing that the practice of using earthworms to hunt for worms would spread to her orange orchard, Ms. Vu Thi Hanh, residing in Thu Phong commune, hung a sign on her fence that read "No using earthworms." "Hanging up the sign is one thing, but my family still has to assign someone to watch over the orchard and chase the worms away. Some groups come in cars with tools to hunt worms, operating mainly at night and early in the morning," Ms. Hanh said.

Cao Phong is a famous orange-growing region in Hoa Binh province. The use of electric earthworms to stimulate soil aeration has negatively impacted the growth of the orange trees. Many trees have yellow leaves due to root damage and cannot recover their original healthy green appearance, according to Ms. Hanh.

According to the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection of Hoa Binh province, the practice of electrofishing for earthworms first appeared in 2019 and then subsided. However, in the last two weeks, this situation has resurfaced, mainly in the Cao Phong orange growing area. The department has requested the Provincial People's Committee to direct relevant agencies to handle the issue. Since the beginning of the year, Cao Phong district has apprehended nine cases of electrofishing and confiscated numerous pieces of equipment.

The practice of using electric shock devices to catch earthworms is not limited to Hoa Binh; it occurs in many northern provinces such as Son La , Tuyen Quang, and Bac Giang. In Luc Ngan district, Bac Giang province, where there are nearly 30,000 hectares of various fruit trees, some individuals use electric shock devices to catch earthworms in fields and orchards, affecting soil fertility and the growth and development of crops.

On July 24th, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Bac Giang province requested relevant departments, units, and the People's Committees of districts and cities to strengthen inspections and prevent the harvesting of earthworms using electric shock and chemicals in the area; and at the same time, to inspect and report on the situation of earthworm harvesting, purchasing, and preliminary processing.

A device for stimulating earthworm harvesting, complete with a battery and stakes for insertion into the ground. Photo: Contributor.

Mr. Nguyen Nhu Cuong, Director of the Crop Production Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that a document has been sent to several localities requesting them to review and report on the situation of earthworm cultivation. Earthworms play an important role in the soil ecosystem, helping to loosen the soil, improve drainage, and retain moisture. Earthworm castings are a good source of nutrients for plants.

The practice of using electric shock to kill earthworms damages the soil, but there are currently no penalties for this. Decree 91/2019 on administrative penalties in the field of land has defined acts of soil destruction, but the use of electric shock to kill earthworms is not clearly regulated.

Currently, to curb this problem, localities are mainly focusing on increasing inspections, raising awareness, and encouraging people to abandon this dangerous activity. Some places are encouraging people to experiment with raising earthworms.

Viet An

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