Saudi farmer Mohammad Abdullatif Al-Shaer has established a worm compost factory on his farm in the village of Al-Dhafir, Al-Baha, turning the presence of worms into an opportunity. Worm compost is an organic fertilizer used in organic agriculture, produced by earthworms as a natural soil conditioner. It significantly enriches soil with organic matter and improves its properties.
Al-Shaer started with a 5-meter by 60-centimeter tank, placing approximately 2,000 worms and adding dry leaves, organic manure, and food scraps. After four months of daily monitoring, he produced over 300 kilograms of compost and more than 10,000 worms.
His worm production methods have evolved significantly. He now has four tanks and has fertilized his entire farm of 250 trees with the compost. This compost promotes rapid tree growth and abundant fruiting. Worms improve soil quality, renew fertilization mechanisms, and nourish crops, leading to improved agricultural practices and higher yields of fruits and vegetables.
Al-Shaer
aspires to turn this project into a fully-fledged enterprise capable of producing large quantities of worm compost. He also aims to spread this knowledge among farmers through agricultural festivals to encourage them to adopt this sustainable alternative to harmful chemicals.
The Director-General of the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture branch in Al-Baha, Engineer Fahd Muftah Al-Zahrani, commended the project, and the Associate Professor of Applied Nutrition at Al-Baha University, Dr. Lubna Saad, elaborated the vermicompost process. Vermicompost is a mixture of worm excrement and the input materials provided to the worms. After sieving and filtering, the compost is ready to fertilize various crops, enhancing the soil’s ability to absorb and retain water. This initiative has been praised by numerous farmers participating in the Al-Baha Bounties Festival for its contribution to improving the quality of their agricultural products.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
