Edible insect (cricket) value chain analysis for enhanced food security in Lake Victoria basin, Kenya

Abstract

Insects form part of the traditional foods of approximately 2 billion people worldwide. Cricket being among the most consumed insect in Kenya. The edible Cricket industry has proved to be a promising value chain with many benefits among them employment creation among youths and increased household income among rural livelihoods. However, this value chain as a whole has neither been assessed nor its literature documented. Therefore, the study was initiated to analyse the House Cricket Value Chain in the Lake Victoria basin of Kenya. This region is one of the predominant places with house cricket value chain activities. The specific objectives of the study were to identify cricket chain actors, map and domesticate them, assess their roles in the chain and establish chain governance in the study area. A survey was conducted and quantitative data collected using a structured questionnaire administered to actors of the chain categorized as: Producers, Processors, Traders, and Consumers. A linear model of the chain was developed and the major actors identified were: Input Supply (Local Agro Vets, Non-Government Organisations, and Universities); Production (Individual Farmers, Women Groups); Market (Cricket Retailers, Wholesalers, and Processors); Consumption (Individual Households, and Education Institutions). As important, major Service Providers (Backstopping Institutions/Organisations: Universities, Non-Government Organisations, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries and Agricultural Extension Services). Qualitative data was collected using focus group discussions held with various representatives of the actors and interviews with key informants from the respective counties of Siaya, Homabay and Kisumu. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and value chain analysis. Cricket value chain presented an example of buyer- driven chain with characteristics of Market type of governance. The results recommend government to make policies that will govern the edible insect industry and encourage more independent actors to invest in the cricket chain to ensure increased productivity.

Key words: Actors, Cricket, Food security, Mapping, Value chain