Farmers in Nghe An province produce foliar fertilizer from earthworms.

Vo The Dung's livestock and crop farm in Hung Son commune (Anh Son district) is nestled amidst rolling hills and vast green tea plantations. Born and raised in Hung Son commune, Vo The Dung said that by choosing to start his business based on the local advantages in livestock and crop farming, he has been concerned not only with improving product quality through clean production and organic farming.

Therefore, Mr. Vo The Dung gradually invested resources in organic production models, such as using animal waste to feed earthworms. This earthworm farming model produces organic fertilizer, provides feed for chickens and fish, and serves as a raw material for producing organic foliar fertilizer.

In 2024, Mr. Vo The Dung invested over 700 million VND to build a barn and buy earthworm breeding stock. After more than a year of utilizing waste from his pig farm as feed for the earthworms and for biogas production, Mr. Vo The Dung began researching and experimenting with producing foliar fertilizer from earthworms.

According to Mr. Nguyen Xuan Ty, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Hung Son commune, this is the first model of foliar fertilizer production by farmers in Hung Son commune using hydrolysis technology combined with heating.

"With over 90% of households in the locality relying on tea cultivation for their livelihood, and the commune currently guiding and encouraging people to practice organic tea cultivation and use organic foliar fertilizers, this is extremely necessary and effective. Therefore, being able to produce this type of fertilizer within the commune will create many advantages for people to apply it," Mr. Ty said.

According to Mr. Vo The Dung, producing standard foliar fertilizer from fish or earthworms using hydrolysis in tanks or reservoirs typically takes 4-6 months to meet requirements. However, thanks to guidance from experts at the processing equipment supplier, he is now applying a hydrolysis method combined with heating, which shortens the production time while maintaining quality.

Specifically, earthworms raised on farms are ground into a paste, mixed with a specific ratio of water, and then put into a hydrolysis machine. This machine helps maintain a stable temperature of 70 degrees Celsius for 4 consecutive days, producing earthworm fertilizer that can be applied to plants by mixing it with water at the appropriate ratio and applying it directly to the leaves.

Currently, Mr. Vo The Dung is using his earthworm-based foliar fertilizer for his family's tea plantations and rice paddies. In addition, many tea, vegetable, and fruit growers in Hung Son commune have also ordered and used it. One liter of foliar fertilizer can be diluted with water to provide supplemental nutrients for approximately one hectare of crops.

According to the Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Hung Son commune, Mr. Dung also shared and guided households who wanted to produce foliar fertilizer to support the green production policy that the commune's People's Committee is promoting and encouraging.

In Hung Son commune, besides Mr. Vo The Dung, several other households have also started making organic foliar fertilizer from earthworms and fish, such as Mrs. Tran Thi Ly's household. Mrs. Ly said that her family is currently cultivating about 4.5 hectares of tea organically, so the use of biological fertilizers is extremely important.

Besides purchasing fish protein products, Mrs. Ly's household is currently also producing foliar fertilizer from earthworms. The earthworms are purchased from local breeding models, such as the farm of Mr. Vo The Dung. Although the conventional method of composting foliar fertilizer takes longer than the hydrolysis method combined with heat, it will be the direction Mrs. Ly's household chooses to increase the productivity and efficiency of her crops.

"

Organic foliar fertilizer made from fermented fish and earthworms helps strengthen plant resistance and improve soil. The sulfur in this fertilizer reduces the damage caused by pests such as larvae and nematode eggs, and helps plants recover from chemical fertilizer poisoning. This fertilizer also provides a large amount of microorganisms to the soil, making the soil more porous and improving soil structure. Importantly, it is very safe for users and the environment. This fertilizer does not contain any toxic substances or pollute water sources, and there is no need for a waiting period or waiting before harvesting. It also helps save on cultivation costs.