Quarter 2 Narrative Report TAMTF Vermiculture project

(Vermiculture farming and biohumus production at rural youth club in Nalbandyan village in Armenia – Development Principles NGO)

Overall progress
15 students have benefited from the project in last quarter. The trainer and children visited the farm regularly, inspected beddings, added feed to beddings, where biohumus has already produced. But not all of the compost was converted into biohumus. Worms are finished composting when both bedding and food scraps are turned into “castings” /biohumus/. The feed for the worms is compost that has already been rotted.

They also were watering beddings if it was necessary. The beds maintained moisture content of 75 to 80 per cent. Excessive watering has to be avoided as this increases the acidity (lowers the pH) and the worms might die. The children sometimes mixed beddings gingerly, because aeration is very important for worms. The worms were active during this period.

Monitorng visits
On 20th July 2007 - Development Principles NGO experts inspected a farm in Nalbandyan community. The worms were active, the beds maintained a moisture content of 75 to 80 per cent , the temperature was 20-25o C and there was already biohumus produced, but not all of the compost was converted into biohumus. Worms are finished composting when both bedding and food scraps are turned into “castings” /biohumus/
On 26th July the trainer and children visited the farm and inspected beddings. They added feed to bedding, where biohumus has already produced. The feed for the worms is compost that has already been rotted.
On 1st August the children were watering beddings. Watering is essential to ensure that the beds maintain moisture content of 75 to 80 per cent. Excessive watering has to be avoided as this increases the acidity (lowers the pH) and the worms might die. The worms are fed and beds watered during the reporting period.
On 8th August the trainer and children visited the farm, mixed beddings gingerly /carefully/, because aeration is very important for worms
On 15 th August some farmers visited the farm. They would like to engage in Organic farming and are interested in biohumus purchasing
On 28th August the trainer and children inspected beds. The worms were active, the beds maintained a moisture content of 75 to 80 per cent .
On 4th September the trainer and children inspected beds and worms
On 15 th August some farmers visited the farm. They would like to engage in organic farming and are interested in biohumus purchasing.

Special day
On 22th September was Community YES club celebration event dedicated to the launching of first vermiculture project in the village and Armavir marz of Armenia. There were many guests from other directions of YES rural youth club in Nalbandyan village, participants of Regional Youth Forum “Confidence Building Measures”, and guests from the rural communities of Republic of Georgia. Children talked about organic agriculture, vermiculture, their work on the farm. They showed how to separate worms and biohumus. Some of guests received a bag of biohumus as a gift. This day was depicted in the CBM workshop diary (extract is attached to this report).

Problems Encountered
The main problems we have experience so far is unexpected necessity to move vermiculture farm to another location in the same village. The deal was set with the owner of the second farm for 5 years donation (free of charge rent) to the youth club activities, so the work of carefully moving the worms to another farm has been in the process in October already. The necessary labor work is generously taken by community adult leaders.

Income
Marketing plan was discussed and approved between Development Principles NGO and leaders of youth club. There is no income generated so far, but the vigorous sales season will come soon in October, which will be reported in the next Quarter Report.

Plan for future activities
1. Moving worms to new bedding – end of September, 2007.
2. Take care of worms in a new farm premises and maintain the temperature and humidity - October, November, and December.
3. The biohumus will be collected and sieved to remove large particles before bagging. The biohumus grains in the product are less than 0.5 millimeters across. It is odorless and safe to handle. It is rich in hormones, antibiotics and vitamins that produce healthy plant growth.
4. Separation of worms and biohumus / second portion/ - October, 2007.
5. Marketing of biohumus (already negotiated and in the process) – October, November 2007.
6. Regular on-site and in-class training sessions to the children.
7. Publishing of educational materials developed for this project – September-October, 2007.