Production and growth parameters of edible crickets: experiences from a farm in a high altitude, cooler region of Kenya

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 247-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.N. Kinyuru ◽  
C. Kipkoech
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Mass Production ◽  
Growth Parameters ◽  
Lake Victoria ◽  
Growth Period ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Hatch Rate ◽  
Food And Nutrition ◽  
Small Holder Farmers ◽  
Small Holder

The need for mass-production of crickets is increasing with continued awareness. Cricket farming has been introduced with considerable success among small-holder farmers in the warmer, low altitude Lake Victoria regions of Kenya. Efforts are however on-going to introduce the farming in cooler, higher altitude areas in the interest of expanding the enterprise and increase mass production. A pilot farm was established at a farm located 1,519 meters above sea level with a temperature range of 17-22 °C. Initial egg stock was incubated at the farm under room conditions in the month of November to December. Different agricultural side streams and farm weeds were tested as probable cricket feed. Hatch rate, duration of hatching, preferred food types, mortality, weight gain and nutrient content at different ages were assessed. The hatch rate averaged 60%, mortality for hatchlings (pinheads) was below 2% while a steady weight gain was observed over a 12 weeks growth period with highest maximum weight being 2.03 grams per cricket. All agricultural side streams were accepted by the crickets and the wandering Jew weed was among the preferred feed and a source of significant nutrient for the crickets. Protein content ranged from 36-60% while fat content was 12-25%. Cricket production can therefore be promoted in the higher altitude, cooler areas in order to promote industrial exploitation of the crickets in combating food and nutrition insecurity.

scholarly journals Detection and Distribution of Viruses Infecting Field-grown Sweetpotato in East Africa

HortScience ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 972A-972
Author(s):  
Douglas Miano ◽  
Don LaBonte ◽  
Christopher Clark
Keyword(s):  
East Africa ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Lake Victoria ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Mottle Virus ◽  
Small Holder Farmers ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
First Time ◽  
Small Holder ◽  
Infected Vine

Sweetpotato is an important staple food crop in Sub-Saharan Africa, with production being concentrated in East Africa, particularly around Lake Victoria. Productivity of the crop is greatly constrained by viral diseases. Four main viruses have consistently been detected from various surveys done in the region viz., sweetpotato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV), sweetpotato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV), sweetpotato mild mottle virus (Sp.m.MV), and sweetpotato chlorotic fleck virus (SPCFV). The most severe symptoms have been caused by co-infection with SPCSV and SPFMV, resulting in the synergistic sweetpotato virus disease (SPVD). Some local sweetpotato genotypes have been reported to recover from, or have localized distribution of SPVD, suggesting that the disease is not fully systemic. This has led to the suggestion that uninfected cuttings may be obtained from previously infected plants. Experiments were set to determine the possibility of obtaining cuttings long enough for propagation that are free from virus infection. This would form a basis for recommending to the local small-holder farmers of a way to reduce losses due to the disease. Field-grown sweetpotato vines were cut into three pieces (15, 15–30, and >30 cm from the apex) and tested for SPCSV and SPFMV. Nine genotypes were selected from a group of 21 local clones and used for this study. The two viruses were equally present in all the three sections of infected vines, indicating that it is not easy to obtain a virus-free cutting for field propagation from an infected vine. Virus assays in the past has mainly been limited to the use of serological methods. Use of PCR resulted in detection of begomoviruses infecting sweetpotatoes for the first time in the region.

scholarly journals Continuous Lighting and High Daily Light Integral Enhance Yield and Quality of Mass-Produced Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) in Plant Factories

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1203
Author(s):  
Wenshuo Xu ◽  
Na Lu ◽  
Masao Kikuchi ◽  
Michiko Takagaki
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Metabolites ◽  
Mass Production ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Growth Parameters ◽  
Leaf Production ◽  
High Productivity ◽  
Artificial Lighting ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Tropaeolum Majus

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.), as a medicinal plant, has a high phenolic content in its leaves and flowers. It is often used in salads as a dietary vegetable. Attracting strong demand, it could be a good candidate crop for a plant factory with artificial lighting (PFAL) that can achieve the mass production of high-quality crops with high productivity by regulating environmental conditions such as light. In this study, two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of continuous lighting (CL) and different daily light integrals (DLIs) under CL on the growth, secondary metabolites, and light use efficiency (LUE) of nasturtium, all of which are essential in the successful cultivation in PFALs. In Experiment 1, two lighting models, the same DLI of 17.3 mol m-2 d-1 but different light periods (24 and 16 h) with different light intensities (200 and 300 µmol m−2 s−1, respectively), were applied to nasturtium. The results showed that leaf production, secondary metabolites, and LUE were higher under the 24-h CL treatment than under the 16-h non-CL treatment. In Experiment 2, three DLI levels (17.3, 25.9, and 34.6 mol m-2 d-1) under the CL condition were applied. The results showed that the growth parameters were positively correlated with the DLI levels under CL. The lowest DLI had the highest LUE. We conclude that the mass production of nasturtium under CL in PFALs is feasible, and the yield increases as DLI increases from 17.3 to 34.6 mol m-2 d-1 under CL without causing physiological stress on plants.

scholarly journals Enhancing rural livelihoods in Tanza-nia : A small-holder farmers’ perspective

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abel Kinyondo ◽  
Joseph Magashi
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Sustainable Livelihood ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
The Past ◽  
Small Holder Farmers ◽  
The Government ◽  
Small Holder

Poverty reduction has been a difficult milestone for Tanzania to achieve despite recording remarkable economic growth over the past decade. This is because the attained growth is not inclusive, in that sectors contributing to this growth employ fewer people. Given the fact that agriculture continues to employ the majority of people in Tanzania, efforts to improve livelihoods should necessarily be geared towards transforming the sector. It is in this context that using a sample of 3,000 farmers from 13 regions of Tanzania; this Tanzania, this study set out to examine challenges facing farmers and their respective solutions following the sustainable livelihood framework. Findings show that improving farmers’ livelihoods would entail concerted efforts by the government to avail to farmers, quality and affordable seeds, fertilizer, agricultural infrastructures, subsidies, extension services, markets, information alert, affordable loans, and areas for pastures. This implies that the government needs to allocate enough funds to the agricultural sector if farmers’ needs are to be met. We note, however, that government’s allocation to the sector has alarmingly generally been exhibiting a declining trend for the past four years. It is against this background that we strongly recommend that the government rethinks its position and prioritize the agricultural sector in its budget.

scholarly journals Photoperiod on growth and egg characteristics of the white leghorn chicken

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-155
Author(s):  
Abdul Muumin Sadick ◽  
Iddrisu Mubarik ◽  
Dennis Kodzo Awalime ◽  
Rebecca Akumbilim ◽  
Philip Larweh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Growth Parameters ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Daily Weight Gain ◽  
White Leghorn ◽  
Initial Body Weight ◽  
Final Body Weight

One hundred and twenty (120) 16 weeks old White Leghorn layer breeds were used for the study. The objective of the study was to determine effect of photoperiod on layer chicken. The research was carried out at the Poultry Section of the Animal farm of the Department of Animal Science Education, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Mampong. Four treatments made up of 12 hours of light, 14 hours of light, 16 hours of light and 18 hours of light were used for the study. Each treatment was replicated three times with 10 birds per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design. Birds were exposed equally to common daylight and in the evenings, lights were turned on at specified periods. Growth parameters measured were initial body weight, daily feed intake, daily weight gain and final body weight. Egg traits measured were egg weight, albumen height, yolk color and yolk weight. The data collected were analyzed using General Linear Model procedure of Statistical Analysis System. Results from the study indicated that, varied photoperiod regimes had no significant (P>0.05) effect on initial body weight, daily feed intake but had significant (P<0.05) effect on daily weight gain and final body weight of growth traits. Photoperiod had no significant (P>0.05) effect on the egg characteristics of the white Leghorn layer bird. It was concluded from the study that, increasing photoperiod had no positive effect on growth and egg characteristics of the white Leghorn layer.

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