Martin Tenywa studied agriculture at the university and is now earning from growing mealworms, crickets and black soldier flies. He runs his rare enterprise in two locations, both near Gayaza, Wakiso district. The main farm is located at the Makerere University farm, Kabanyoro. He named his farm, Ento Organic Farm, Wakiso.
He takes us through how to keep black soldier flies;
Black soldier flies
At the farm Tenywa keeps black soldier flies, one of the enterprises that many other livestock farmers have embraced.
The structures are filled with nets full of flying wasp-like insects at the other end and different boxes filled with black soils.
On further scrutiny, these soils cover whitish larvae. It is these larvae that bring in the money.
“The nutritional content of these insects means you can make them an essential part of your chicken’s diet – and they might even help your flock grow better and lay better eggs,” Tenywa says.
Black soldier fly larvae are full of protein, fat and essential vitamins and minerals. Protein is essential to raising healthy hens and for feather growth.
A diet high in protein is also essential for excellent egg laying – so if your flock’s diet is low in protein, then they might lay abnormal eggs.
Tenywa feeds the larvae on kitchen waste, including rotting fruits and foods from markets.
“All that we do is pick this garbage from the markets and feed our insects.”
Tenywa explains that while no other people are keeping meal worms and crickets commercially, there are many farmers now keeping black soldier flies.
Process of breeding
Although the actual fly lives for only five-10 days, according to Tenywa, the actual process takes a 45-day life cycle, which is divided into four stages
Adult stage: An adult Black Soldier Fly has a lifespan of about five to nine days, where they lay between 600-800 eggs. The adults deposit their eggs near the decaying matter.
Egg stage: The eggs can be found around compost. They hatch out into larvae within about four days.
Larvae stage: The BSF larvae grow in the compost for 14 days, where they eat, excrete and convert waste.
“This is the best time for harvesting the larvae for feeding to livestock,” Tenywa says.
He explains that if the harvest is not done at this time, then the larvae will turn into a fly.
Pupa stage: From larvae, the BSF enters the pre-pupal stage for a week, and then into the pupa stage, where their nutritional content is at its peak.
“At this stage, they are taken into the nets where they finally turn into flies,” Tenywa says.
What are these insects?
According to Tenywa, the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is a member of the Stratiomyidae family and just about anyone in the US can raise them for their flock.
“It looks like a grey wasp (kalalankoma), but unlike the wasp, it is not aggressive at all,” he says.
This is surprising because most insects are considered pests and stingers. But inside Tenywa’s breeding house, these flies lazily fly around, both inside their nets and outside, without attacking those around.
In nature, they play an active role in the ecosystem by converting waste (such as discarded food) into valuable resources. Other advantages of Black Soldier Fly Larvae are:
- Are dry to touch (not slimy) and they don’t smell
- They are stingless so cannot harm humans
- They are not known to be carriers of diseases
