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: 13 January 2020; Hits: 4393

Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University paying Sh5,000 per kilogram of crickets

icipeScapsipedus Magara et al cricket

Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University (JOUUST) through Africa Center of Excellence in Sustainable use of Insects as Food and Feeds (INSEFOODS) is seeking farmers to rear crickets which they latter buy from them at Sh5,000 per kilo.

“Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University is recruiting farmers in an educational program that involves teaching, research, product development and commercialization related to crickets as food and feeds across Kenya and Africa at large,” said John Odero, an agronomist at the university.

“Edible insects such as crickets are resilient to climatic changes and emit considerably less amounts of green gases and they are also available in all seasons.”

According to World Bank which also sponsors the programme, Kenya’s population is projected to reach 85m people from the current 47m by 2050. Escalating food insecurity, growing demanding consumers and environmental concerns have thus necessitated the search for alternative protein source to supplement or replace conventional protein sources such as livestock meat.

After buying the insects from farmers, the research center (INSEFOODS) then adds value to crickets by producing products such as biscuits and cricket flour which are then sold to the local markets as well as for exports.

A 50g packet of cricket biscuits for instance retails at Sh200.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the global food crisis and malnutrition would be solved if poor families have access to inexpensive food items produced at the household level. The environment would also improve through reducing livestock farming and increasing farming of edible insects.

Crickets have a high nutritional value of over 60g/100g dry weight basis, this is higher than that of soybean ( 49 per cent dry weight basis) and beef (36 per cent dry weight basis), which are among the common conventional sources of proteins.

The Materials required in setting up a basic cricket farm

They include two plastic storage containers - 'Rubbermaid' or similar (Breeding containers), three medium sweater boxes (rearing containers), six - 500 ml (one pint) plastic tubs (nesting and food containers), egg 'flats', heat pad (optional) - medical types available at most drug stores work well.

Others are a water dispenser (small chick waterer sare available at feed shops or specialty pet shops), jar lid, quilt batting or plastic scouring pad and aluminum mosquito screening

RELATED CONTENT: Insects to supplement proteins in animal feed

The cost to establish a basic system is about Sh3000 inclusive of the initial cost of breeding the colony. To start such a colony at least 200 crickets are required

Crickets mature after three months and a 40ft by 20ft piece of land can accommodate 100 crickets which can earn Sh70,000 in three months meaning farmers can earn up to Sh280,000 per year compared to an average of Sh90,000 on an acre of maize earned in six months.

Interested farmers can call John Odero on +254 713 348 411.

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: 07 January 2020; Hits: 4973

New board to enable Kenyan farmers market their livestock products globally

cows cattle livestock kalro

A new livestock Bill has proposed the formation of a marketing board through which farmers will be able to promote their livestock products across the world.

Livestock Products Marketing Board, which has been proposed in the Livestock Bill 2019, will among other things promote the trade of livestock and livestock products, including the signing of trade agreements on behalf of the government.

Livestock Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai said the board will be instrumental in ensuring that animal products from Kenya will compete with those from other countries, based on meeting required standards.

“This new body will ensure that the marketed products adhere to international standards as we seek to promote the sale of our livestock products beyond our traditional markets,” said Mr. Kimtai.

The new body, says the PS, will also facilitate the marketing of products through the provision of market information intelligence on supply and demand locally and internationally.

In the dairy sector, Kenya has of late been relying mainly on Uganda and Tanzania as key major markets with efforts to open up new destinations slowed down by high cost of production locally that has made Kenya’s dairy products not competitive in the world market.

For instance, processors are at the moment stuck with over Sh2 billion worth of long-life products that they cannot sell to the international market because of higher prices that they need to sell them at in order to break even.

The Bill also proposes licensing of businesses that deal with livestock inputs such as animal feeds with only people having permits allowed to trade with dairy farmers.

Mr. Kimtai said the move will boost livestock production through provision of quality animal feeds that will help in eliminating cases such as aflatoxin that can be exposed to humans through the consumption of contaminated feeds.

The PS was speaking yesterday during a stakeholder meeting with the county executives in charge of agriculture in the devolved units.

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: 07 January 2020; Hits: 7218

Ready market available for gadam sorghum variety growers

white sorghum

Gadam sorghum variety farmers in Kenya stand high chances of benefiting from the ready market currently offered by various breweries in the country as compared to their peers who grow other varieties.

According to scientists at Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) the breweries have been importing the product from neighbouring countries due to the shortage.

“Despite its huge nutrition value and economic potential, sorghum is thinly traded due to low production coupled with poor marketing that has seen only 30 per cent of the annual average production of 109,414 tonnes commercialized,” said Rose Nelima from KALRO in Lanet.

Gadam variety, in particular, which has high local demand by the breweries is not only good and suitable for cultivation in drier lowlands but it recovers fast from drought making it a sure way for farmers and guarantees them ready market from institutions such as breweries, she said.

The expert added that despite the available market, most farmers lack awareness on new varieties in the market as they are used to the indigenous one that had a lot of cyanide on the leaves which can be toxic to humans and animal.

KALRO, she explained has developed five new improved varieties that can withstand harsh climatic conditions, are fast maturing that can be used for both human and animals and whose level of cyanide is low.

“These varieties are good. We also know that our animals are in the ASAL areas, thus most of these varieties have also been recommended for dry areas to help in terms of food security and at the same time our animals can get feed,” she said.

Kenyan’s Sorghum, she explained is mostly used in silage but farmers should also know that there are other advantages of the plant, which according to her can be supplemented to maize or wheat through value addition and also food such as chapatti.

Depending on one’s yields, Nelima said that for one acre of land, a farmer will require to use between two and four kilograms of sorghum and the yield would be different for various varieties but would range between 5 to 7 tonnes.

“One Kilo of sorghum seeds goes for Sh350 and a farmer will require to use 3 to 4 kgs for an acre,” she said.

The organization is now urging farmers to visit KALRO centres across the country and acquire the new varieties of fast maturing and drought resistant sorghum.

KALRO is also currently importing raw materials known as substrait, normally extracted from sorghum from Nigeria to produce Aflasafe that controls aflatoxin in maize and groundnuts.

According to Tegemeo Institute, in 2018 there was increased research in the development of new varieties of sorghum but the adoption is low due to lack of awareness and access-related constraints.

Based on a nationally representative sample in 2014, Tegemeo Institute estimated that only 15 percent of farmers were using improved sorghum seeds.

The slow growth of improved varieties however improved in 2016 and 2017 with the private sector accounting for 10 percent

In Kenya, sorghum is grown in western, northern Rift Valley, eastern and some parts of Central. The research objectives in sorghum research are, increased yield, drought, disease and pest tolerance, earliness, seed colour and marketability.

The one week long international trade fair was officially opened by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday. He said that the 2019 to 2029 agricultural transformation and growth strategy being implemented by the government was aimed at increasing small holder farmer incomes through increased production and value addition.

The 2019’s theme was, “Promoting Innovation and Technology in Agriculture and Trade,” where over 400 exhibitors were showcasing new innovations.

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