Turning a Locust Invasion Into a Fertilizer Boon

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Metadata

Author: Joseph Maina
Full Title: Turning a Locust Invasion Into a Fertilizer Boon
Category: articles
URL: https://modernfarmer.com/2023/03/turning-a-locust-invasion-into-a-fertilizer-boon/

Through community mobilization and partnerships, TBP came up with an innovative program to harvest and convert desert locusts into compost manure using a rudimentary process of milling and composting. In addition to the desert locust biofertilizer, the company and partners also devised eight animal feed formulations using desert locusts as a base. (View Highlight)
In the model adopted by TBP, community members receive payment for every scoop of desert locusts they collect, earning Ksh 50 ($0.46) per kg, making it a win-win for both the fertilizer manufacturer and affected communities. (View Highlight)
Increasing soil fertility is just one of the aims of the TBP’s project. The hope, according to Stanford, is that boosting nitrogen levels could actually discourage future locust swarms. “This approach would ultimately deter future swarms as locusts are attracted to areas with low nitrogen levels in their soil; that is, overgrazed areas,” she said. (View Highlight)