The contribution of ‘chitoumou’, the edible caterpillar Cirina butyrospermi, to the food security of smallholder farmers in southwestern Burkina Faso
2020
E14824
Details
Title
The contribution of ‘chitoumou’, the edible caterpillar Cirina butyrospermi, to the food security of smallholder farmers in southwestern Burkina Faso
Author
Payne, Charlotte L. R.
Badolo, Athanase
Cox, Sioned
Sagnon, Bakary
Dobermann, Darja
Milbank, Charlotte
Scarborough, Pete
Sanon, Antoine
Bationo, Fernand
Balmford, Andrew
Badolo, Athanase
Cox, Sioned
Sagnon, Bakary
Dobermann, Darja
Milbank, Charlotte
Scarborough, Pete
Sanon, Antoine
Bationo, Fernand
Balmford, Andrew
Publication Date
2020
Call Number
E14824
Summary
Edible insects have been advocated as a means to combat food insecurity, which is prevalent in West Africa. In this study we look at the contribution of the shea caterpillar Cirina butyrospermi, colloquially known as ‘chitoumou’, to the food security of smallholder households in rural southwestern Burkina Faso. We used a mixed methods approach to understand the relationship between caterpillar collection, consumption, and sale by smallholder households, and their seasonal food security status. We found that caterpillars are an important source of food and income for households, significantly increasing the household consumption of animal protein and, with shea nuts, representing the main income source for the majority of women. We also found that food security is higher during caterpillar season, and that household-level food security during this season can be predicted by the amount of caterpillars collected, consumed and sold. However, this relationship holds only during the caterpillar season, suggesting that the positive impact of caterpillars on food security is temporally limited. We conclude that the shea caterpillar is an example of an edible insect that is crucial for seasonal food security in a widespread agricultural system.
Journal Citation
12:221-234, FOOD SECURITY
Contact Information
harvest@worldveg.org
Record Appears in
Research > Published Articles