Black soldier flies, an affordable answer to animal feed
Aptly themed, Farming as a Business, the expo will give farmers and green enthusiasts some hacks to cut costs and reap bountifully at harvest.
The black soldier flies grow quickly, within a week, just like the lifecycle of an ordinary insect. (Photos by Miriam Namuteb)
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The Harvest Money Expo that is taking place at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds is truly an exciting place to be. There is no end to what you can learn about farming.
Aptly themed, Farming as a Business, the expo will give farmers and green enthusiasts some hacks to cut costs and reap bountifully at harvest. For example, students of Iganga Secondary School have demonstrated how to enrich feeds for poultry and animals using black soldier flies.
“We sell larvae and pupae to agricultural institutions for practical lessons. We also supply them to farmers as feeds for poultry, fish and pigs,” said Cindy Wanyanze, an S4 student at Iganga Secondary School.
The black soldier flies grow quickly, within a week, just like the lifecycle of an ordinary insect.
She explained that this means the larvae and pupae are quickly harvested, and animals get their feed rather fast.
Sponsored by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Engineering Solutions (ENGSOL), Tunga Nutrition, aBi, Pearl Bank and Uganda Development Corporation. Other sponsors are Heifer International, Roke Telecom, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).
At only sh10,000 as the entrance fee, the public is urged to visit the expo for learning in a fun environment, while an extra sh10,000 enables one to attend the training.