Earthworm production in Ha Tay

VGRRC: Earthworm production in Ha Tay Province by Susanne Hugo

Earthworm production in Ha TayEarthworm production in Ha Tay


Ha Tay ProvinceHa Tay Province

situated in northern Vietnam2.193 km²14 DistrictsBa Vi National park 7000 haPopulation: 2.386.770 Kinh Muong & Dao (ethnic Minorities)

Main sources of income:Agriculture, Small Business, Tourism

Average per capita income per annum: 70 bis 120 US$

Ha Tay Province

Hanoi


Ha Tay ProvinceHa Tay ProvinceSon Tay and Ba Vi districtSon Tay and Ba Vi district

Son Tay & Ba Vi


Who we areWho we are

Goat and Rabbit Research Centre in Vietnam (VGRRC)

founded in 1978

70 scientific and extension staff

64,9 ha

50 ha for trials on fodder production, trial fields, forest and fish ponds

VGRRC demonstrates the advantages of integrated farming on site


What we do: What we do:

Research Extension Training

Integrated Farming Systems

Improving small animal husbandry techniques (goat, sheep, rabbit, earthworm)

Breeding programme

Fodder production

Renewable energy (biogas)


Training courses for subsistence farmers Training courses for subsistence farmers in their villagesin their villages

VGRRC offers training courses for subsistence farmers

at VGRRC

at their villages

Participants of a training course in Van Hoa, November 2002


Earthworm lumbricus rubellusEarthworm lumbricus rubellus

Earthworms are a special breed imported from the USA

They reproduce best in shady, humid, moderately tempered environments

Worms mature after one month, but it takes up to six months until they reach their full size.


ProductionProduction

o A culture can be started with 1kg worm per m² wormbed.

o Earthworms must mate to reproduce, even though one earthworm contains both male and female reproductive organs.

o Eggs are laid in a cocoon that incubates them.

o Eggs develop into tiny worms in the cocoon and crawl out through one after three to five weeks.

o Eggs are laid on top of the ground at one-month intervals, with each egg capsule containing 5 to 15 baby worms.

o They will be ready for harvesting in about five months and continuing thereafter with proper care.


Results achieved so farResults achieved so far

are based on simple low-cost technologies and on training. The main beneficiaries are small-scale women farmers who not only carry out much of the work at farm level but who were and continue to be the processors and marketers of their high quality products.

Earthworm production has been tested for a couple of years at VGRRC’s premises. Now the new technology is successfully adopted by by local farmers.

Earthworms are a high protein feedstuff produced on-farm for poultry (chicken & ducks) and fish.

Compost can be used as almost pathogen free, high quality fertilizer in the house gardens. First steps towards marketing compost have been taken.


Production unitProduction unit

The production unit consists of a flat bed made from bricks and concrete or stamped earth

It is supplied with adequate drainage

Earthworms must be protected

from predators and heavy rains


The worm bedThe worm bed

VGRRC recommends to raise earthworms in worm beds consisting of 90% goat and rabbit manure mixed with 10% soil.

Unlike traditional systems, no additional organic material is needed


Earthworm production on-farmEarthworm production on-farm

This ethnic minority farmer has recently started earthworm production.

Cover and roof are made from bamboo

She uses the earthworms to supply her scavenging chicken with protein rich feedstuff

The compost is used to fertilize fruit trees in her house garden


You can find us in the WWWYou can find us in the WWW::

For example at:

http://www.fao.org/ag/aga/agap/lps/dairy/fdp/vietnam.htmhttp://www.kehlbach.de/

or contact by e-mail: [email protected]

by Telephone: 0084 (0) 34 838 341

via Fax: 0084 (0) 34 838 889

Documents

Earthworm production in Ha Tay