Bogor youths benefit from worms amid crisis

BOGOR (JP): Economic hardships force people from all walks of life to be more creative to survive.

Five youths in a local organization at Sindang Rawa village in West Bogor, for example, have found an unusual way to earn money in a relatively short time: breeding worms.

With initial capital of Rp 600,000 (US$88), the Karang Taruna group has earned Rp 2 million after only three months breeding the lumbricus rubellus worms.

"Although we just started this business a few months ago, we have already managed to recover our capital," Rudi, deputy chairman of the group, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

He said he believed their savings would now grow quickly because their "products" have a good price in the markets.

The mature worms, about two months' old, are sold for Rp 200,000 a kilogram, while the eggs could be sold at Rp 2 million per kilogram.

The group, which at first planned to sell their worms every three months, can now sell the product every two weeks thanks to a significant rise in the worms' egg production.

They usually sell the worms to traders, who process the worms into fish food.

Rudi said they had offered their worms, widely known as an ingredient for cosmetic powder, to a major cosmetic firm.

However, they did not reach a deal with the company, which wanted to pay below market price for the worms.

"We refused to sign a contract with the firm because we still want to be free, besides the disagreement with the price offered," he said.

He said the worm breeding business is not difficult as the worms' food -- rotten vegetables and animal feces -- is easy to find in their neighborhood.

One of their neighbors, Awaludin, has followed in their tracks and has so far succeeded in breeding thousands of worms.

Awaludin, who owns a number of rented houses, acknowledged that worm breeding is profitable, especially in the prolonged economic crisis. (21/jun)