Acheta domesticus (Cricket) feed resources among smallholder farmers in Lake Victoria region of Kenya.

Jackline A Oloo,John Maina Nyongesah,Monica Ayieko

doi:10.1002/fsn3.1242

Jackline A Oloo, John Maina Nyongesah + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.1242

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Abstract

The quality of domesticated crickets depends on the choice of feed substrate that has a direct impact on the economic viability of the farming operation. This study assessed the popular local cricket feeds in the Lake Victoria region. Data were collected through individual interviews, focus group discussions, personal observations, and growth experiments. Kales, sweet potato leaves, ugali, and banana peels were the most preferred by the farmers. Crickets fed on kales and sweet potatoes had a significantly higher weight gain and maturity rate than those fed on ugali and banana peels (p < .05). Additionally, crickets fed on kales and sweet potatoes had higher (82.4% and 78.6%, respectively) crude proteins compared to those fed on ugali (57.9%) and banana peels (62.9%). Kales and sweet potatoes can serve as cheaper, alternative local feeds for cricket farming. Empowerment of farmers through subsidies or provision of loans can enhance local cricket feed production.

Highlights

The considerable attention devoted to upscale cricket production in Kenya echoes the efforts made to promote edible insects to meet food and feed demands globally
The results demonstrated that kales (Brassica oleracea var. ocephala), banana peels, sweet potato vines (Ipomoea batatas), and ugali were most commonly used as cricket feed across the study regions
Low weight recorded for crickets fed on banana peels and ugali throughout the growth period compared to kales, sweet potato vines, and the control feed indicate their suitability as feed for optimal production

Summary

| INTRODUCTION

The considerable attention devoted to upscale cricket production in Kenya echoes the efforts made to promote edible insects to meet food and feed demands globally. Despite these efforts, little attention focuses on examining whether local cricket feed ingredients used by farmers are present in sufficient quantities and have nutrient densities in recommended levels for optimal cricket growth performance. In Kenya, farmers earn an average of USD 6.77 per kilogram of freshly harvested crickets (Halloran et al, 2016) This price is higher than the price per kilogram of other popular proteins such as beef, mutton, chicken, fish, and legumes (FAO/GOK, 2018).

| METHODOLOGY

Findings

| DISCUSSION

| CONCLUSION