Worms are the world's first and premier soil cultivator. They plow the soil by burrowing vertically, horizontal and diagonally through it, thus, aerating and conditioning it making the soil suitable for planting. These wigglers are also efficient and natural processors of organic fertilizers that can help increase farm productivity and decrease the cost of inputs. More countries, organizations and individuals are starting to recognize the added value of worms not only in the production of fertilizers, but in the over-all strategy to protect the environment.
The world's garbage problem is very huge. Some estimates say it is about 5 billion tons a year or 14 million tons daily. The world's total population is estimated at 6,773,700,000 (source: International Programs Center - census.gov.) One person, therefore, contributes an average of 10 kilos of pollutants daily. Fertilizer production using worms, if done by everyone, can help reduce this output by about 35 percent. This is called Vermitechnology. Vermi is the Latin term for worms.
We have trained on this technology and introduced it in our service communities to help them improve their farming systems and contribute to the local government's solid waste management program. To produce 50 kilos of vermifertilizer, 100 kilos of biodegradable waste materials are composted and processed by the worms in 30 days. This means 3.34 kilos of garbage would be reduced from the daily 10-kilo individual waste output.
In producing organic fertilizers, our group does have certain standards on what particular types of biodegradable wastes to use in order to produce a suitable organic fertilizer. That is, one that has enough nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium content. However, if we use the vermitechnology purposely to reduce garbage volume, there is no need to classify the waste except that these should be biodegradable ones. This is already solving half of the problem, so to speak; the other half being the non-biodegradable ones which are being addressed by different quarters also.
Worms multiply at a relatively rapid rate. A kilo of worms, approximately 1000 pieces, that is introduced to a hundred kilos of composted garbage can produce an additional kilo. More worms mean faster waste processing and greater garbage volume reduction. Alongside, surplus worms can be chopped up and utilized as meals for fishes and other species in marine culture projects.
Other potential for worm use are being experimented, too. Some members of our local communities have fed some of their livestock with worm poop. They say that their stock grew fatter and bigger and did not develop any side effects. One of the worm raisers, who had a tumor in his chest, took a dose of powdered pan fried worms daily for a few months. The lump is now visibly gone. But, these are only testimonials from local folks. These are yet to be researched further and validated. That is why I am not recommending for others to try the same. Yet, since there were no negative results from those elementary experiments, the benefits we can generate from worms could be bigger. Aside from being effective garbage reducers, they can (pending result of further studies) also help in addressing extensive use of synthetic feeds and medicines.
The world's garbage problem is very huge. Some estimates say it is about 5 billion tons a year or 14 million tons daily. The world's total population is estimated at 6,773,700,000 (source: International Programs Center - census.gov.) One person, therefore, contributes an average of 10 kilos of pollutants daily. Fertilizer production using worms, if done by everyone, can help reduce this output by about 35 percent. This is called Vermitechnology. Vermi is the Latin term for worms.
We have trained on this technology and introduced it in our service communities to help them improve their farming systems and contribute to the local government's solid waste management program. To produce 50 kilos of vermifertilizer, 100 kilos of biodegradable waste materials are composted and processed by the worms in 30 days. This means 3.34 kilos of garbage would be reduced from the daily 10-kilo individual waste output.
In producing organic fertilizers, our group does have certain standards on what particular types of biodegradable wastes to use in order to produce a suitable organic fertilizer. That is, one that has enough nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium content. However, if we use the vermitechnology purposely to reduce garbage volume, there is no need to classify the waste except that these should be biodegradable ones. This is already solving half of the problem, so to speak; the other half being the non-biodegradable ones which are being addressed by different quarters also.
Worms multiply at a relatively rapid rate. A kilo of worms, approximately 1000 pieces, that is introduced to a hundred kilos of composted garbage can produce an additional kilo. More worms mean faster waste processing and greater garbage volume reduction. Alongside, surplus worms can be chopped up and utilized as meals for fishes and other species in marine culture projects.
Other potential for worm use are being experimented, too. Some members of our local communities have fed some of their livestock with worm poop. They say that their stock grew fatter and bigger and did not develop any side effects. One of the worm raisers, who had a tumor in his chest, took a dose of powdered pan fried worms daily for a few months. The lump is now visibly gone. But, these are only testimonials from local folks. These are yet to be researched further and validated. That is why I am not recommending for others to try the same. Yet, since there were no negative results from those elementary experiments, the benefits we can generate from worms could be bigger. Aside from being effective garbage reducers, they can (pending result of further studies) also help in addressing extensive use of synthetic feeds and medicines.
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