Mopane worm value chain in Zimbabwe: Evidence on knowledge, practices, and processes in Gwanda District

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 17; no. 12; p. e0278230
• Main Authors: Manditsera, Faith A, Mubaiwa, Juliet, Matsungo, Tonderayi M, Chopera, Prosper, Bhatasara, Sandra, Kembo, George, Mahlatini, Honest, Matiza Ruzengwe, Faith, Matutu, Felix, Grigor, John, Fiore, Alberto, Macheka, Lesley
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 05-12-2022; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Animals; Biology and Life Sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data collection; Dietary minerals; Ecology and Environmental Sciences; Edible Insects; Entomophagy; Fabaceae; Food; Food processing; Food sources; Genetic aspects; Harvesters; Harvesting; Health aspects; Households; Humans; Identification and classification; Indigenous knowledge; Information processing; Insects; Insects as food; Knowledge; Medicine and Health Sciences; Nutrition; People and Places; Physical Sciences; Population; Proteins; Rural areas; Rural Population; Social aspects; Social Sciences; Standardization; Value chain; Value engineering; Worms; Zimbabwe; Zimbabwe; Matabeleland
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278230

Consumption of edible insects is a potential solution to the growing need for protein. However, the wild harvested edible insects' value chain faces several challenges including limited knowledge on indigenous practices in the harvesting and processing and lack of information on roles of the different actors in the chain. A case study of Gonimbrasia belina, colloquially referred to as the 'mopane worm', was conducted to understand and identify determinants of participation in the value chain of the edible caterpillar. A cross sectional study was conducted in Gwanda (a rural district in Zimbabwe) to (a) understand the indigenous knowledge on harvesting and processing methods, (b) explore value addition and the traditional beliefs surrounding the utilisation of the mopane worm. Results showed that consumers (81.7%), and harvesters (76.6%) were the main actors in the mopane worm value chain. Using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model, the following were shown to be determinants of participation in the mopane worm value chain: (a) gender (b) household size (c) marital status (d) religion and (e) household assets. Two primary processing methods of harvested mopane worm were distinguished i.e., boiling and roasting on ambers. Results showed lack of diversity in mopane worm-based products. Current culturally acceptable processing techniques need improvement and standardization to support sustainable mopane worm processing while optimising nutrient bio-accessibility.