Potential of Vermiculture in Lao PDR

By Nongnut Foppes-Ayamuang
Programme Coordinator for Waste Management
RISE-AT, April 2000

1. History of vermiculture in Lao PDR

Vermiculture was first introduced to Lao PDR by Dr. Sampone Kaengphachan in the period 1984-
1990. He used a variety of worms originated from Japan, obtained through Vietnam, known as
Peryonix excavatus, Perrier 1872. Later Mr. Bounxoung Pimmasone, a local innovator, joined a
training course in Hanoi, Vietnam and continued the promotion of vermiculture which was started
by Dr. Sampone. Mr. Bounxoung came back to Lao PDR with a fresh batch of Peryonix excavatus
from Vietnam which he bought for 50 $ US/ kilogram in Vietnam.
They used cattle dung, rice straw, banana stems and other chopped crop residues can be added
if previously soaked with water. Their results showed that the worm population has doubled its
original amount within 3 weeks.
Some organic farmers in Vientiane have already applied “vermi-compost”, humus produce by
earthworms, to the vegetable plot. One of the farmers claims this is the best fertilizer she ever
applied to her vegetables. Worms have also been used successfully to raise frogs and ducks.

2. What is vermiculture?
Vermiculture is not yet very well known in Thailand and Lao PDR. Vermiculture, also called
vermicomposting or worm composting, is a relatively cool but aerobic composting process in
which certain varieties of red worms and earthworms are used to break down organic materials.
Certain species of earthworms can be cultivated to produce compost.
Worms mechanically break down organic materials such as leaves and partially decomposed
materials by eating them. Biochemical decomposition occurs via bacteria and chemicals in the
worm’s digestive system. In this way, worms produce high quality humus. This humus enriches
the soil in a chemical way, by making nutrients more available. Humus also improves the water-
holding capacity of soils. Worms also produce a crumpy soil structure by their activity.
Vermiculture requires considerable labor and careful control of composting conditions, including
temperature, moisture, and the mix of ingredients. Its successes to date are limited to relatively
small-scale or pilot programs. The use of vermicomposting in centralized or village-scale
composting systems is currently being explored in pilot projects. Considerable work was done in
Manila in the 1970s but the markets for the resulting worm castings did not develop.
The composting process takes 3-4 weeks to get compost products. Vermicomposting can yield
the harvested worm up to 12-15 kg/m3/year. It is difficult to find estimates for the amount of
humus produced per cubic meter of raw material by vermiculture. If the process is similar to
other composting process, 1 cubic meter of humus could be produced from 3-4 cubic meter of
raw material.

3. Applications of vermiculture
Vermiculture has three main benefits:
• It reduces urban waste by recycling organic materials
• It produces high quality humus, which can be used in gardening
• It produces a high quality, protein rich animal feed
Cities in Lao PDR and Thailand are experiencing increasing problems with urban waste
processing. Urban wastes in this region have a large component of organic matter (60-70%).
Composting is a good way to reduce the amount of household organic wastes that have to be
collected and dumped at the landfill. Earthworms can be used for composting.
E.g. the city of Vientiane, capital of Lao PDR, generates about 100 ton/day of which 60% consists
of organic materials, of which 40% could be used for composting. Therefore, the city produces
0.25*100 ton*365 days or 1000 tons of compostable materials per year. This material does not
have to be dumped or burned if it is taken out of the waste disposal system for recycling by
composting.
Secondly, the compost fraction can be used for vegetable garden in the organic farm. First tests
by Lao practitioners show good results, but specific data are still rare. From experience in
Europe, worm humus is known as a high quality fertilizer for horticulture.
Thirdly, earthworms can be used for animal raising i.e. duck, fish, and chicken. Earthworms
contain high levels of protein more than 70 % of dried weight and many others essential amino
acids. That’s why earthworms are very suitable as animal feed, especially for raising frogs or fish.
Vermicomposting can yield the harvested worm up to 12-15 kg/m3/year.
Cattle and buffaloes dung and some crop residues cannot be used raw as animals feed for pig,
duck etc. In Laos and many other Asian countries, cattle often locked in the night under the
house or in the cattle shed. The dung often smell cause unhygienic environment. Crop residues
are not used much, they are often simply burned.
In short, vermicomposting can be used for degrading organic waste and at the same time
producing high quality animal feed. Vermiculture can be carried out by small-scale enterprises, in
a cottage-industry manner.

4. Some unanswered questions on vermiculture

While vermiculture has a great potential, more research is needed to answer questions such as:
• How much humus can be produced and how could vermiculture be applied on a larger scale?
• Could local species of worms also be used for vermiculture?
• What are the specific advantages of worm humus as a fertilizer for horticulture, compared to
other composts and fertilizers?
• Do potential markets exist to absorb worm castings on a scale that would significantly
contribute to municipal waste reduction?
• What would be the cost-effectiveness of worms as an animal feed product?
• How do we keep vermiculture products free of viruses/parasites that may occur in waste?

5. How RISE-AT could promote vermiculture

Vermiculture is not yet very well known in Thailand and Lao PDR. Mr. Bounxoung has written a
manual for vermicomposting in Lao language, based on his experience. He is very interested to
share information on vermiculture with other practitioners and interested people in the region.
This manual could be translated and edited into Thai and English by RISE-AT to reach a wider
public. The simple guideline instruction will enable people in Southeast Asia to understand the
benefit of earthworms in converting the household and agricultural wastes into the valuable
products in a short time.
Secondly, RISE-AT could identify vermiculture researchers and bring them into contact with
practitioners such as Mr. Bounxoung. A range of research questions remains to be answered by
field testing. RISE-AT could assist in setting up a small vermiculture testing project.

6. Literature & contacts

1) Mr. Boun Xouong can be reached as follows: Vientiane Educational Training Center Km 2
Samsen Thai RD, Vientiane, Lao PDR, Tel +856 21 412529.
2) WHO Regional Publications South-East Asia Series No.1, Management of Solid Waste in
Developing Countries.