KIRWANIRA WOMEN’S GROUP

Proposal for Earth Worm Farming at Kyanja Agricultural Resource Center

Background
The Agency for Integrated Rural Development (AFIRD) is a national Non-Government
Organization (NGO) founded to fill the need for an integrated approach to rural development.
Brought together by a group of professionals, it brings together vast experiences to foster
development in Uganda. With more focus on improving the livelihoods of vulnerable
communities through capacity building in sustainable natural resource management to increase
house hold income, AFIRD is currently promoting Sustainable Agriculture and Permaculture
among smallholder farmers and schools respectively.

With a mission to enable the more vulnerable smallholder farmers in the increasingly urbanizing
Wakiso, Mpigi and Mukono districts to be nutrition secure and to have increased income with a
special emphasis on young people and to contribute to policy development and implementation
towards sustainable farming in Uganda", Among the many programs AFIRD is engaged in is
developing organizations and institutions led by smallholder farmers and this takes into account
building a strong and stable organization.

Kirwanira Women’s Group (KWG) emerged as a result of AFIRD programs; it is a local CBO run
and managed by women in Matugga-Kirwanira. With a total membership of 12 women, the CBO
is engaged in a number of activities aimed at, among others to reduce the amount of money
spent by women on basic home feeding needs that’s to say the amount of money spent on food
and basic chicken requirements such as tomatoes, onions, green paper, sukuma wiki, spinnati,
spinachi among other vegetables.

Due the increasing rates of population and demand for land in urban and peri-urban areas of
Uganda, Kirwanira Women Group has embraced urban farming, the practice of growing fruits
and vegetables on small plots of land in towns and cities. Although expanding agricultural
production and distribution in rural communities is an important way to help families break the
cycle of generational poverty, people living in cities also need support. Urban farming is a way
for families to have healthy food and also save money (Augustus N, 2016). Sometimes, they may
be able to supplement their incomes by selling surplus vegetables and fruit.

For the past 1 year, The Kirwanira Women Group (KWG) has been engaged in Earth worm
farming for Vermicomposting, managing waste, for agriculture input and as their source of
income and families.

EARTH WORMS FARMING

Over the past several years, many people have begun raising earthworms as a source of income
or as a means of managing organic waste. Some are drawn to the business by extravagant claims
of vast potential markets for earthworms in large waste disposal systems and agriculture and as
a source of food for animals. Despite these claims, the current major commercial use of
earthworms is as bait for freshwater sport fishing.

Although several other outlets for sales of worms exist, there is much competition for markets.
Research and development on uses for worms are under way throughout the world.
Earthworm growers can make money by selling earthworms and vermicompost or from tipping
fees (charging to have organic materials normally disposed of in landfills "tipped" by a dump
truck onto the worm grower’s site, to be fed to the earthworms).

Vermicomposting is the process of turning organic debris into worm castings (manure). The
focus is on processing the waste rather than creating ideal conditions for raising earthworms.
Earthworm size and their reproductive rates are frequently lower than those of the same
species raised in vermiculture systems. Large vermicomposting facilities typically make money
primarily from tipping fees, followed by sales of castings, and then, in a distant third place, by
sales of earthworms.

POTENTIAL MARKETS FOR EARTHWORMS AND VERMICOMPOST

Several options are available for the sale of earthworms. Home vermicomposters, composters,
and gardeners are interested in buying earthworms. Fish hatcheries, tropical fish stores, pet
stores, zoos (with exotic fishand birds), game bird breeders, frog farmers, and poultry growers
buy worms as feed for animals. Community educators, such as Extension agents or recycling
coordinators, often need a steady supply of earthworms for setting up new worm bins. Private
laboratories, universities, and high schools use worms for research and classroom needs.

Many worm growers focus on selling vermicompost rather than earthworms. Vermicompost is a
blend of castings and decomposed organic matter that has been placed in a worm bin. The
nutrient content of vermicompost depends on the types of feedstocks and bedding provided for
the worms. Studies have shown that vermicompost enhances plant growth, suppresses disease
in plants, and increases microbial activity in soil. Vermicompost also improves water retention,
aeration, and porosity in soils.

EARTHWORM PRODUCTION
Earthworms have certain minimum care requirements that must be met on a regular schedule.
The key environmental factors affecting earthworm growth, reproduction, and health are
temperature, moisture, aeration, pH (acidity-alkalinity), and food material.

Temperature
Earthworms live and breed at temperatures between 55 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. For
commercial earthworm production, the ideal temperatures for growth and activity range from
60° to 80°. Bed temperatures should be between 60° and 70° to facilitate intensive cocoon
production and hatching. If bed temperatures rise too high, they may be lowered by adding
water, activating fans in or near the system, and reducing the amount of feedstock applied.

Moisture
Earthworms need adequate moisture to help them breathe through their skin. Beds need to
sustain a moisture range of 60 to 85 percent and feel crumbly-moist, not soggy-wet. They
should be sheltered from direct sunlight so they do not dry out and overheat. One method of
increasing cocoon production after worms are fully established is to stop watering the beds for
several days or until the top 1 or 2 inches are scarcely moist. Then dampen the beds enough to
restore them to their recommended moisture content.
Aeration
Earthworms can survive in relatively low oxygen and high carbon dioxide environments and
even stay alive when submerged in water if it contains dissolved oxygen. If there is no oxygen,
however, earthworms can die. Oxygen may be depleted if earthworm beds are kept too wet or
if too much feed is introduced. By reducing the amount of moisture, cutting back on feed, and
turning the pile with a pitchfork or three-prong garden tool, oxygen will be restored. Turning the
materials in the beds every two to three weeks will help keep the beds aerobic.

Due to its high cost, compared to commercial fertilizers, vermicompost is not commonly used as
a soil amendment or plant growth enhancer by large commercial plant growers. Nonetheless,
vermicompost is increasingly being used by organic gardeners and is sold commercially in some
nurseries as a soil amendment or planting medium for ornamental plants.

PROJECT OUTPUTS

1. A demonstration/training site for Earth worms rearing and production at agricultural

resource center.
2. Composting organic waste generated by agricultural resource center and the nearby
communities
3. Fish feeds and high quality organic fertilizers and compost to use on Kyanja Agricultural
Resource Center crops and for sale

ESTIMATED PROJECT COST

Most commercially raised worms live in surface litter and feed on decaying organic matter. The
primary bait worm raised in the United States is the red earthworm (Lumbricus rubellus). It is
the most popular variety because of its hardiness and ability to tolerate large concentrations of
decaying organic matter.

Other worm species sometimes grown for bait include the African night crawler (Eudrilus
eugeniae) and the brandling worm (Eisenia foetida, also known as "red wigglers"). African night
crawlers grow best at higher temperature and are more suited for production in warmer
climates. They are often used in vermiculture systems. Brandling worms, though they can be
used for fishing bait, are best suited for vermiculture systems because they can produce an
allergic reaction in some people and will omit a pungent odor if they are handled roughly. The
night crawler (Lumbricus terrestris) that is found widely in upper North America (and is actually
native to Europe) is a burrowing worm that comes to the surface at night to feed. Although
prized for fishing bait, night crawlers are extremely difficult to raise commercially because they
require cool temperatures, reproduce slowly, and tend to migrate.

Red earthworms will mature in 179 days and live approximately 700 days. They produce
between 79 and 106 cocoons per worm and vary from 1 to 4 inches in length at maturity. The
African night crawler will reach marketable size in 8-10 weeks under the ideal temperature of
77°F, and their cocoons hatch in only 12 days. The brandling worm will live a maximum of 4-5
years and produce approximately 900 eggs per year per worm. Night crawlers mature in 350
days and produce 38 cocoons per year per worm. These large worms are typically 8-10 inches in
length.

Earthworms can be grown in any container with adequate organic matter and drainage. Bedding
materials must be deep enough to keep the earthworms cool and moist. During dry periods, you
may have to periodically sprinkle the bed with small amounts of water. In high rainfall areas,
some protection from heavy rains may be necessary because too much water can cause worms
to escape from the bed or die. Use of gravel, sand, and a perforated septic tank drainage line in
the base of the bed will help prevent flooding. Constructing the beds under a roof will help
ensure that flooding does not occur and will provide shade to help maintain the correct
temperature range.

For easy access during harvest, the bed should be around 48 inches wide. In the northern United
States, the structure should be set 16-24 inches into the ground and covered in the winter to
prevent freezing.

The bedding material should be approximately two-thirds topsoil and one-third decayed organic
matter. The stocking rate for red worms is 100-500 worms per square foot of bed area. The
initial stocking rate, along with the amount and frequency of feeding, will greatly influence the
size of the mature worms. Overstocking and underfeeding will result in few worms of sufficient
market size. Young worms grow rapidly and are ready to reproduce in about one month.
Depending on growing conditions, worms may take up to six months to attain full size. An
actively growing worm bed will yield 4-5 pounds of worms per square foot of bed space per
year.

Worms may be fed a variety of organic matter, including fresh manure, kitchen waste, and
ground livestock feeds. Feeds containing 10-12 percent protein (on a dry-matter basis) are best
for good growth and reproduction. Manure should be mixed with water and poured on the bed.
Dry feeds should be sprinkled on the bed and watered in. Feeding is required every

3-5 days in vigorously growing worm beds. Avoid overfeeding as it can lead to excessive
fermentation in the bed and an acid environment that can cause worms to shrink. Worms also
may escape from the bed or die because of excessive fermentation. In addition, overfeeding can
attract mites, which compete with worms for food.

A variety of materials can be used to construct a worm bed. Two options are a permanent
wooden structure or an expandable cinder block bed

Cost of constructing and stocking a wooden box worm bed. Outside dimensions are 12.25 by 4 feet; effective bed area is 12
by 3.5 feet.

Item Unit Price Quantity Amount

Lumber (2x4 in) foot $0.30 48 $14.40
LumberItem
(2x8 in) Unitfoot Price$0.80Quantity
46 Amount $36.80
Cinder blocks (8 x eachpound$1.50$4.00
Nails (8d) 44 1 $66.00 $4.00
Drain 8pipe
x 16(4in)
in) foot $0.60 12 $7.20
Gravel (3 in)(3/8 in)
Rebar footcu ft $0.90$0.75
20 10.5 $18.00 $7.88
Drain
Sand (3 pipe (4 in)
in) worm foot ft $0.60$1.25 12 $7.20
Cost of constructing and stocking a wooden box bed. Outsidecudimensions 10.5
are 12.25 by 4 feet; $7.88
effective bed
Gravel (3 in)mix (8in)cu ftcu ft $0.75$1.00
Top soil/compost 7 28 $5.25 $28.00
area is 12 by 3.5 feet.
Labor Sand (3 in) cu fthour $1.25$7.50
7 6 $8.75 $45.00
Worms Top soil/compost cu ft
pound $1.00 19
$10.00 42 $19.00 $420.00
(8 in)
Total investment cost $576.40
Labor
Cost per sq ft of bed area hour $7.50 4 $30.00 $13.72
Worms pound $10.0 28.5 $285.00
0
Total investment $439.00
cost
Cost per sq ft of $15.41
bed area
Initial Resource Requirements

 Wooden worm bed (42 square feet of surface area): $550-600.

 Cinder block worm bed (28.5 square feet of surface area): $425-450.
 Feeding labor: 1 hour/bed/week, 52 weeks per year: $520
 Shelter $1200
 Harvest labor: 3 hours/bed/week, 20 weeks per year: $600

Contact:

12km Bombo Road-Matugga, Kirwanira

Email: kirwanirawomengroup@gmail.com
Tell: +256783519194, +256751268876 /704448708

WORKPLAN
To be provided.