Insects, solution to Africa’s malnutrition and food problems
GRILLED or fried insects like soldier termites, flying termites, mopane worms and edible stinkbugs, seasoned with salt are a common sight at entrances to many drinking spots and street food markets around Africa.
Not only are these crunchy delicacies enjoyed in Africa, but also in many other parts of the world.
While the eating of insects is almost as old as humanity in Africa, integrating entomology, the scientific study of insects, with Africa’s rich indigenous knowledge systems in their harvesting and preparation is now gaining momentum on the continent.
Scientists believe that insects may be the panacea to Africa’s debilitating food shortages and malnutrition problems.
Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT), one of the leading insect research centres in Africa, has analysed more than 40 species of insects consumed in Zimbabwe and realised that most insects have a protein content that ranges above 30%.
These insects also have a high fat content that is translated into energy and very necessary especially for Africa’s rural populations that require a lot of energy due to their heavy manual work.
The soldier termite, for instance, has high levels of nutrients and minerals needed to fight the scourge of malnutrition in Africa, namely protein, zinc and iron. Better yet, these insects become readily available in seasons where food stocks are also at their lowest.
A March 2022 UN Habitat and United Nation World Food Programme report shows the growing vulnerabilities, malnutrition and food insecurity among Africa’s urban populations which constitute 60% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s population.
An estimated 68,1 urbanites in SubSaharan Africa were at risk of acute food insecurity in 2020. This includes 22 million in Central Africa, 16 million in West Africa, 15,7 million in East Africa and 14,4 million in southern Africa.
A 2020 report from three United Nations agencies indicated that more than a third (282 million) of all undernourished people in the world, live in Africa.
Popularity of edible insects in Africa
However, insects are an easily accessible solution to Africa’s food and malnutrition problems. Granted, some insects like mopane worms are very popular in the southern African region.
Insects are widely consumed in Africa.
A 2021 survey by the Zimbabwe Forestry Commission shows that 1 170 tonnes of mopane worms are harvested annually translating to a net income of US$3,9 million.
In South Africa, the sale of mopane worms generates no less than US$39 million annually.
A study by KwaZulu Natal University in 2021 of insect consumption patterns in Limpopo and KwaZulu Natal provinces of South Africa showed that of the eight species studied, locals preferred mopane worms and termites as food.
Patience Sibanda, an insect merchandiser based in Gweru, said mopane worms were her fastest moving wares.
“Mopane worms are fast moving. It is one of the things that make me a lot of money. On a good day, I sell US$20 worth of mopane worms, which is very good business,” she said.
Research has, however, shown that the majority of these consumed insects across Africa are wild harvested and sustainability becomes an issue, hence increased calls to farm these “small livestock’’.
Forestry Commission spokesperson Violet Makoto said the commission was promoting sustainable harvesting of mopane worms so that mopane woodlands are preserved.
“The Forestry Commission has ongoing community-based natural resource management and woodland management programmes that include training of communities, restoration of degraded lands, soil conservation, business development skills training and access controls,” she said.
Farming of these insects is the way to go in preserving this African delicacy and a source of protein whose stocks may deplete due to increased unsustainable harvesting.
Insect farming in Africa
Blessing Mutedzi, runs a mopane worms farm at his rural plot in the rural area of Marange in Manicaland province. The mopane worm is a large caterpillar (Gonimbrasia belina), a species of moth which is native to the warmer parts of southern Africa.
His farm has many mopane and jackal berry trees, some of mopane worm’s favourites. “In a domesticated system, jackal berry trees provide food to mopane worms in seasons where mopane trees shed off their leaves,” he adds.
Mutedzi harvested wild mopane worms on the plot since he was a child, before embarking on domestication and commercialising them. He has managed to run this business over the years since 2014 when he started.