Roussoss Demisse articulated that his foray into the realm of black soldier flies was initiated through his prior investment in Mushroom Kenya.
Through his interactions with various farmers, he discerned that many were struggling with the exorbitant costs associated with animal feed.
Consequently, he began cultivating black soldier flies to offer more affordable feed options for these farmers.
“Upon conducting research, I discovered that black soldier flies serve as an excellent protein source for livestock, are relatively simple to cultivate, and require minimal space for establishment. This piqued my interest, and I resolved to assist farmers in overcoming this challenge,” Demisse remarked.
He further elaborated that his venture aimed to capitalize on the concept of converting waste into valuable resources.
“We now promote and implement sustainable food management practices by providing a structured approach that aims to minimize food waste and its associated impacts throughout the entire lifecycle, beginning with the utilization of natural resources, through manufacturing, sales, and consumption, and concluding with decisions regarding recovery or final disposal,” he expressed.
He launched this initiative in 2018 with an initial capital of Ksh 15,000, which he allocated to purchasing a kilogram of pupae, several half-split jerrycans for use as trays, and a small unit to house these trays.
“At that time, we could not afford a greenhouse. However, the capital required to initiate such a venture is largely contingent upon the scale and anticipated output,” he noted.
Demisse mentioned that he sources his waste from local markets, which he prepares by sorting, washing, crushing, and fermenting.
“Once the feed is ready, daily operations include feeding the larvae, monitoring the laying flies, harvesting mature pupae, and drying the collected pupae,” he explained.
From the black soldier flies, he produces various products, including eggs, which he sells for Ksh 2,500 per gram. Each gram can yield between three to four kilograms of maggots upon hatching.
Additionally, Demisse markets maggots and pupae at Ksh 2,500 per kilogram, while dried pupae are priced at Ksh 200 per kilogram.
“This venture has enabled me to reduce the costs significantly,” he said.
