Organic Valley of Northern Corridor

PENANG, Dec 8 (Bernama) -- Balik Pulau is set to 'worm' its way into becoming an organic valley.

A worm fertilizer academy, which was set up in Sungai Burung recently to guide farmers to produce their own fertilisers, would be the stepping stone towards achieving the target within five years.

Teluk Bahang assemblyman Datuk Seri Hilmi Yahaya said the academy, mooted about two years ago, had gone through many trial runs before it was set up.

He said the aim of the academy was to guide farmers to produce their own fertilizers.

"So far, 200 farmers make up the first batch in having registered for a three-month course to learn how to produce their own fertilisers, with participants needing only to spend about RM1,640 to buy related equipment for the course.

"Currently, we are giving priority to the cooperatives of the Sungai Burung community (to attend the course). Fertilizers produced during their training would be allowed to be put for sale or use it for their own.

"In the next five years, the Balik Pulau district would become an organic valley whereby, farmers would be sufficiently knowledgeable to produce their own fertilizers to use in their farms," Hilmi told reporters when met at the academy.

Hilmi explained that the use of worm fertilizers reduced the need for chemical fertilizers and helped farmers tap into the growing demand for organic food.

"Worms are also a green solution to food wastes as they are efficient digesting machines that eat over half their body weight in organic matter daily, leaving behind nutrient-rich worm castings which are completely natural," he said.

Hilmi said, apart from quality yield, worm fertilizers produced by earthworms would increase soil aggregate stability, aeration and reduce erosion.

"We have tested in many padi fields, and the result proves that its broad base of nutrients adds beneficial organisms, nutrients and minerals to sustain healthy plant life and stimulate growth," he added.

He said worm fertilizers cost less than chemical fertilizers as the growers only needed a third of the normal amount of chemical fertilizers, and farmers also needed to apply fertilizers less frequently.

For more information on the programme, contact Mohd Ali Othman at 012-578 8385 or Jaafar Masyar 016- 4945490.

-- BERNAMA - Balik Pulau To Worm Its Way Into Becoming Organic Valley