Berea, July 13 — Training in earthworm farming is contributing to the promotion of organic agriculture in Berea district by equipping farmers with skills to produce natural fertilizer, reduce reliance on chemical inputs and improve the quality of agricultural produce.
Speaking in an interview with the Agency, Lesotho earthworm farming coordinator, Ms. Matšeliso Phatšoane said the purpose of training people in earthworm farming is to promote healthy living, since agricultural products produced through the use of earthworms are organic.
She said earthworm farming is important as it enables farmers to produce food without relying on chemical fertilizers, adding that earthworms produce vermicompost, vermicast and vermitea.
Ms. Phatšoane explained that vermitea can be used as a treatment for soil, crops and insects while also serving as a fertilizer.
She noted that it contains no harmful chemicals and crops treated with it can be consumed because it is 100 percent organic.
She further highlighted that close to 20 people in Berea district have already been trained in earthworm farming, and they received an earthworm farm, a worm bed, as well as practical lessons on how to rear, feed and harvest earthworms.
However, she said one of the challenges they encounter after providing training is that some earthworms die because they are not handled properly, while others are not fed properly.
Ends/MTM/tl
