Introduction
You may have seen some videos on YouTube and social media, posts, or stories claiming that you can earn huge profits and lots of money per month by vermicomposting. It sounds like an exciting and simple way to earn lots of money per month, right? But is it really that simple, or is it another overhyped claim?
Let’s break it down and understand it in a simple way.
We can cover some basic questions in that article
- What are Vermicompost?
- Really? Can you make lots of money through Vermicompost?
- Some reasons why I said that are exaggerated claims
- Real Pricing of Vermicompost
- Problems Farmers Face During Vermicomposting
- Should you start vermicomposting?
What are Vermicompost?
Vermicompost is a type of compost that is made by using earthworms. These earthworms can eat organic waste like kitchen scraps, dry leaves, and cow dung, and then their poop becomes a rich fertilizer that helps plants grow faster and healthier. It’s a great way to turn waste into something valuable for the soil.
Really? Can you make lots of money through Vermicompost?
Many people claim that you can earn a lot of money by selling vermicompost. But are those claims true or exaggerated? The simple answer to that question is No; you can not earn lots of money through vermicomposting, and it takes time, effort, and daily care, and the profits are usually small. That means all the claims are exaggerated.
Some reasons why I said that are exaggerated claims:
I have many reasons to say that it is an exaggerated claim in all the advertisements and marketing, but we discuss 2 major reasons in this article.
- Low Earnings, Not Huge Profits: The price of vermicompost in the market ranges between ₹5 to ₹20 per kilogram. Even if you manage to sell a good amount, the earnings are small, and it’s not enough to make you rich quickly. You would need a large-scale operation to make significant money.
- Time and Hard Work: Vermicomposting is not as easy as shown in the advertisements and marketing. In vermicomposting, too much time, effort, daily care and hard work are needed to get a good result.
Real Pricing of Vermicompost
In that post, video and stories they claim that they can earn lakhs of money in a month. Let’s check whether all the claims are real or not:
Retail Price: Vermicompost is usually sold for ₹5 to ₹20 per kilogram, depending on your location and the quality of the compost. That means to earn a lakh per month, you should sell around 10 tons, so you should earn up to ₹50 thousand to ₹2 lakh. Remember that this is your total revenue. However, you need to subtract the costs of labour, materials, maintenance and other miscellaneous costs to find your total profit, so your actual profit might be much less compared to their claims.
Wholesale Price: If you sell your vermicompost in the wholesale market, the price might be even lower, around ₹3 to ₹10 per kilogram. That means to earn one lakh per month, you should sell around 10 tons, so you should earn up to ₹30 thousand to ₹1 lakh. Remember that this is your total revenue. However, you need to subtract the costs of labour, materials, maintenance and other miscellaneous costs to find your total profit, so your actual profit might be much less compared to their claims.
Problems Farmers Face During Vermicomposting
Vermicomposting is not as simple as it is presented in advertisements and marketing. There are some challenges farmers can face during vermicomposting:
- Temperature Sensitivity: Earthworms can not survive in extreme temperatures; they require an ideal temperature to produce compost and survive. You need to keep the compost beds cool during the summertime and warm during the wintertime. That’s why you require regular monitoring, and it can be tricky to manage, especially in places with hot climates.
- Pests: Birds, insects, and even rats can also become a problem for the farmers for there vermicompost. They can try to eat the worms, which can reduce the number of worms working on the compost pit, and as a result, the production of compost should decrease.
- Labour-Intensive: Vermicomposting is a labour – intensive process that requires daily labour for maintaining moisture levels, turning the compost regularly, monitoring the worms and other processes.
Why Are Some Individuals and Companies Overhyping Vermicomposting?
In nowdays, vermicomposting has been marketed as a highly profitable and easy method of earning money. But why is vermicompost overhyped by some individuals and companies?
According to my research, I found some reasons why they are overhyping vermicomposting:
Paid Workshops and Training: Some individuals and organizations offer expensive workshops in which they claim to teach “secrets” to run a successful vermicomposting business. They charge thousands of rupees as a fee for that training and workshops, but they do not provide any practical knowledge that justifies the fee.
Profit from Equipment and Earthworm Sales: Many companies sell specialized equipment like worm beds, compost bins, earthworms, and other accessories at inflated prices. They create a business around vermicomposting by encouraging farmers to buy these products, making profits from selling the equipment rather than from vermicomposting itself.
Should you start vermicomposting?
If you are thinking of starting vermicomposting, it is important to understand the potential benefits and challenges of vermicomposting.
Key points to be considered are:
- Space and Resources: Vermicomposting can be done on a small scale at home or on a larger scale for farms. However, it requires dedicated space for worm beds, composting bins, and the right kind of organic waste.
- Time and Patience: Vermicomposting is not a quick process; it takes time. Worms take time to break down organic material, and it may take several weeks or months to prepare the compost. If you are looking for fast results, vermicomposting might not be an option for you.
- Labor-Intensive: Vermicomposting can be labor-intensive. The process requires regular maintenance, including feeding the worms, managing the moisture and temperature levels, and harvesting the compost.
- Initial Investment: You can start the vermicomposting business with minimal investment.
- Understanding the Market: If you’re thinking about selling vermicompost, do your research on your local market to understand the demand for vermicompost in your locality.
Conclusion:
Vermicomposting is a great way to recycle organic waste and improve soil health, but the idea that you can make lots of money quickly by selling vermicompost is not realistic. So if you think to do your own research on vermicomposting and not expect to earn lakhs of money in a month. Vermicompost does not give huge profits, but it is a good choice to start as a side business that can be beneficial for you.