IITA BBEST Supports Selected Farmers to Build Decentralized Units

The escalating cost of protein meal and the challenges of accessing it consistently from the market have adversely impacted smallholder chicken, fish, and pig farmers. This situation has pushed some of them to seek alternative income sources. A poultry farmer in Ghana highlighted the skyrocketing price of a 50kg bag of soybean meal, which surged from GHC 60 to nearly GHC 600 in 2023. This price surge is proving unsustainable for their profitability. Additionally, certain chicken producers struggle with waste management on their farms. In response to these challenges, the IITA BBEST initiative introduced the concept of decentralized units to the farmers, along with the innovative BSF technology. This technology employs Black Soldier Fly larvae to process fruit and vegetable waste from markets and slaughterhouses into nutritious feed for chickens, fish, and pigs. Farmers showed keen interest in this technology as it promises fresh and dried larvae production, along with frass, for commercial use and effective waste management. Each decentralized unit, estimated at 4 by 5 meters, is a fully equipped prototype structure. It incorporates block work from the foundation to the window level, wire mesh, and fiber net from the window to the roofing, and galvanized and transparent PVC sheets for roofing. These units are designed to facilitate the production of BSF-dried larvae. The establishment of these decentralized units brings several benefits to the farming community. Farmers gain access to an alternative, dependable, and cost-effective protein source for their poultry, fish, and pigs. This development enables them to produce feed for a significant number of birds, ranging from 5,000 to 10,000. Furthermore, the production and sale of frass to vegetable farmers represent an additional income stream. Dr. Dzepe-Togue, a researcher on the project, led the implementation team in Ghana to set up the units, initiating larval production. Amidst the high costs of soybean and fishmeal for feeding poultry, fish, and pigs, as well as pricey organic fertilizers, farmers grapple with reduced productivity and income. In its bid to enhance the capabilities and understanding of youth agripreneurs and other stakeholders regarding BSF technology, the prototype units play a vital role. By aiding farmers in effective waste management, the units allow to produce organic feed and fertilizer, not only benefiting their own farms but also catering to the needs of others in the district. The potential for scaling up units to expand larvae production is a notable aspect of this endeavor. Decentralized units for the production of chicken, fish pig feed, and organic fertilizer for farmers.