Vermicomposting in Turkey: Challenges and opportunities in future

Year 2018, Volume: 6 Issue: 4, 32 - 41, 26.12.2018

Korkmaz Bellitürk

https://doi.org/10.31195/ejejfs.476504

Cited By: 12

Abstract

Turkey has been undergoing positive agricultural
transformations since the 2011. Turkey agricultural sector today is developing
with new techniques and products. One of the best examples of this; is the
production of vermicompost and its use in agriculture. Turkey is in Asian and
European continents (Eurasia) with the population approximately 81 million. Turkey
has 24 million hectares of agriculture land (excluding pastures+ meadows,
including total arable land and under permanent crops). There is little data
available on vermicompost production in Turkey. The production of vermicompost
started after 2011. The average solid vermicompost production in the 2017 was about
20000 tonnes produced by 15 plants with official production permit by the
Republic of Turkey Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Apart from this
information, it is estimated that there are approximately 4200 unauthorized
vermicompost producers in Turkey. The production of liquid vermicompost in
Turkey is limited. A few producers also produce worm-tea in the country. On the
other hand, livestock activities also increase day by day and a lot of waste
comes out. It can be said that the most rational method for evaluation of waste
is to produce vermicompost. Vermicomposting
is an environment friendly process used to convert organic waste into valuable
agricultural product. The interest in the vermicompost is increasing day by day
in the whole country. As far as the vermicompost production is concerned,
Turkey has a new specific legislation and published by the official newspaper
no 30341 dated 23^rd February 2018. There are two big legally
authorized associations in the country today. The number of academicians
engaged in academic studies a vermicompost is limited and interest in the
vermicomposting is increasing. One of the biggest companies producing
solid-liquid vermicompost and all related machines is operating in Tekirdag
province and this company has the largest production capacity of Turkey. The
company operates by consulting with academicians who are experts in vermicomposting.
The results of academic studies on vermicompost showed that there are many
positive effects on soil quality and plant growth. However, many other benefits
of vermicompost on soil-plant systems are not yet fully understood. The use of vermicompost
is important for the sustainability of agriculture. The main aim of the paper
is to demonstrate and share reasonable causes for the increased interest in
vermicompost and earthworms. For the vermicompost sector by 2023 Turkey aims to
be among the top three overall producers globally.

Keywords

Agriculture, waste, earthworm, vermicompost

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