Vermi Insights

Earthworm-farming is more than producing vermicast or vermicompost.

One of our main concerns is the production of vermi-meal on a grand scale.

In our efforts to establish a big enough earthworm-population in South Africa, we have stepped on a few toes. That was not intentional, that is only the forces of economics at work. If our aims are in the way of other concerns, than it is how it will be. We recognize that and we will operate accordingly.

The current state of earthworm-farming is very chaotic – companies and individuals is playing for position and trying to establish semi-monopolies. A lot of uncertainties and distrust exist in the industry. On top of that we’ve got to deal with the chemical fertilizer-industry’s efforts to de-rail earthworm-farming in South Africa.

Vermi-meal production will bring, with its establishment, another force who will try to destabilize our industry.

Vermicast act in the plant-nutrition domain and vermi-meal will contribute to the animal-nutrition domain. Both are very, very competitive and established industries. Any newcomer to those industries will not be welcomed with open arms.

Vermi-Insights except the above mentioned state of affairs and will stay in the worm-industry to further our aims.

Our first aim is to establish a large earthworm population in South Africa. Farmers will only pursue earthworm-farming or vermiculture if it is profitable for them to do so. Worm-farming is not just a philosophy, it is business.

You can produce 1 TON VERMI-MEAL from 70 tons VERMICAST.

Looking at the ratio it is clear that a use for VERMICAST must be established first. And it is also evident that VERMICAST will be the main contributor to the vermiculture economic-structure.

For VERMICAST to become an alternative to chemical-fertilizer, the price must come down. At R1000.00 per cub meter VERMICAST, chemical-fertilizer will be cheaper. This is expressed in monetary terms and I don’t count the other advantages of VERMICAST. My observations and inquiries let us to a price of R750.00 per cub meter VERMICAST. At R750.00 per cub it is cheaper, to use vermicast than chemical-fertilizer.

The challenge therefore is to develop production-systems and equipment that will enable us to produce vermicast at a lower cost. Look at the operating cost of your system, if you can’t produce VERMICAST cheaper than the other fertilizers, adjust and think.

There are special aspects around VERMICAST and that aspects can’t be pin-pointed in a scientific environment dominated by a NPK mentality.

Analysis of a biological medium, such as VERMICAST is extremely difficult. That is so because of the dynamic nature of micro-organisms and the bio-substances excreted by them and the earthworms.