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The Effect of Cultural Factors on the Consumption of Consumable Insects: Evidence from Rural Southwestern Uganda

Received: 30 November 2023     Accepted: 21 December 2023     Published: 14 June 2024
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Abstract

Consumable insects are an important part of human food systems and their consumption across diverse cultures dates back into the pre-historical period. This study assessed the effect of cultural factors on the consumption of consumable insects in the Kiruhura district of southwestern Uganda. The study employed a post-positivism research paradigm (mixed methodology) in a cross-sectional survey. The survey was conducted across 134 households in the Kiruhura district of South-western Uganda between January and June 2021 using a self-administered questionnaire and interview guide. Results show that member attitude and perceptions, cultural beliefs, and values were significant drivers of eating insects, particularly grasshoppers in the Kiruhura district. The findings of the study imply that the eating of insects in the area could be enhanced by educating and raising awareness about the importance of utilizing insects as a source of food. More program support that integrates rearing of insects within the household farming system could increase availability and sustainable use of seasonal consumable insects as nutritious food presents great implications for policies targeting dietary interventions.

Published in International Journal of Sustainable Development Research (Volume 10, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20241002.13
Page(s) 65-70
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Consumable Insects, Cultural Determinants, Entomophagy, Uganda

References
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[3] Chang, H.-P., Ma, C.-C., & Chen, H.-S. (2019). Climate change and consumer’s attitude toward insect food. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(9), 1606.
[4] Ghosh, S., Jung, C., & Meyer-Rochow, V. (2019). What governs the selection and acceptance of consumable insects. Consumable Insects Sustain. Food Syst, 1-479.
[5] Kinyuru, J. N., Konyole, S. O., Roos, N., Onyango, C. A., Owino, V. O., Owuor, B. O., Kenji, G. M. (2013). Nutrient composition of four species of winged termites consumed in western Kenya. Journal of food composition and analysis, 30(2), 120-124.
[6] Kinyuru, J. N., Nyangena, D., Kamau, E., Ndiritu, A., Muniu, J., Kipkoech, C., Mmari, M. (2018). The role of consumable insects in diets and nutrition in East Africa. In Consumable insects in sustainable food systems (pp. 93-108): Springer.
[7] Köhler, R., Irias-Mata, A., Ramandey, E., Purwestri, R., & Biesalski, H. K. (2020). Nutrient composition of the Indonesian sago grub (Rhynchophorus bilineatus). International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 40(3), 677-686.
[8] Liu, A.-J., Li, J., & Gómez, M. I. (2020). Factors influencing consumption of consumable insects for Chinese consumers. Insects, 11(1), 10.
[9] Manditsera, F. A., Lakemond, C. M., Fogliano, V., Zvidzai, C. J., & Luning, P. A. (2018). Consumption patterns of consumable insects in rural and urban areas of Zimbabwe: taste, nutritional value, and availability are key elements for keeping the insect-eating habit. Food Security, 10(3), 561-570.
[10] Mariod, A. A. (2020). African consumable insects as an alternative source of food, oil, protein and bioactive components: Springer Nature.
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[12] Mmari, M. W., Kinyuru, J. N., Laswai, H. S., & Okoth, J. K. (2017). Traditions, beliefs, and indigenous technologies in connection with the consumable longhorn grasshopper Ruspolia different (Serville 1838) in Tanzania. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine, 13(1), 1-11.
[13] Mugizi, F. M., & Matsumoto, T. J. E. E. (2021). A curse or a blessing? Population pressure and soil quality in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from rural Uganda. 179, 106851.
[14] Odongo, W., Okia, C., Nalika, N., Nzabamwita, P., Ndimubandi, J., & Nyeko, P. (2018). Marketing of consumable insects in Lake Victoria basin: the case of Uganda and Burundi. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, 4(4), 285-293.
[15] Okia, C., Odongo, W., Nzabamwita, P., Ndimubandi, J., Nalika, N., Nyeko, P. J. J. o. I. a. F., & Feed. (2017). Local knowledge and practices on use and management of consumable insects in Lake Victoria basin, East Africa. 3(2), 83-93.
[16] Olum, S., Wesana, J., Mawadri, J., Nakiranda, J. K., & Odongo, W. (2020). Insects as food: Illuminating the food neophobia and socio-cultural dynamics of insect consumption in Uganda. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 1-10.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Akandwanaho, I., Mukhebi, A. W., Kalibwani, R., Nuwemuhwezi, G., Obel-Ogor, C., et al. (2024). The Effect of Cultural Factors on the Consumption of Consumable Insects: Evidence from Rural Southwestern Uganda. International Journal of Sustainable Development Research, 10(2), 65-70. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20241002.13

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    ACS Style

    Akandwanaho, I.; Mukhebi, A. W.; Kalibwani, R.; Nuwemuhwezi, G.; Obel-Ogor, C., et al. The Effect of Cultural Factors on the Consumption of Consumable Insects: Evidence from Rural Southwestern Uganda. Int. J. Sustain. Dev. Res. 2024, 10(2), 65-70. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20241002.13

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    AMA Style

    Akandwanaho I, Mukhebi AW, Kalibwani R, Nuwemuhwezi G, Obel-Ogor C, et al. The Effect of Cultural Factors on the Consumption of Consumable Insects: Evidence from Rural Southwestern Uganda. Int J Sustain Dev Res. 2024;10(2):65-70. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20241002.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijsdr.20241002.13,
      author = {Isaac Akandwanaho and Adrian Wekulo Mukhebi and Rebecca Kalibwani and Gershom Nuwemuhwezi and Christopher Obel-Ogor and Donald Rugira Kugonza},
      title = {The Effect of Cultural Factors on the Consumption of Consumable Insects: Evidence from Rural Southwestern Uganda
    },
      journal = {International Journal of Sustainable Development Research},
      volume = {10},
      number = {2},
      pages = {65-70},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijsdr.20241002.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20241002.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsdr.20241002.13},
      abstract = {Consumable insects are an important part of human food systems and their consumption across diverse cultures dates back into the pre-historical period. This study assessed the effect of cultural factors on the consumption of consumable insects in the Kiruhura district of southwestern Uganda. The study employed a post-positivism research paradigm (mixed methodology) in a cross-sectional survey. The survey was conducted across 134 households in the Kiruhura district of South-western Uganda between January and June 2021 using a self-administered questionnaire and interview guide. Results show that member attitude and perceptions, cultural beliefs, and values were significant drivers of eating insects, particularly grasshoppers in the Kiruhura district. The findings of the study imply that the eating of insects in the area could be enhanced by educating and raising awareness about the importance of utilizing insects as a source of food. More program support that integrates rearing of insects within the household farming system could increase availability and sustainable use of seasonal consumable insects as nutritious food presents great implications for policies targeting dietary interventions.
    },
     year = {2024}
    }
    

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    T1  - The Effect of Cultural Factors on the Consumption of Consumable Insects: Evidence from Rural Southwestern Uganda
    
    AU  - Isaac Akandwanaho
    AU  - Adrian Wekulo Mukhebi
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    AB  - Consumable insects are an important part of human food systems and their consumption across diverse cultures dates back into the pre-historical period. This study assessed the effect of cultural factors on the consumption of consumable insects in the Kiruhura district of southwestern Uganda. The study employed a post-positivism research paradigm (mixed methodology) in a cross-sectional survey. The survey was conducted across 134 households in the Kiruhura district of South-western Uganda between January and June 2021 using a self-administered questionnaire and interview guide. Results show that member attitude and perceptions, cultural beliefs, and values were significant drivers of eating insects, particularly grasshoppers in the Kiruhura district. The findings of the study imply that the eating of insects in the area could be enhanced by educating and raising awareness about the importance of utilizing insects as a source of food. More program support that integrates rearing of insects within the household farming system could increase availability and sustainable use of seasonal consumable insects as nutritious food presents great implications for policies targeting dietary interventions.
    
    VL  - 10
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Author Information
  • School of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Bondo, Kenya

  • School of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Bondo, Kenya

  • Faculty of Agriculture, Environmental Sciences and Technology, Bishop Stuart University, Mbarara, Uganda

  • Faculty of Agriculture, Environmental Sciences and Technology, Bishop Stuart University, Mbarara, Uganda

  • School of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Bondo, Kenya

  • School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

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