Benefit from Worms through Vermicomposting
Vermicomposting is defined as the production of compost with the use of worms. It is a fast way to convert organic farm waste into organic fertilizer. It degrades waste as vermi or earthworm (African night crawler) feed on and digest waste materials.
Vermicomposting results in a better quality product that is produced in only 4-6 weeks compared to ordinary compost that is produced in 8-12 weeks.
“Vermicompost” or the castings of the earthworms is a soil enhancer and bioactive fertilizer for organic farming. Earthworms can also be made into feed for fish or other domesticated animals.
Vermicomposting is defined as the production of compost with the use of worms. It is a fast way to convert organic farm waste into organic fertilizer. It degrades waste as vermi or earthworm (African night crawler) feed on and digest waste materials.
Vermicomposting results in a better quality product that is produced in only 4-6 weeks compared to ordinary compost that is produced in 8-12 weeks.
“Vermicompost” or the castings of the earthworms is a soil enhancer and bioactive fertilizer for organic farming. Earthworms can also be made into feed for fish or other domesticated animals.
I. ESTIMATED INVESTMENT COSTS
The initial capitalization in starting a small vermicomposting business on vermicompost production will depend on the scale from backyard (P5,000) to commercial (P50,000).
- Collect biodegradable materials such as food wastes, fruit/vegetable trimmings,peelings, and dry leaves and stems.
- Shred/grind the food wastes, fruit/vegetable trimmings, peelings, and dry leaves and stems. Mix old animal manure and chicken droppings (2 months old) with shredded vegetable waste. This will improve the nutrient content of the finish product. Do not use fresh manure for the ammonia produced will give discomfort to the worms.
- Sun-dry these materials for at least three days and let them undergo partial fermentation.
Weigh the shredded grinded materials before putting in the compost bed to determine ratio of compostables and worms. - Before stocking the earthworms, make sure that all materials in the vermi bed are prepared.
Moisten the bedding with water and cover it with black plastic garbage bag, old sacks, net, or banana leaves to start “anaerobic process”, which is completed after 1-2 weeks. - After the anaerobic process, remove the cover and stock the vermi bed with earthworms.
- Maintain the vermi beds’ moisture content and temperature through regular checking. Protect the worms from predatory animals.
- Vermicompost is harvested when the worms have consumed most of the materials. This takes about 30-45 days depending on environmental and culture conditions.
- In harvesting, separate the “vermi” from the vermicompost either manually (handpicking) or using a strainer/sifter.
- Properly pack vermicompost in sacks and store in a cool and dry place.
- Harvested/sifted vermi from the vermi beds may either be used for the next vermicomposting cycle or for expansion by constructing additional vermi beds.
The offspring or produce of the initial vermi in the vermi bed can also be sold to would-be vermicompost producer or to fishpond owner as fish meal.
Reference:
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and
Bureau of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development (BMSMED)
Tel. Nos.: (02) 897-1693 / 892-7596 / 890-4968
Email: bmsmed@dti.gov.ph
www.dti,gov.ph
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LET'S SAVE
By: Henry Lito Tacio
Savings is the amount of money the family sets aside in a safe place for specific use in the future. If you have savings now, we salute you. Imbibing a savings habit that results to financial stability is a prerequisite to growth. Savings enables us to:
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By: Henry Lito Tacio
Savings is the amount of money the family sets aside in a safe place for specific use in the future. If you have savings now, we salute you. Imbibing a savings habit that results to financial stability is a prerequisite to growth. Savings enables us to:
- build-up assets;
- have a cushion/protection in case of emergency; and
- live a balanced life by engaging not just in work but also in pleasurable activities such as going on family vacation.
- spend money smartly: buy fruits and vegetables in season when prices are low; buy in bulk for non-perishable items from wholesale depots; make purchases that are within your financial plan and budget;
- cut back on consumption: repair and alter old clothes; use generic drugs; bring lunchbox to work;
- refrain from spending: grow your own vegetables, fruits and livestock; do the small odd jobs at home on your own; go to the library to read the news;
- look at new ways to increase income: do good on the job to get promoted and earn more regular income; engage in seasonal and temporary work; and
- invest: put savings in money-earning instruments like time deposit.
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SO, YOU WANT TO RAISE GOATS?
By: Henry Lito D. Tacio
"Goats are very popular among Filipinos because they require low initial capital investment, fit the smallhold farm conditions, and multiply fast," said the Laguna-based Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD). "Culturally, goats are integral to every special occasion such as birthdays, baptisms, weddings, and fiestas. Hence, they command a higher price compared with other meats in the market."
Goats require low maintenance because they eat tree leaves, grasses, weeds, and agricultural by-products. "Goats require less feed than cows and carabaos," said Rowe Celeste, the livestock supervisor of the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) Foundation, Inc. in Kinuskusan, Bansalan, Davao del Sur.
About 10 native goats can be fed on the feedstuffs sufficient for one cattle. And about 6-7 purebred dairy goats can be fed on the feedstuffs adequate for one dairy cow. "Although a goat is small, she can produce as much as four liters of milk a day if she is purebred and is given a ration to meet all of her nutritional requirements," Celeste informed.
In a study conducted by a government agency, it was found out that goats are multi-purpose ruminants producing 58.4% milk, 35.6% meat, and 4.3% hide, and 1.7% fiber. According to them, these small ruminants can provide the answer to improve nutritional requirements of the predominantly rural farm families scattered all over the archipelago.
As goat production requires low initial investment and small risks compared to other livestock, it is therefore an attractive undertaking among resource-poor families. In addition, women and children can raise the animals, making it a sound option to augment the country's programs on livelihood. Goats provide livelihood to about 15 million Filipinos across the country, according to PCARRD.
In Mindanao, goat farming is considered a "sunshine industry." The country's second largest island has a large Muslim population and goat meat is considered Halal food. There is also a big demand in the international market, particularly the Middle East.
In Davao, for instance, more and more people are raising goats in their farms. Take the case of Darwin Tinasas, a young marine engineering graduate who decided to raise goats as his main business. He does not only raise goats in his own farm, he also disperses breeders to farmers who would like to raise the ruminants.
Aside from providing him a steady income from the milk and sales of breeding stocks, he discovered one thing about the animals. "Their manure is a good source of fertilizer," he said. His stock of about 300 goats provides organic fertilizer for his four farms in Davao City. He plants rice, and grows pomelo, coconuts, durian and other fruits on 30 hectares.
The 34-year-old Tinasas noticed that more and more farmers – particularly fruit growers -- started raising goats, not only in Davao City but also in other provinces. "Since fertilizer costs have gone up, more and more farmers are turning to goat-raising," he said.
Antonio Partoza, who had raised chickens and mixed chicken manure with commercial fertilizer, said raising goats is becoming more profitable. He has 85 goats on his 15-hectare and 10-hectare farms in Davao City where he grows durian, passion and mangosteen fruits. "I must be saving about 30 percent of what I would spend if I used pure commercial fertilizer," he said.
There are at least 12 known goat species but only a relatively small number of breeds are used economically. The Philippine or common goat is small but hardy. It weighs about 25 kilograms at maturity. Its average daily milk production is about 350 grams, with a butterfat content of around 4.6 percent. Its color range is either red or black or a combination of these colors.
The Dadiangas goat is common in Dadiangas (now known as General Santos City), South Cotabato. The breed is a mixture of native, Nubian and Jamnapari goats and some animals may even have some Alpine or Saanen blood. The milk production and butterfat content are marginally higher than native goats and they do best in the drier areas of the country.
Of the introduced breeds in the country, Anglo Nubian performs the best along with the newer introduced Boer goats. The dairy breeds such as the Saanen, Toggenburg and French Alpine perform relatively poorly.
"If you cannot secure purebred stock, you can start with the best female goats available in your area," Celeste suggested. "Breed them with purebreds or upgraded stock. Then, select only their offspring and discard the undesirable ones (you can either sell them or butcher them for meat). Continue this procedure each year, and you will soon have desirable goat stocks."
By: Henry Lito D. Tacio
"Goats are very popular among Filipinos because they require low initial capital investment, fit the smallhold farm conditions, and multiply fast," said the Laguna-based Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD). "Culturally, goats are integral to every special occasion such as birthdays, baptisms, weddings, and fiestas. Hence, they command a higher price compared with other meats in the market."
Goats require low maintenance because they eat tree leaves, grasses, weeds, and agricultural by-products. "Goats require less feed than cows and carabaos," said Rowe Celeste, the livestock supervisor of the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) Foundation, Inc. in Kinuskusan, Bansalan, Davao del Sur.
About 10 native goats can be fed on the feedstuffs sufficient for one cattle. And about 6-7 purebred dairy goats can be fed on the feedstuffs adequate for one dairy cow. "Although a goat is small, she can produce as much as four liters of milk a day if she is purebred and is given a ration to meet all of her nutritional requirements," Celeste informed.
In a study conducted by a government agency, it was found out that goats are multi-purpose ruminants producing 58.4% milk, 35.6% meat, and 4.3% hide, and 1.7% fiber. According to them, these small ruminants can provide the answer to improve nutritional requirements of the predominantly rural farm families scattered all over the archipelago.
As goat production requires low initial investment and small risks compared to other livestock, it is therefore an attractive undertaking among resource-poor families. In addition, women and children can raise the animals, making it a sound option to augment the country's programs on livelihood. Goats provide livelihood to about 15 million Filipinos across the country, according to PCARRD.
In Mindanao, goat farming is considered a "sunshine industry." The country's second largest island has a large Muslim population and goat meat is considered Halal food. There is also a big demand in the international market, particularly the Middle East.
In Davao, for instance, more and more people are raising goats in their farms. Take the case of Darwin Tinasas, a young marine engineering graduate who decided to raise goats as his main business. He does not only raise goats in his own farm, he also disperses breeders to farmers who would like to raise the ruminants.
Aside from providing him a steady income from the milk and sales of breeding stocks, he discovered one thing about the animals. "Their manure is a good source of fertilizer," he said. His stock of about 300 goats provides organic fertilizer for his four farms in Davao City. He plants rice, and grows pomelo, coconuts, durian and other fruits on 30 hectares.
The 34-year-old Tinasas noticed that more and more farmers – particularly fruit growers -- started raising goats, not only in Davao City but also in other provinces. "Since fertilizer costs have gone up, more and more farmers are turning to goat-raising," he said.
Antonio Partoza, who had raised chickens and mixed chicken manure with commercial fertilizer, said raising goats is becoming more profitable. He has 85 goats on his 15-hectare and 10-hectare farms in Davao City where he grows durian, passion and mangosteen fruits. "I must be saving about 30 percent of what I would spend if I used pure commercial fertilizer," he said.
There are at least 12 known goat species but only a relatively small number of breeds are used economically. The Philippine or common goat is small but hardy. It weighs about 25 kilograms at maturity. Its average daily milk production is about 350 grams, with a butterfat content of around 4.6 percent. Its color range is either red or black or a combination of these colors.
The Dadiangas goat is common in Dadiangas (now known as General Santos City), South Cotabato. The breed is a mixture of native, Nubian and Jamnapari goats and some animals may even have some Alpine or Saanen blood. The milk production and butterfat content are marginally higher than native goats and they do best in the drier areas of the country.
Of the introduced breeds in the country, Anglo Nubian performs the best along with the newer introduced Boer goats. The dairy breeds such as the Saanen, Toggenburg and French Alpine perform relatively poorly.
"If you cannot secure purebred stock, you can start with the best female goats available in your area," Celeste suggested. "Breed them with purebreds or upgraded stock. Then, select only their offspring and discard the undesirable ones (you can either sell them or butcher them for meat). Continue this procedure each year, and you will soon have desirable goat stocks."
