Entomophagy: A Panacea for Protein-Deficient-Malnutrition and Food Insecurity in Nigeria

Abstract

The paper posits that Nigeria like most developing countries is not immune to protein deficiency among its population because of the often prohibitive prices and overdependence on conventional animal protein source which are in limited supply. The consumption of edible insects is a way out of this predicament. Entomophagy is common practice in the tropics only varying with location, insect(s) consumed, and ethnic group. Again, it posits that insects as a source of protein is better than many conventional sources of protein; it juxtaposes the protein value of some edible insects with conventional animal protein sources like beef, pork, fish, eggs, and milk. Furthermore, many advantages that go with entomophagy are indicated. It identified some militating factors against entomophagy, and maintained that people are not eating insects because of prejudices and not because insects are inferior nutritionally. Finally, it offers practical recommendations that could lead to more people consuming insects.

Optimisation of a cheap and residential small‐scale production of edible crickets with local by‐products as an alternative protein‐rich human food source in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia

“…a lack of protein and energy foods), principally resulting from the fact that people do not eat domestic animals (except chickens and other animals during sacrifice). Furthermore, there is a shortage of rice during the planting season but also too much time invested in field work, limiting the search for other sources of energy …”

“…In an exploratory investigation in Ratanakiri Province, people from the Annâdya Project have shown that 65% of the participating villagers ( n = 30) were interested in developing cricket breeding (Annâdya Project, personal communication). Effectively, the development of insect farming would be a more economic and time efficient and environmentally safer way to generate a continuous supply of insects to indigenous people, and consequently increase household protein consumption . For example, a large farm will have about 60–80 breeding containers (2.5 × 8 × 0.5 m) with about 2–3 h of labour needed every day to feed and take care of the cricket colonies .…”

“…Furthermore, there is a shortage of rice during the planting season but also too much time invested in field work, limiting the search for other sources of energy. 7,11 Improved access to nutritious animal food sources may prevent malnutrition, particularly the undernutrition and death of children. 12 Thus, the domestication and mass production of insects may be a sustainable, cost-effective and high-quality alternative source of protein to traditional livestock products.…”

“…Effectively, the development of insect farming would be a more economic and time efficient and environmentally safer way to generate a continuous supply of insects to indigenous people, and consequently increase household protein consumption. 11,19,21,22 For example, a large farm will have about 60-80 breeding containers (2.5 × 8 × 0.5 m) with about 2-3 h of labour needed every day to feed and take care of the cricket colonies. 20 However, the main disadvantage of rearing insects is the high cost of commercial feed protein.…”

Determinants of edible insects consumption level in Kogi State, Nigeria

“…Insects are classified as one of the most successful group of animals on earth constituting about 76% of all known species of animals; found in nearly all environments; and widely distributed across aquatic ecosystems, farm land and forests (Adegbola, Awagu, Arowora, Ojuekaiye, Anugwom and Kashetu, 2013). Ironically, they have also been rated as the most under-utilized and under exploited creature on earth by mankind in the time past (Huis, 2012).…”