Black Soldier Fly larvae as a Sustainable Animal feed ingredient in Kenya

Abstract

In low-income countries where the poor rely on agriculture for livelihood, intensification of agricultural production to develop profitable and inclusive fish and livestock enterprises is one way to increase food production and reduce poverty (FAO et al., 2012). Poultry, pig and fish farming are among the fastest growing agribusinesses in Kenya, offering employment and sources of livelihood to the growing population (Bizna, 2019). The poultry sub-sector contributes about 55% to the livestock sector and accounts for about 30% of the agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) of Kenya. The sub-sector employs two to three million Kenyans (Omiti & Okuthe, 2009). Pig keeping is another lucrative business with approximately 350,000 pigs and 7000 pig farmers in Kenya, of which 70% consists of smallholder farmers (Mburugu-Mosoti, 2014). In addition, fish farming in Kenya employs 67,883 farmers with 69,194 stoked fish ponds. By the end of 2014, the national aquacultural fish production in Kenya was estimated at 24,100 metric tonnes, up from 12,200 metric tonnes in 2010 (FAO, 2016). Therefore, the contribution of these sub-sectors to rural and urban livelihoods as sources of food, income, nutrition and insurance against emergencies are of paramount importanc