| dc.description.abstract | Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae production is one of Uganda's fastest-growing insect
value chains, with the potential to lift 4.53 million people over the poverty line and
provide annual employment to up to 563,302 people. This study aimed to enhance the
BSF value chain by characterizing black soldier fly production practices, identifying
the preferred traits of black soldier fly larvae, and examining the factors influencing the
productivity of these larvae in selected Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZs) of Uganda. The
findings are intended to inform the design and implementation of a breeding program
focused on improving the production of black soldier fly larvae. A cross-sectional study
was conducted in which BSF farmer-households (n=83) from three agro-ecological
zones (AEZs), including North-Eastern Savannah Grasslands (ESG), Lake Victoria
Crescent (LVC), and Western Savannah Grassland (WSG), were interviewed using a
questionnaire with semi-structured and structured questions. The main production
objectives and traits preferred for potential genetic improvement were identified using
ranking approaches with a Likert scale ranging from 1 (not important) to 5 (most
important). Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data on socio-demographic
information, production practices, morphometric traits sampled, and production
challenges. The chi-square test examined the association between demographics and
other characteristics of farmers with the production objectives, practices, and preferred
BSF traits. Lastly, a linear regression model was used to determine factors affecting the
yield of black soldier fly larvae produced. Results indicate that the main production
objective for BSF farming was to feed farmers' own livestock, mostly poultry. Males | en_US |
