Cricket farming is one of the profitable yet unexplored ventures in Kenya. The insects are rich in protein and can be used as an affordable and sustainable alternative to meat and fish.
They are frozen and sold to people as snacks and can also be used to make high-nutritional powder to use in local products such as porridge.
The crickets can easily be captured in the wild and reared in buckets or crates where females lay eggs. The eggs hatch into nymphs after about one month.
It takes about three months for them to mature fully. Unlike other agribusiness ventures, cricket farming is easy to start, and with Sh3,000, one can be good to go.
To start the initial breeding colony of crickets, at least 200 crickets are required, and the colony should not be used for feeding until well established and your first babies are adult-sized.
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To start rearing crickets, one will need the following materials.
- 2 Large Plastic storage containers – ‘Rubbermaid’ or similar (Breeding containers)
- 3 Medium sweater boxes (Rearing containers)
- 6 – 500 ml ( 1 pint) plastic tubs (Nesting and food containers)
- egg ‘flats’
- Heat pad (optional) – medical types available at most drug stores work well
- Water dispenser – small chick waterer available at feed shops or specialty pet shops.
- Several jar lids
- Quilt batting or plastic scouring pads
- Aluminum mosquito screening
Crickets feed on readily available food and are best fed in the morning and evening. You can feed them with food leftovers such as sukuma wiki/ kale, potato peelings, and very little water. The insects are, however, vulnerable to diseases if not properly managed.
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Benefits of Cricket Farming
- requires small investments and is relatively low maintenance;
- Crickets are easy to farm, as they require very little space, feed, and water;
- The high protein content makes them attractive to farmers looking for alternative sources of income;
- High market demand for cricket products.
Experts say that the most appropriate time to start a cricket farm is during the short rains starting in October and lasting until December. Farmers can rear the insects for export or sell them locally in restaurants, supermarkets, and pet stores.
A crate of crickets goes for around Sh700. Assuming you have about 100 crates, that is a profit of Sh 70,000.
