22 Aug 2019

Government in its effort to reduce the import bill on food is going all out to improve the agriculture sector by encouraging communities to venture into businesses with potential in the agricultural value chain.

To achieve this, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has appealed for optimal use of land reserved for agriculture by utilising half of the ploughing fields for other adventures as long as they are not in conflict with the land use.

Government places agriculture among the sectors with the potential to grow the economy.

The President has also effected the use of residential places for small scale businesses that would not disturb good neighbourliness.

Some women in Radisele, Central District have taken advantage of the dispensation.

They keep worms, a less exploited venture that perhaps shows limited signs of improving their livelihoods.

This unique and not so popular practice known as vermiculture or worm farming involves rearing earthworms to produce organic fertilisers.

In an interview with BOPA, Ms Florence Basebi stated that the practice was introduced to the residents by a researcher from the Ministry of Agricultural

Development and Food Security.

“I bought into the idea and started producing manure using earthworms in 2015.

I started the project with a kilogramme of worms worth P300,” said Ms Basebi.

Not a costly business to establish, Ms Basebi said the market was limited and her produce was piling up in her backyard.

She said that food for the worms was readily available as they fed on, among others, pieces of paper, dried cow dung, egg shells, grass and kraal manure.

Ms Basebi said a homemade box from old pieces of timber was used to house the worms, adding that it must be tightly sealed to avoid contact with rain water and direct sunlight.

“High temperature is also a challenge, as the heat forces the worms to leave the container in search of a favourable location, preferably underground,” she said, noting that the worms were also a perfect snack for rats, frogs, ants, snakes and lizards which must be denied access by sealing the container tightly.

Chickens, she said, were also a menace as they feasted on the worms should they find access.

Another farmer, Ms Margaret Tebogo also described the business as an easy undertaking which did not require much energy.

“I learnt of the project from other women in the village, developed interest and started in July 2018,” Ms Tebogo said.

She said the business was suitable for backyard since it did not produce stench that could cause conflict between her and her neighbours.

She said the worms were fussy eaters and did not feed on anything chilly, salty or oily.

Despite the value of manure to farmers engaged in backyard gardens, flower and tree planting and even commercial farmers, especially that it is cheaper, Ms Tebogo said business was moving at a snail’s pace.

She said advertising was mostly done by word of mouth as that they did not have a suitable location to market their product.

Responding to BOPA questionnaire, Department of Agricultural Research chief agricultural research officer (Crop Research), Ms Ketseemang Safi said Vermiculture was a practice where earthworms were reared for vermicomposting to produce organic manure.

“Organic waste is decomposed by microorganisms and consumed by earthworms and their excretion called vermicompost is a high grade organic fertiliser,” Ms Safi explained.

Ms Safi said the worms might also be used as feed for fish and chicken.

Although there are many species of earthworms, Eisenia fetida, also known as the compost worm, is the most commonly used species in commercial vermicompost operations.

“The worm is extremely adaptable to confined environments and organic conditions,” Ms Safi stated.

Ms Safi said the worm containers could be made of wood, plastic or bricks and must be protected from excessive sunlight and moisture.

She said food and garden waste were some of the feeds for the worms.

“Such foods must be conventionally pre-composted before being used as worm food,” she said.

Ms Safi said the practice of vermicomposting had other positives other than producing organic manure.

“The practice contributes to pollution control as waste material is converted into bio-fertilisers.

The practice is also a source of income as the organic manure is produced for sale to farmers.

The worms can also be sold to other farmers and to feed chicken and fish.

It also reduces dependance on chemical fertilisers and reduces the amount of waste going to the land fill,” Ms Safi explained.

She stated that vermiculture could be practiced on a small scale, in the back yard or as a large scale project on a commercial farm.

“Old bath tubs and tyres can be used as containers for the wormery and therefore a small space at the back of the yard can easily be used for worm composting,” she said.

Despite vermiculture being a new technology to the communities, Ms Safi said farmers embraced it.

“Farmers are now turning to organic farming as it is one of the ways to build resilience to climate change,” said Ms Safi.

To date, Ms Safi said there were over 50 small to medium scale vermicompost farmers around the country.

However, she said project sustainability was a challenge due to lack of a reputable and sustainable market for organic manure and the worms.

Ms Safi said communities were developing interest in the practice, a sign for potential growth and that farmers continued to engage the Department of Agricultural Research for guidance in establishing vermiculture projects.

She explained that vermicomposting was a relatively low-input farming activity.

But due to high temperatures, particularly in summer, Ms Safi said the demand for water to keep the wormery moist was high,  hence running the project on a large scale would demand high water usage. ENDS