In the midst of Ugandan farmers’ struggle with the soaring prices of fertiliser as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, help comes unexpectedly in the form of a black soldier fly (BSF), an insect whose stomach enzymes turn food waste into fertiliser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Peter Wakisi, a Ugandan villager and father of four, used to worry about his small farm and family when fertiliser prices went up. Now he has signed up for a programme run by Kampala-based Dutch start-up Marula Proteen Limited to breed and market BSF larvae whose excrement is used to feed crops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The manure from the waste generated by the BSF, mixed with organic waste and pig droppings, is safe to the soil and much cheaper compared to inorganic fertilisers whose prices increased due to the war between Russia and Ukraine. <\/p>
Organic fertilisers have reduced the expenses I used to incur on chemical fertilisers by almost 60 percent. My plants are healthier and yields are better now,<\/p>Peter Wakisi, Ugandan villager & farmer<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Wakisi told AFP<\/a> that he was able to rent a tractor and provide for his family, thanks to good yields and the triple profit from the larvae he buys, nurtures, and sells back to the scientists. He said that he has already stopped using chemical fertilisers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The program, Marula Proteen Hub, is in collaboration with Ugandan agricultural company Enimiro and is partially supported by the government of the Netherlands. Farmers are given BSF systems to rear the larvae<\/a>. The larvae then \u201ceat through waste collected from homes.\u201d After eight days, the mature larvae are sold or fed to the livestock, and the smallholder farmers may retain fertilisers for their gardens. Tommie Hooft, director of Marula Proteen Limited told AFP that the black soldier flies generate fertiliser that is rich in good bacteria, giving plants essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marula Proteen Limited does business with companies like Clarke Farms, a 1,500-acre coffee farm about 190 miles west of Kampala to sell its BSF fertilisers. To date, more than 1,200 Ugandan villagers<\/a> have benefited from the program. To assist with waste disposal, the start-up has also teamed up with the Kampala Capital City Authority. They gather 8 to 10 tonnes of trash every day from food markets and feed it to larvae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marula Proteen Hub had already been encouraging the farmers to utilise the BFS systems even before the Russia-Ukraine war<\/a> started. However, the seemingly repugnant nature of the whole process made the Ugandan farmers hesitant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wondered what they will think of me keeping maggots? Some, however, accepted. So they have been keeping those maggots from which we make animal feed and now, quality fertiliser too.<\/p>Abbey Lubega, Supervisor of Marula Proteen Hub in Kangulumira sub-county (source: Inter Press Service)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Harriet Nakayi lives in Namakandwa Parish and is one of the women who have received training<\/a> in the sustainable production of BSF larvae for animal proteins and frass fertiliser for crops. She uses compost and frass fertilisers for her coffee, banana and vanilla crops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n