In an era where environmental sustainability is at the forefront of global concerns, vermicomposting is emerging as a powerful, eco-friendly solution for managing organic waste.
As communities and individuals seek more sustainable practices, vermicomposting stands out not only for its environmental benefits but also for its simplicity and effectiveness in promoting greener living.
During a Gather to Grow session, Snenhlanhla Maduna shared her journey into vermicomposting and starting her business. She described her use of sustainable and recycled materials like old car tyres to create worm bins.
“Once you involve the term ‘vermi’, that means you’re involving worms. So, we use worms to break down organic waste food for worms to improve soil health,” Maduna explained.
The benefits of vermicomposting
Maduna’s business primarily focuses on selling vermicompost and worms, which she markets for fish bait and other uses.
“We use worms to break down organic waste food for worms to improve soil health. Vermicomposting is much faster than the traditional way,” she said.
Maduna added that she uses red worms (Eisenia fetida), known for their efficiency in composting. She started with 15 tyres and has since expanded to over 40, indicating the scalability of her operation.
“We did some research on some of my acres on the farm, did the tests and stuff and saw that the worm pee had a very good effect on growth and the soil [quality],” she explained.
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Commercial vermicomposting
Jacobus Westraadt, a commercial wheat farmer in the Swartland region of the Western Cape, said he uses vermicomposting on a larger scale.
He explained how he integrated vermicomposting into his farming practices. “My father-in-law started in two buckets at home and he started using it in his vegetable garden. He just saw very good results from just using it on his vegetables and we slowly started multiplying the worms in bigger and bigger bins, so much so that I think I have about between 10 and 12 tonnes of worm compost bins at the moment,” he said.
Westraadt shared that he uses vermicomposting to enhance the soil on his farm. This has allowed him to significantly reduce his use of synthetic fertilisers, cutting his nitrogen use nearly in half compared to his neighbours.
“I halved my plant fertiliser. I only planted 15 units of nitrogen, where I usually plant between 24 and 27 units.”
Westraadt noted that while the transition to organic farming practices is promising, it will take time and a shift in mindset among farmers.
“I think on a commercial level, it’s going to take a while and it’s going to take the farmer to change the mindset; that’s going to be a big step.
“I don’t think we’ll ever not have synthetic fertilisers because it’s such a big industry and a job-creating industry as well. So a country like ours, I don’t think it’ll change very quickly,” he said.
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