Charles Odira of Namthoe, Kisumu County, is involved in a novel farming business that may not be typical among many Kenyans.
He breeds crickets (Achita domestica) on a three-acre part of his farm, which he has perfected over the last seven years.
In addition to rearing these insects, Odira harvests, dries and processes them into a variety of food products.
Odira farms crickets using two primary ways.
The first is the pen system, in which he has built brick, concrete, or wooden enclosures, while the second includes raising crickets in plastic crates.
“Since crickets are sensitive to light, I have created hiding spots for them using paper egg trays,” he said.
Crickets are given a diet of chicken feed and vegetables, and water is delivered through a wet cotton wool or blanket.
“We do this because if you put water in a container, the crickets might fall in and drown,” he explained.
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So far, Odira has collected a large number of crickets, and are usually ready to harvest after three months.
“I have six pens, each housing 30,000 crickets. Additionally, I have 55 crates, with each crate accommodating 1,500 crickets, and I’m still expanding
“These crickets can be roasted and consumed as a snack, or they can be dried and ground into a flour used to enhance other food products,” he said.
After the crickets have been harvested, Odira can decide how to prepare them.
“Before harvesting, we fast them for the last 24 hours to clean out their digestive system since these insects are consumed whole,” he added.
Odira grinds cricket flour and mixes it with wheat flour to make bread, as well as millet flour for porridge making.
Crickets are becoming increasingly popular among livestock producers and consumers, giving farmers like Odira with a ready market.
For Odira, this farming operation is a lucrative business. He sells dried crickets for Ksh 2,800 per kilogram, and consumers come from all around the country.
He also manufactures up to 20 kg of cricket flour, which he sells for Ksh 3,000 each kg.
Odira bakes roughly 30 loaves of bread every day, each weighing 400 grams, which are popular among locals and sold for Ksh 50, in order to attract more consumers.
Odira is one of many African farmers who have embraced cricket farming, with scientists claiming that these insects could give a solution to protein shortages not only in Kenya but throughout the continent.
