Promoting BSF technology as a sustainable alternative among farmers

In their stride to promote sustainable agriculture practices among farmers, the University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), a partner of the BSF for Bio Circular Economy and Environmental Sustainability (BBEST) led by IITA, organized a workshop on rearing black soldier fly (BSF) in Kinshasa in DRC. The three-day training from 29 to 31 July aimed to equip agripreneurs to produce BSF and its larvae and incorporate it into quail, chicken, fish, and pig feed.

In his welcome address, Prof. Patrick Mafwila gave an overview of the chicken, fish, and pig feed and organic fertilizer value chain development using BSF-based urban biowaste processing in Ghana, Mali, Niger, and DRC, funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), highlighting the various experiments carried out on animals including quails, chickens, fish, and pigs.

Joel Mangana highlighted the overall and specific objectives of the BBEST project. His presentation focused on BSF production, explaining to the participants the need for using organic waste in the fly's diet. He also specified the need to allocate space for the rearing, with all the possible equipment, including the black cages, the nesting boxes, mosquito nets, and shelves. He elaborated on the elements conducive to successful breeding, such as temperature, light, and the quality of the organic waste. He emphasized the fly's life cycle and the importance of rearing it.

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