1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Strengthening national-level institutional and professional capacities of country Parties towards enhanced UNCCD monitoring and reporting – GEF 7 EA Umbrella II (GEF 7 UNCCD Enabling Activities_Umbrella II)

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

Comments:

This technology does not pose any land degradation problems

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Vermicomposting is the practice of composting organic waste products with the aid of various types of worms. These worms aid the decomposition of organic materials, including kitchen leftovers and yard trash, resulting in the production of compost that is abundant in nutrients.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Vermicomposting is where organic wastes are broken down by redworms (Eisenia fetida or Lumbricus rubellus) and other types of earthworms. The worms produce nutrient-rich castings, which are valuable natural fertilizers for plants and enhance soil health. Vermicomposting is an effective and environmentally acceptable approach to recycle organic waste and produces a valuable resource for farming and gardening (Grant, 2021).
The raw substrate is initially ground in the gizzard to create smaller particles, increasing the surface area during the vermicomposting process. Earthworm gut microorganisms and digestive enzymes continue to work on the material to create a fine granular product that is rich in healthy nutrients and microbiota (Sharma & Garg, 2017). Vermicomposting is popular in urban gardening and horticulture, where space and resource constraints are common.
It is a sustainable and effective method for managing organic waste because it combines a number of essential traits and components. Firstly, it involves the usage of particular types of earthworms, such Eisenia fetida (red wigglers), which are renowned for their capacity to ingest enormous quantities of organic material. Maintaining optimum moisture levels, typically between 60 and 80 percent, is necessary for efficient vermicomposting. Another crucial component is aeration, which encourages aerobic decomposition and reduces odour. Vermicompost bins or beds are made with sufficient drainage and ventilation systems to do this. The ideal temperature range is between 15 o to 30 o C (Adhikary, 2012). Vermicomposting's goals and functions include waste reduction, improved soil fertility, soil restoration, sustainable agriculture, and easily accessible waste management.
Vermiculture encourages eco-friendly gardening and supports sustainable agriculture methods by limiting the use of chemical fertilizers. The initial expense and time needed to set up a vermicomposting system are two significant drawbacks. Another difficulty is the requirement for constant monitoring and upkeep, including controlling moisture levels, ensuring adequate aeration, and controlling temperature conditions. Poor environmental care can result in bad smells or even the death of earthworms.

Samtse's first and only vermicomposting facility in Norbugang gewog is performing successfully. The project, which began on a couple's farm near Bhimtar in December 2013, employs earthworms to convert organic waste into high-quality compost. It is the end result of the decomposition of organic elements by earthworms. The dzongkhag's assistant agricultural officer (ADAO) spearheaded the idea of establishing the compost plant, with assistance from the national organic program. The main substrate used for vermicomposting is cow dung and banana stems. The mixture is spread out as a bed inside the compost house for the earthworms to feed. The worms break down the mixture to produce vermicompost.
Initially, a kilogram of red earthworms (Eisenia foetida) were cultivated in a nursery. In a month, the nursery produced 10 kg, which was then employed in the project. According to Dibya Gurung, the worms needed 28 days to feed on the organic wastes in the existing compost house environment. Bhutanese farmers utilize vermicompost as a nutrient-rich organic fertilizer to enhance soil fertility and improve crop yields. This promote sustainable agriculture practices and reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers, aligning with Bhutan's goal of achieving food self-sufficiency.
There are currently 12 organic fertilizer producers in the Bhutan producing various types of compost, including vermi-compost, liquid fertilizer, bio-slurry compost, chicken manure, and EM solution. However, there is no record of a dedicated vermiculture enterprise in the nation, even though worms are required to make compost organic fertilizer, according to the National Soil Services Centre (NSSC), Department of Agriculture (DoA). For instance, the country generated 8130MT of organic fertilizers, according to the NSSC's annual report for 2021–2022 (Dorji, 2022).

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

National Organic Flagship Program

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• conserve ecosystem
• preserve/ improve biodiversity
• create beneficial economic impact

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Comments:

Only floriculture is done

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• No (Continue with question 3.4)

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

Comments:

floriculture is done

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• full irrigation

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• integrated soil fertility management
• waste management/ waste water management
• home gardens

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

na

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• reduce land degradation
• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology unit

other/ national currency (specify):

Ngultrum

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

250.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Site selection	winter
2.	Collection of raw materials	winter
3.	construction of vermicomposting shed	winter
4.	construction of bricks lined beds for rearing earth worms	winter
5.	Construction of FYM shed	winter

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	labor	per head	7.0	250.0	1750.0	50.0
Plant material	Cow dung	Kg	5000.0	2.0	10000.0
Construction material	cement	bag	145.0	290.0	42050.0
Construction material	Bricks	piece	4000.0	7.0	28000.0
Construction material	Bamboo mat	roll	10.0	3500.0	35000.0
Construction material	Green net	roll	6.0	2200.0	13200.0
Construction material	Sand	truck	1.0	3500.0	3500.0
Construction material	stone	truck	2.0	3500.0	7000.0
Construction material	CGI sheet	piece	25.0	1190.0	29750.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					170250.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					681.0

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

National Organic Program

Comments:

For the establishment of this technology National organic program (NOP) funded 50% (Nu 80,000) of the cost and 50% of the cost was invested by the owner

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	construction of production house	winter
2.	Replacement of green net	winter

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	labor	per head	4.0	500.0	2000.0
Construction material	cement	bags	8.0	290.0	2320.0
Construction material	sand	bolero	1.0	3000.0	3000.0
Construction material	pebbles	bolero	1.0	3200.0	3200.0
Construction material	Green net	roll	6.0	2200.0	13200.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					23720.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					94.88

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

NOP

Comments:

The maintenance activity was fully funded by NOP

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Financial and availability of earthworms

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

MC (%): 92.81
OM (%): 27.93
OC (%):16.24
pH (H20):6.50
EC (µs/cm):259.33
N (%):0.81
P (ppm):2.97
K (mg/100ml):122.07

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

No

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

Specify assessment of on-site impacts (measurements):

They are able to produce rich nutrient soil and from that they can do other business like floriculture.

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Specify assessment of off-site impacts (measurements):

The vermicomposting can be challenging if there is no market and demand for the products.

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	not well

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

Comments:

Initial set-up cost is expensive and would be challenging if there is no external support.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• single cases/ experimental

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

1

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 0-10%

Comments:

Only one private vermicomposting site in Samtse

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

Yes

If yes, indicate to which changing conditions it was adapted:

• labour availability (e.g. due to migration)

Specify adaptation of the Technology (design, material/ species, etc.):

They have increased the farm size to larger scale from small scale after they got financial support from the Nation Organic Program.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Soil fertility is enhanced and reduce in use of harmful chemicals
Farm income generation
Can do other business like floriculture

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Ecofriendliness
Well recognized by other institutions

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
High installment cost	External supports
Maintenance requirements	Proper management

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Long process and challenging to harvest	Systematic process and skilled labor
Intensive care	Proper sanitation

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

NSSC Bhutan catalogue of soil and water conservation approaches and technologies, 2012

Available from where? Costs?

Website

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Organic fertilizer production manual

Available from where? Costs?

http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.15894.83521

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Vermicompost, the story of organic gold, explaining main features of vermicomposting

URL:

https://doi.org/10.4236/as.2012.37110

Title/ description:

Vermicomposting, Benefits and drawbacks of vermicomposting

URL:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.02.072

Title/ description:

Earthworm Vermicompost , Common Vermicomposting Problems.

URL:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/vermicomposting/problems-with-vermicomposting.htm

Title/ description:

Vermicomposting, Main activities involved vermicomposting

URL:

https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/80406

Title/ description:

Vermicomposting , Purpose of vermicomposting

URL:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/vermicomposting

Title/ description:

Vermicomposting, what is vermicomposting

URL:

https://composting.ces.ncsu.edu/vermicomposting-2/

7.4 General comments

N/A