Challenges associated withRhynchophorus phoenicis Fabricius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) farming: a case study of the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality

Abstract

Farming ofRhynchophorus phoenicis has been part of the human race for over 200,000 years as a productive strategy for subsistence living. Despite the remarkable interest generated in recent years, and the studies carried out by scientists in Ghana, insect rearing for food is still in its infant stage and bedeviled with enormous challenges such as managerial, extension service, technology, and marketing. In highlighting these challenges, the confirmatory factor analysis method was used to analyse the challenges facingR. phoenicis larvae farmers in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality. The purposive sampling technique was used to sample the farmers. Closed and opened ended questionnaires were administered by ten well-trained field enumerators in a face-to-face interview in the selected communities (Donyina, Fumesua, Asotwe, Kubease, and Bomfa). The results highlighted extension, managerial, technology, and marketing as the main components containing sixteen variables with a percentage variation of 70.8% in the production ofR. phoenicis larvae. These factors were managerial challenges (25.2%), technological challenges (23.0%), extension services challenges (16.7%), and marketing challenges (6.9%).R. phoenicis larvae have great potential for sustainably providing food and livelihood for the growing population in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality. However, the various variables under the four main challenges can be addressed by scientists across the country if the government equips and task research institutions such as the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), and the Universities, with resources to come out with technologies that will enhance the production ofR. phoenicis larvae in the municipality.