Pastoralist Women in Kenya Turn to Cricket Farming Amid Livestock Losses
Maasai Women Launch Sustainable Cricket Farms: In the arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya, pastoralist women like Rosemary Nenini have faced unprecedented challenges over the past few years. Droughts, urbanization, disease outbreaks, and cattle rustling have decimated livestock populations, leaving many families struggling to survive. According to Kenya’s National Drought Management Authority, 2.6 million livestock died between 2021 and 2023 in the ASAL (Arid and Semi-Arid Lands) region alone. This staggering loss has prompted women in these communities to explore alternative income sources.
Nenini, who hails from a long line of pastoralists, watched helplessly as her husband’s cattle succumbed to harsh conditions during the prolonged drought from 2020 to 2022. “I come from a pastoralist family,” she says. “My father had a lot of cattle, and I married into one too. I love cattle very much.” Yet, the realities of climate change and shifting land use have forced her and others to reconsider their traditional livelihoods.
The Shift Toward Cricket Farming
When cricket farming was introduced as an alternative, many were skeptical. For instance, Tonou Masaine, a 66-year-old Maasai woman and now a cricket farmer, recalls her initial reaction: “We were shocked when they came to teach us about crickets. What is this cricket? How will it help us?” Such skepticism stemmed partly from cultural beliefs that associated crickets with danger to livestock.
Jennifer Sintaloi, another cricket farmer from Laikipia County, explains how deeply ingrained those misconceptions were: “We believed crickets were bad luck. If they came near our homes, we thought they might kill our cattle. So, whenever we saw them, we killed them.” However, through intensive training provided by organizations such as Cordaid, IMPACT, and ICIPE, the women learned not only the economic potential but also the environmental sustainability of cricket farming.
Benefits of Cricket Farming for Pastoral Communities
Cricket farming offers several advantages over traditional livestock rearing. Unlike cattle, which require vast tracts of grazing land and significant water resources, crickets thrive in small spaces with minimal inputs. As Shaphan Chia, a research scientist at ICIPE, notes, “In drought situations, livestock producers in pastoral communities are severely affected. Cricket farming provides a safety net against such vulnerabilities.”
The process of raising crickets involves feeding them vegetables, maize flour, and chicken feed, while providing water via cotton wool soaked in water. Eggs are laid in the same moist environment, ensuring efficient reproduction. Moreover, crickets serve as a nutrient-rich food source, packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals, making them ideal for both human consumption and animal feed production.
For Nenini, the appeal lies in its simplicity: “Cricket rearing does not require a lot of land or movement. You don’t need to search for feed in forests. All you need is a shelter and some basic supplies.”
Challenges Facing Cricket Farming Adoption
Despite its promise, cricket farming still encounters hurdles. Cultural resistance remains a significant barrier, as many Kenyans remain hesitant to consume insects due to ingrained taboos. Additionally, there is limited awareness regarding the nutritional and environmental benefits of cricket-based products.
Efforts are underway to address these issues. Organizations involved in promoting cricket farming emphasize education and community engagement. By demonstrating the viability and profitability of cricket farming, they aim to shift perceptions and encourage broader adoption.
So far, 34 groups across various pastoral communities have been trained in cricket farming techniques. Each group receives rearing kits and support in establishing cricket farming facilities, empowering them to generate income sustainably.
A Sustainable Future for Pastoralist Women
As more women embrace cricket farming, the practice holds the potential to transform lives within pastoralist communities. It offers financial stability, reduces dependency on increasingly unreliable livestock, and aligns with global trends toward sustainable agriculture.
By integrating cricket farming into their daily routines, women like Nenini, Masaine, and Sintaloi are proving that adaptation can coexist with tradition. Their journey underscores the resilience of pastoralist communities and highlights the importance of innovative solutions in the face of adversity.
Ultimately, cricket farming represents more than just an alternative income source—it symbolizes hope for a brighter, more sustainable future.
