In response to reports from local farmers and agricultural extension staff about an infestation of invasive jumping earthworms in Kengkhar (Mongar), Mongar (Mongar), and Kangpara (Trashigang), the NSSC have conducted a brief sensitization program for the farming communities. The sensitization program was concluded today at Kangpara.
The invasive Asian jumping worm (Amynthas spp.) acts as a destructive ecosystem engineer, radically altering soil composition and threatening forest biodiversity. Unlike beneficial earthworms, these surface-dwellers excrete distinctive, highly granular castings that resemble dry coffee grounds. This severely compromises the soil’s structure ruining its water-holding capacity, destabilizing plant root systems, and accelerating nutrient runoff during heavy rains.
The awareness program took place over three days in each gewog, focusing on the following topics:
• Educate farmers on earthworm diversity and their ecological functions.
• Recognizing and identifying the invasive jumping earthworm
• Recommend on-farm prevention and management techniques.
• Undertake a quick assessment and documentation of the problem to understand history of occurrence, their spread and key characteristics.
Altogether, 120 local farmers participated in the program (29 from Mongar, 42 from Kengkhar, and 49 from Kangpara). The sensitization program received financial support from the GEF-8 project fund.
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