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A grasshopper seen on a branch
There has been a bumper harvest of grasshoppers in the Giyani area in Limpopo. Some locals are selling the grasshoppers to customers around the area as well as in other provinces.
People catch the grasshoppers, pre-cook them before being sold and sent to customers by courier.
Grasshoppers are liked for their nutritional value, including high levels of protein, calcium and vitamin B.
One of the people who earn a living from catching grasshoppers at Mageva village, Mishack “Tshinya Vantshwa” Pilusa says, “I am a traditionalist. When I go into the bushes to search for wood, I also catch grasshoppers to cook at home. I then started posting my meals on social media and people began contacting me, asking if I could catch some for them. That is when I noticed there was a huge demand. I saw an opportunity to make a living from this. It was from that point that people from different parts of the country started requesting my services through social media.”
A scientist from Stellenbosch University, Dr Barbara van Asch, says insects such as grasshoppers can play an important role in food security.
“I believe that insects will play a very important role in the future of food security and nutrition because they can be produced in a much more efficient way compared to conventional cattle. So, the identification of the diversity of edible grasshoppers that we have in South Africa is just the first step,” adds Van Asch.
Video| Bumper harvest of grasshoppers in Giyani:
