Acceptability and Economic Viability of Edible Insects in South Western, Nigeria | ||
| Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences. A, Entomology | ||
| Article 15, Volume 14, Issue 4, December 2021, Pages 159-175 PDF (1.37 M) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/eajbsa.2021.207980 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Fasunwon, B. T.1; Lawal, O. A.2; Adesetan, T. O.3; Adeleke, M. T.2 | ||
| 1Department of Biological Science, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun | ||
| 2Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, PMB 2002, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State. | ||
| 3Department of Microbiology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, PMB 2002, Ago- Iwoye, Ogun State. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Edible insects are a good source of protein, minerals and vitamins. This study investigated the acceptability and economic viability of edible insects within the three ecological zones, in south-western, Nigeria. Six hundred (600) structured questionnaires were administered among the habitants of the selected ecological zones on the acceptability, economic benefits and types of edible insects. The data collected were statistically analysed. The insects identified were: Macrotermes bellicosus, Brachytrypes spp, Oryctes boas (larvae), Zonocerous variegatus, Apis mellifera, Anaphe recticulata, Rhynchophorus phoenicis (LavaeandAdult), Oryctes boas (Adult). Ondo in Derived Savannah has the highest diversity of 0.99 while M. bellicosus recorded the highest dominance per species. The insects were mostly fried (38.5%) before consumption. In terms of distribution, there is an abundance of Oryctes boas (37.6%) in Ogun (lowland rainforest) while there was a higher occurrence of O. boas larvae (17.6%) in Oyo State (Derived Savannah). The most acceptable edible insect within the ecological zones studied was M. bellicosus (51.9%). On the economic viability of insects, 22.3% of the respondents strongly agreed that the insects are in very high demand, 40.5% believed that the cost required to produce them is not much in regards to the benefits derived from them. Some of the respondents (38.9%) strongly agreed that insects act as an excellent source of proteins. This research has shown that people are practicing Entomophagy which should be further encouraged by the government to serve as an alternative source of protein and for income generation since they can be afforded by the masses. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Acceptability; economic viability; Entomophagy; edible insects; Nigeria | ||
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