Vermicomposting in Turkey: Challenges and opportunities in future

Abstract

Turkey has been undergoing positive agricultural transformations since the 2011. Its agricultural sector today is developingnew techniques and products. One of the best examplesof thisis the production of vermicompost and its use in agriculture. Turkey is on both Asian and European continents (Eurasia)with approximately 81 millionpeople. Turkey has 24 million hectares of agriculture land (excluding pastures+meadows, including total arable land and under permanent crops). However, there is littledata available on vermicompost production in Turkey. The production of vermicompost started after 2011. The average solid vermicompost production in 2017 was about 20000 tonnes produced by 15plantswith official production permitsby the Republic of Turkey Ministry ofAgriculture and Forestry. New legislation in Turkey published in legislative review no30341 in February 2018 regulates the industry. Turkey aims to be among the top three producers of this fertility amendment by 2023. In addition to the officially sanctioned operations, there are approximately 4200 unauthorized vermicompost producers inTurkey. Interest in and production of vermicompost is likely going to increase.Research showed that there aremany positive effects on soil quality and plant growth, although the mechanisms by which it improves the 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.