Livelihood Potential of

Vermicomposting

Prof. Eva R. Orlina

College of Agriculture, Forestry and
Environmental Sciences
Aklan State University
email: evaorlina@yahoo.com
Slides Credited from Prof. MJ Lopez, UPV

Objectives
To offer alternative livelihood ideas for
farmerfolks
To widen awareness on the benefits of
vermicompost production
To share the techniques involved in
vermicomposting

Vermicomposting
Vermicomposting relies on the combined
action of earthworms and microorganisms
to decompose organic materials

Vermitechnology
Vermi - earthworm
technology - a sytematic application of science
Vermitechnology - knowledge and skills on
the utilization of earthworms

Two types ( depending on the target

product)
Vermicomposting - vermicompost/vermicast
Vermiculture - earthworms

Why Vermicomposting?
To produce a vermicompost or vermicast
To produce earthworm as source of
protein

A technology for Ecological Solid Waste

Management (RA No. 9003)

Why Vermicomposting ?
Sustainable agriculture
Organic, health food
Saves on fossil fuel
Saves on dollars
Environment clean-up
Solid waste management
Bio remediation of polluted and
degraded soils

Generates livelihood

Vermicomposting Projects
Negros Island and other
Regional Vermi Centers

Bitay Lacson
Hda. Binunga windrows

San Carlos City

Negros Occidental

Mary Ann Mirasol

Binalbagan, Occ.
Neg

Buro-Buro Springs Vermi

Farm

Rudolfo Chico Farm

Brgy Ma-ao

Source: Pam Henares

Sept. 5 2006

Eudrilus euginiae (African

Nightcrawler)

Eisenia fetida, Savigny (Red

Worms)

What is the Sex Life of a Worm?

Three weeks development in the cocoon before
hatching.
The time to hatching is highly dependent on temp.
and other conditions.
Each cocoon may contain as many as 10 fertilized
eggs, but only 2 or 3 hatchlings emerge.
Factors affecting the viability of cocoon are age of
the breeder, nutritional state, temperature (constant
or fluctuating)
Length of time from hatchling to breeder depends on
factors e.g. temperature, moisture, food availability
and population density. (8 to 10 weeks for E. fetida)
A breeder can lay two to 3 cocoons per week for 6
months to a year.

 Conservative, if a 2-month old breeder can lay

2 cocoon per week for 24 weeks, and 2
hatchlings emerge from each cocoon, one
breeder would produce 96 baby worms in 6
months
With a geometric increase, the population can
double in 3 months.
Three major factors control the population of
worms:
Availability of food
Space requirement
reproduce (cocoons) every 7-10 days
hatching after 4 10 weeks
Fouling ofcocoon
the environment

baby worms matures in 4-6 weeks

Time from egg to maturity: 3 5 months

Giant Earthworms

Considered pests on Ifugao Rice

Terraces
From Australia, over 1
meter long

Simple Steps in Vermicompo

sting

Sources of organic materials for

vermicomposting
Grasses, leaves and rice straw
Manure

SHREDDING AREA at E.I.s Earthworm Farm (Before

Frank)

Source: Numancia Vermitechnologies (Sept 5, 2008)

Pre-digestion

Organic substrates

Substrates in vermi beds/plots

Cement bags for vermiculture

SIEVING

Sifter Machine
separating the
vermicast.

Source: Numancia Vermitechnologies (Sept 5, 2008)

BAGGING
Source: Numancia Vermitechnologies (Sept 5, 2008)

Segregation

Watering and Maintenance

RV2P2, U.P. Visayas

Water
Pipes

UTILIZATION

Vermimeal Production
Prepared 1 kg earthworms

Cleaned earthworms ready for vermi

meal

Earthworms killed in hot water

Sun drying of earthworms (5-7 days). I kg earthworm = 300 grams vermimeal

Enemies in the Bins

Frogs
Red ants
Leeches
Chickens
Rodents
Coconut beetle larvae
Centipedes

The Sustainability Lens

T4EP

Technological
Ecological/environmental
Economics
Education
Equity
Political will - governance

Ecological

Earthworms are indicators of a

healthy ecosystem

Earthworms spells the

difference.

Ecological
Soil fertility enhancement (in situ,ex
situ)
Increase -moisture and nutrient retention of the soil, Improves aeration
and root penetration, reduces crusting of the soil surface, increase
micronutrients, increase number of beneficial microorganisms

Environmental Protection
Solid waste management
Bio-remediation
Using worms to remove pollutants from water,
air and soil

climate change and vermicomposting

Environmental Education

Curriculum integration
Teaching and Learning Strategies
Nutrition and health

Vermicomposting Demo in
School

Application of Vermicompost in School Gardens

Livelihood for Rural

Communities

Linkages and Networking

Information Materials
Videos
Manuals
Factsheets
160,000 websites
54,000 education (how tos)
54,000 technology and business

Resource Generation

Utilized vermicast as a technodemo in crop production

Vegetables applied with vermicast
(container gardening)

Eggplant in polyethylene bags

Papaya seedlings fertilized with

vermicast

Pepper

Ginger

Ratooned eggplant applied with

vermicast

Pechay applied with vermicast

Facts on Vermicomposting
Earthworms at appropriate conditions eat half of its body
weight /day
Earthworms prefer biodegradable pre decomposed
vegetative material for food
Earthworms have no teeth, no eyes, no lungs and five
pairs of heart
They double on populations in 3-4 months depending on
conditions and type of feedstocks
In the Philippines, no native composting earthworm has
been identified (so African nightcrawler has been
introduced)
Limiting factors at start up : worm population
In upscaling, limiting factor is availability of feedstocks

All the fertile areas of

this planet have at least
once passed through
the bodies of
earthworms
-Charles Darwin

END