Abstract
Edible insects are an important natural commodity in rural areas that is used for household consumption and to generate income through trade. As a result, edible-insect trading is a profitable business that provides employment and improves the livelihoods of impoverished rural people. This study aimed at determining the socioeconomic benefits of and reasons for trading insects, and to assess if edible insects are included in economic development strategies in the Vhembe district of Limpopo province, South Africa. We conducted 72 questionnaire interviews targeting traders in 5 towns across the district. Five insect groups belonging to four insect orders are traded in informal markets of the district. Mopane worms (Gonimbrasia belina) were the most traded (42%) edible insects. Unemployment (45%) and the demand for edible insects (34%) were the major reasons for trading insects. Insect trading has numerous benefits; however, the provision of income (60%) and financial support (35%) were stated as the primary benefits. Despite several benefits associated with trading in insects, there are many challenges such as insect spoilage and a decline in the availability of edible insects in the wild. Edible insects play an important role in food security and the rural economy by generating employment opportunities for unemployed traders. Trading in insects is a traditional practice based on indigenous knowledge, which has persisted as an economic practice that improves rural livelihoods by reducing poverty and increases the human dignity of rural citizens. Only four governmental organisations in Limpopo included edible insects in economic development strategies. Trading insects is primarily an informal activity. The government could stimulate the activity and broaden and deepen the community benefits by providing infrastructure, access to harvest areas, financial support, and business training as part of a rural empowerment strategy to end hunger and poverty while creating employment opportunities in rural areas.
Highlights
The majority of rural populations in southern and eastern Africa are food-insecure and susceptible to malnutrition [1]
Insect trading is primarily female-driven in most countries in Africa [12,25,26,27]. These results indicate that women play an essential role in rural livelihoods, and they are the backbone of subsistence household food security
Traditional food primarily contributes to rural livelihood improvement as a source of income and nutrition
Summary
The majority of rural populations in southern and eastern Africa are food-insecure and susceptible to malnutrition [1]. Rural communities in developing countries are greatly dependent on indigenous natural resources, such as wild fruits and edible insects, to sustain their livelihoods [1,2,5,6,7,8]. Natural resources from the wild play an essential role in rural livelihoods in various communities in South Africa [9]. Wild fruits and edible insects play an important role in food security in rural areas [2,6]. They are used as an alternative source of nutrition [2,10]
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