Paper Contents
Abstract
Edible insects are highly rich and healthy food sources of protein, fat, vitamins, fibre and mineral content, which provide a valuable source of nutrition for the human body. This study investigates the diversity, importance and challenges of edible insect consumption in Ekiti State. Four local government areas were selected from the ecological zone and one village was selected from each LGA. Structured questionnaires were administered to thirty (30) respondents in each of the four selected villages. The result revealed that the majority of the respondents (65%) are married, 65% are male and 72.5% are below the age of 41 years, with farming as the major occupation of the respondents (45%). Eight insect species were consumed by the respondents in the study area; Imbrasia belina, Macrotermes bellicosus, Macrotermes natalensis, Apis mellifera, Oryctes boas, Rhynchophorus phoenicis, Zonocerus variegatus and Bombyx mori. Rhynchophorus phoenicis was identified as the most consumed insect in the study area. The result also revealed that 53% of the respondents consume edible insects as an alternative to meat, 26% consume insects as food and 4% use them for medicinal purposes. The respondents in the study area faced significant challenges such as inadequate storage facilities, limited awareness of their nutritional benefits, and seasonal availability.The study recommends that awareness should be created on modern techniques for processing and storage to enhance their shelf life.
Copyright
Copyright © 2025 Ayotunde-Ojo, Moyo Odunayo. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.
