Black soldiers fly to cut costs of livestock feeds in Murang’a

AT 26 years of age, Herman Kimondo has carved his niche in agriculture, becoming a role model for many of his age-mates.

Kimondo, a project management graduate, decided to head back home after completing his course to help his father manage Johija Farm in Kamune village in Mathioya subcounty, Murang’a county.

His ailing father was a poultry brooder for many years and reared pigs but had for years struggled with the high cost of feeds.

As a youth, Kimondo set out to find a solution and his research led him to the Black Soldier Fly, an insect that is famed for its ability to rapidly degrade organic biowaste and is kept by fish, poultry and pig farmers for its protein value.

Kimondo eventually got connected to the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology where he received training on keeping the insect and how to use it to feed livestock.

“ICIPE trained and provided me with pupas that I then brought back home and grew them to adults that then laid eggs and started off the process,” he said.

The fly (hermetia illucens) goes through four distinct stages namely the egg stage, larval, pupa and the adult stage.

Once an egg hatches into a larvae, it then takes between 13 to 18 days to transform into a pupa.

“The larva is the most important stage for me because the larvae grow rapidly and can eat organic waste twice their weight daily,” Kimondo said.

The larvae is what is fed to livestock as it accumulates fats and proteins as it prepares for the pupa stage during which it is encased in a protective stage.

The black soldier fly has enabled Kimondo to feed the more than 500 Kenbro and Kuroiler varieties of chicken and over 50 pigs at minimal costs.

This has in turn raised his profits, enabling him to take care of himself and his parents.

“The black soldier larvae act like protein supplements which we mix with some little feeds for our pigs and poultry. They have helped us to drastically reduce our cost of production especially with the recent spiral of feeds prices,” he added.

Further, Kimondo noted that the insect provides a solution to the challenge of poor quality feeds available in the market. It also helps manage organic household waste by turning it into protein that is useful for livestock.

“Most households are forced to establish some sort of compost pit for kitchen waste. When you have black soldier fly, you don’t need to because they feed on the waste and help to keep your home tidy,” he said.

He said livestock require protein to develop and grow heavier within a short time which further increases a farmers’ returns.

With a kilogramme of protein supplements retailing at Sh200, Kimondo said black soldier fly farming is an opportunity farmers should explore.

An adult fly lays from 500 to 900 eggs in clusters when it is kept in a protected area with organic waste.

The eggs taken about five days to hatch into a larva that the takes about two weeks to turn into a pupa that then takes another two weeks to turn into an adult fly.

Kimondo explained that he harvests 70 percent of the larva to feed his poultry and pigs while 30 percent are retained for continuity.

An adult fly solely focuses on producing eggs and does not feed, relying heavily on the fats accumulated during its earlier stages.

His farming has attracted the attention of neighbors who have been visiting his farm for training and support.

“Now I’m able to earn an extra income from selling mature larvae at Sh300 per kilo, neonates at Sh500 per kilo and the pupa starter pack at Sh1500 per kilo to farmers”.

He urged youths to focus on engaging in income generating activities that are not capital intensive and which can help them become financially independent.