Tech turns garbage to plant food

MANILA, Philippines - For citizens residing near the Hagonoy Creek in Taguig, the threat of another killer flood like that of “Ondoy” is resurfacing as tons of garbage pile up like islands on the creek connected to Laguna de Bay.

Recently, a new process called vermicomposting, which turns biodegradable waste into eco-friendly fertilizer, was developed by the Philippine Business for Social Progress-Center for Rural Technology Development (PBSP-CRTD).

PBSP-CRTD introduced this process to the Waste Management Unit of Taguig during the Clean-up Drive led by the Australian embassy in partnership with the city government of Taguig and Clean Up the Philippines Movement.

Vermicomposting is the process of making texturized, sanitized, and deodorized form of castings made up of organic matters excreted by earthworms.

Prior to putting the worms, the biodegradable trash is crushed and left to decompose for about two weeks. The earthworms then feed on the decomposed materials and its excreted substance called vermicast is mixed with the fertilized soil as organic fertilizer and soil conditioner.

Vermicompost provides plants with complete and essential nutrition and hastens seed germination, plant growth, flowering, and fruiting. It contains beneficial microorganisms and is proven to be an effective solution to waste management problems, like the case in Taguig.

CRTD is PBSP’s demo farm located in Calauan, Laguna. It is a laboratory for developing, testing, validating, and disseminating appropriate farming technologies.

It also has an improved farming system and agricultural technology designed to optimize the use of land, providing ample yield for the farmer’s economic advantage.

BUKHAY or Bukid ng Buhay (Farm of Life) is the name of the farm developed by CRTD to serve as venue for integrated farming systems.

CRTD conducts study tours in BUKHAY and other community development project sites in the country. They give trainings in vermiculture, aquaculture, livestock, tilapia hatchery and production, and lowland agroforestry.

Other courses offered are fruit crops production, ornamental plant production and management, food processing, demo-farm establishment, and solid waste management. Individuals or organizations interested in agricultural technology may contact PBSP-CRTD at (049) 568-0168 or email [email protected].