Help Environmental Farming in Myanmar

Worms at Work for an Eco-friendly Inle Lake

Based on information received from the Global Community Service representative, and a recent visit by the President of GCSF, it is now estimated that the worm casting (vermiculture) methods of agriculture can be introduced to five villages per year.  The vermiculture program includes initial training, preparation of work breeding vats, breeding of sufficient worms (300 per family), application of the resulting fertilizer, and monitoring of crop results.

The GCSF representative at Inle Lake, Daw Hnin Hinin Ohn, estimates that we should be prepared to fund about $4,346 (1,220,000 Ks) per year per village.  One of the good things about this project is that the entire amount required to fund the project need not be raised before the benefits of the vermiculture program is realized.  Additionally, as the success of the program is realized by the Inle Lake farmers the rate of implementation might be increased.

U Aye Naung, Chief of Naungtaw Laichay village is very pleased with the results of the vermiculture program in his village and is a major participant and supporter of the program. During the recent visit to the lake by Selva, he took her to his home to see the project in action.  He explained that the worms exude a liquid that when mixed with water can be used as fertilizer. The worms are kept in a large bucket and the water they exude comes out from a spigot. One liter of liquid is mixed with one liter of water to use as fertilizer.  Twenty-eight liters can be used to fertilize one acre.  Fertilization must be done three times during the growing of crops. He was so proud to announce to Selva “I have been able to educate two of my children with the profit from this project.”  He told her that he makes double the average income from the crops that have been fertilized with worms.  He told her that the crops grow to twice their size with this fertilizer.

Reducing the amount of chemical pollution at Inle Lake will reduce the incidence of "Soft bone Disease" it the children of Inle Lake,

It our next report we will attempt to add a map of the Inle Lake area and a list of the villages around the lake – then we, and our donors, will be able to track our progress around the lake 

Links:

• Global Community Service Foundation

Phase one of the Myanmar Vermiculture (worm fertilizer methods) project has shown very positive results.  The worm growing and crop fertilizer methods are now practiced by over 100 families in the Inle Lake area.  Now we, and our native representatives in Mayanmar, can begin phase two of the project.

Phase two will consist of establishing the procedures and applying the resources to replicate the project to an additional 42 villages around the lake.  Thanks to 51 donations which have been received, we have the resources to begin that effort, The tasks for phase two will be to create guidelines and "best practice" documents, based on the procedures that have been effective, and to contract with a Inle Lake native to train, coordinate and monitor the vermiculture program.  Those tasks are necessary in order to effectively and efficiently introduce the procedures and methods to the new areas.  In the begining of the project the sharing of worms and training between families and villages was effective. Now it will be important to introduce the project to several (perhaps three or four) villages at a time in order to achieve results quickly, Therefore, more efficient methods of training and support will be needed.

The President of GCSF has visited the area, in support of other GCSF projects.  She has been impressed by the willingnes of the Inle Lake dwellers to embrace the methods, and they are appreciative of the results.  During a recent visit she was invited to a typical Inle Lake meal.  The hostess served a type of tomato salad, made from tomatoes grown with the worm fertilizer. The hostess was proud to state "the fresh tomatoes are as big as the ones grown with chemical fertilizer and taste much better."

Links:

• http://globalcommunityservice.org