Bogor youths benefit from worms amid crisis<\/p>\n
BOGOR (JP): Economic hardships force people from all walks of
\nlife to be more creative to survive.<\/p>\n
Five youths in a local organization at Sindang Rawa village in
\nWest Bogor, for example, have found an unusual way to earn money
\nin a relatively short time: breeding worms.<\/p>\n
With initial capital of Rp 600,000 (US$88), the Karang Taruna
\ngroup has earned Rp 2 million after only three months breeding
\nthe lumbricus rubellus worms.<\/p>\n
\"Although we just started this business a few months ago, we
\nhave already managed to recover our capital,\" Rudi, deputy
\nchairman of the group, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He said he believed their savings would now grow quickly
\nbecause their \"products\" have a good price in the markets.<\/p>\n
The mature worms, about two months' old, are sold for Rp
\n200,000 a kilogram, while the eggs could be sold at Rp 2 million
\nper kilogram.<\/p>\n
The group, which at first planned to sell their worms every
\nthree months, can now sell the product every two weeks thanks to
\na significant rise in the worms' egg production.<\/p>\n
They usually sell the worms to traders, who process the worms
\ninto fish food.<\/p>\n
Rudi said they had offered their worms, widely known as an
\ningredient for cosmetic powder, to a major cosmetic firm.<\/p>\n
However, they did not reach a deal with the company, which
\nwanted to pay below market price for the worms.<\/p>\n
\"We refused to sign a contract with the firm because we still
\nwant to be free, besides the disagreement with the price
\noffered,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the worm breeding business is not difficult as the
\nworms' food -- rotten vegetables and animal feces -- is easy to
\nfind in their neighborhood.<\/p>\n
One of their neighbors, Awaludin, has followed in their tracks
\nand has so far succeeded in breeding thousands of worms.<\/p>\n
Awaludin, who owns a number of rented houses, acknowledged
\nthat worm breeding is profitable, especially in the prolonged
\neconomic crisis. (21\/jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bogor-youths-benefit-from-worms-amid-crisis-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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