Wealth in worms, for your farm and pockets

Peter Sato a vermiculturist demonstrates to farmers how they can rear worms and retrieve an array of products from them. The red worms, according to experts, mature after four months. PHOTO | ELIZABETH OJINA | NMG

What you need to know:

  • Normally, the worms break down organic matter and when they eat, they secrete valuable fertiliser which is obtained by draining water through it.
  • The fertiliser is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
  • However, farmers need to take precaution when practising vermiculture. The pit should be protected from direct sunlight for survival of the red worms.
  • The preferred pH of the substrate should be between 6.8-7.5.

Peter Sato, dressed in a light blue shirt and grey trouser, stood out at the recent farmers’ exhibition in Ajigo, Siaya County.

At his stand, there were two blue tanks with moist compost. And on the tanks there were taps collecting a dark liquid.

The 59-year-old farmer engages in vermiculture, which is the rearing of worms for their organic fertiliser.

He started the venture in December 2017 after attending training on vermiculture, conservation and agroforestry in Kitale, Trans Nzoia courtesy of Welthungerhilfe (WHH), a German organisation.

“I learnt the benefits of vermiculture and really got interested in starting the venture. I received a handful of red worms from WHH.”

Normally, the worms break down organic matter and when they eat, they secrete valuable fertiliser which is obtained by draining water through it. The fertiliser is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Farmers can keep thousands of worms in a tiny space in trays, basins or used water tanks.

“The beauty about vermiculture is that it is environment friendly since the worms feed on anything that is bio-degradable. I use kitchen waste, fruit peelings, egg shells and chicken droppings,” said the farmer.

However, farmers need to take precaution when practising vermiculture. The pit should be protected from direct sunlight for survival of the red worms.

“Exposure to direct sunlight can kill the worms. It is essential to keep their habitat moist always by spraying water,” said the father of nine children.

Sota uses the fertiliser to grow onions, collard greens (sukuma wiki), traditional vegetables, fruits and tree seedlings.

Hezekiah Korir, a soil science specialist at Egerton University, said red worms are surface worms and are found in the top layer of the soil.

CONCENTRATED WORM JUICE

"The worms require food, moisture, oxygen, and a dark place to live. Protect the vermicompost pit from direct sunlight."

He added that pests such as rodents and flies are attracted by certain waste like that from kitchen and odours, therefore, farmers should guard against them. "Avoid dairy or meat products, excess bread and citrus fruits in the waste you offer the worms. The farmer should maintain moisture content of between 30 per cent and 40 per cent and temperature of between 20-30°C."

The preferred pH of the substrate should be between 6.8-7.5.

Earthworms are hermaphrodites, thus, when two mate, both of them reproduce. At every generation earthworm population doubles. They have a lifespan of between 12 and 18 months.

The red worms mature after four months. Before harvesting, farmers should refrain from watering the substrate to ease the separation of the compost from the worms.

The retired GSU officer sales a kilo of mature red worms at Sh1,000 to farmers in Siaya.

“The worm juice is a good source of foliar feed. It is advisable to dilute it with water for better results,” he said.
The farmer further sells a litre of concentrated worm juice at Sh500. He also makes liquid fertiliser from a blend of shrubs such as tithonia leaves, Sesbania Sesban, comfrey and stinging nettle.

The leaves are shredded into small pieces using a machete or chaffcutter and put in a bucket. He then adds crushed eggshells to provide calcium and fills the bucket with water so that the material is completely covered.

“The mixture should be kept under a shade. After two to three weeks, all the green material would have dissolved and only a few harder parts remain as sludge," said Sato.

For application, dilute a litre of the liquid with 10 litres of water (1:10). Apply directly to the root zone of your crops. His biggest headache is the scarcity of water in the area, which makes irrigating his crops harder.