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207980

Acceptability and Economic Viability of Edible Insects in South Western, Nigeria

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Last updated: 03 Jan 2025

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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.

DOI

10.21608/eajbsa.2021.207980

Keywords

acceptability, economic viability, Entomophagy, edible insects, Nigeria

Authors

First Name

Fasunwon,

Last Name

T.

MiddleName

B.

Affiliation

Department of Biological Science, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun

Email

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City

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Orcid

-

First Name

Lawal,

Last Name

A.

MiddleName

O.

Affiliation

Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, PMB 2002, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.

Email

lawal.olusegun@oouagoiwoye.edu.ng

City

-

Orcid

0000-0003-2233-2260

First Name

Adesetan,

Last Name

O.

MiddleName

T.

Affiliation

Department of Microbiology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, PMB 2002, Ago- Iwoye, Ogun State.

Email

-

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Adeleke,

Last Name

T.

MiddleName

M.

Affiliation

Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, PMB 2002, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.

Email

-

City

-

Orcid

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Volume

14

Article Issue

4

Related Issue

28038

Issue Date

2021-12-01

Receive Date

2021-10-25

Publish Date

2021-12-07

Page Start

159

Page End

175

Print ISSN

1687-8809

Online ISSN

2090-0813

Link

https://eajbsa.journals.ekb.eg/article_207980.html

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https://eajbsa.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=207980

Order

15

Type

Original Article

Type Code

667

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences. A, Entomology

Publication Link

https://eajbsa.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Acceptability and Economic Viability of Edible Insects in South Western, Nigeria

Details

Type

Article

Created At

22 Jan 2023