Socio economic characteristics of cricket farmers in Lake Victoria region of Kenya

Crickets require fewer inputs like water and feed but provide higher output per cubic unit of agricultural land compared to other livestock. They also contain important macro and micronutrients and therefore have potential to enhance a sustainable food and nutrition security for vulnerable families. Social-cultural systems and economic situations may shape the adoption of crickets as a mini-livestock among rural farm families in Kenya. An understanding of the socio-economic characteristics of practicing farmers in Kenya will enhance an understanding of the factors that shape the adoption of crickets as a mini-livestock among rural farm families and promote sustainable cricket production models in Kenya. This study determined the socio-economic status of cricket farmers in the Lake Victoria region of Kenya. Purposive sampling technique was used to select practicing cricket farmers. Data on age, income levels, and cricket farming experience, education, household size, land size and ownership was collected from interviews, focus group discussions and personal observations. Qualitative data on the socio-economic characteristics of cricket farmers were transcribed, coded, and analysed for emerging issues. The study results showed that the majority (71%), of the cricket farmers were females who were between the ages 30 and 49 years of age, had four years of experience in cricket farming and with secondary-level and primary education. The average household size of cricket farmers was 5–6 individuals. The cricket farmers also engaged in small-scale crop and livestock production with an average monthly income of approximately USD50. The study concludes that variations in socio-economic factors as well as socio-cultural insights affect the cricket farmer’s ability to uniformly adopt cricket farming innovations for optimised cricket production. The findings of this study should be considered during the implementation of strategies to upscale cricket farming in the Lake Victoria region of Kenya as well as in the rest of the country. More specifically, strategies as subsidized training, and a more comprehensive sensitization and follow-up to encourage more men into the venture, are required.