Promoting insect farming and household consumption through agricultural training and nutrition education in Africa: A study protocol for a multisite cluster-randomized controlled trial
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Promoting insect farming and household consumption through agricultural training and nutrition education in Africa : A study protocol for a multisite cluster-randomized controlled trial. / Alemu, Mohammed Hussen; Halloran, Afton; Olsen, Søren Bøye; Anankware, Jacob Paarechuga ; Nyeko, Philip ; Ayieko, Monica ; Nyakeri, Evans ; Kinyuru, John; Konyole, Silvenus ; Niassy, Saliou ; Egonyu, James Peter; Malinga, Geoffrey Maxwell ; Ng’ang’a, Jeremiah ; Ng’ong’a, Charles Adino ; Okeyo, Nicky ; Debrah, Shadrack Kwaku ; Kiiru, Samuel; Acur, Amos; Roos, Nanna.
In: PLoS ONE, Vol. 18, No. 7, e0288870, 2023.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Promoting insect farming and household consumption through agricultural training and nutrition education in Africa
T2 - A study protocol for a multisite cluster-randomized controlled trial
AU - Alemu, Mohammed Hussen
AU - Halloran, Afton
AU - Olsen, Søren Bøye
AU - Anankware, Jacob Paarechuga
AU - Nyeko, Philip
AU - Ayieko, Monica
AU - Nyakeri, Evans
AU - Kinyuru, John
AU - Konyole, Silvenus
AU - Niassy, Saliou
AU - Egonyu, James Peter
AU - Malinga, Geoffrey Maxwell
AU - Ng’ang’a, Jeremiah
AU - Ng’ong’a, Charles Adino
AU - Okeyo, Nicky
AU - Debrah, Shadrack Kwaku
AU - Kiiru, Samuel
AU - Acur, Amos
AU - Roos, Nanna
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - BackgroundEdible insects are a sustainable source of high-quality animal protein. Insect farming is gaining interest globally, particularly in low-income countries, where it may provide substantial nutritional and economic benefits. To enhance insect farming practices in Africa, new farming systems are being developed. However, knowledge on how to best promote uptake of these systems is lacking. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the effectiveness of educational interventions in promoting insect farming for household consumption in Africa.MethodThe study is designed as a multi-site randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impacts of agricultural training alone or in combination with nutrition education on the adoption of insect farming in Ghana, Kenya and Uganda. In each of the three countries, ninety-nine villages are randomly assigned to one of three arms: two intervention arms and a control arm with no interventions. Focusing on production (P), the first intervention arm covers agricultural training on insect farming combined with provision of insect production starter kits. Focusing on both production and consumption (PC), the second intervention arm involves the same intervention components as treatment P plus additional nutrition education. The impacts of the interventions are measured by comparing baseline and endline data collected one year apart. Primary outcomes are adoption of insect farming and consumption of the farmed insects.DiscussionUnderstanding the drivers and impacts of novel agricultural practices is crucial for transitioning to sustainable food systems. The current project is the first to investigate how educational interventions promote insect farming for household consumption in low-income countries. The results will contribute evidence-based knowledge to support sustainable development through insect farming in Africa.Trial registrationThe protocol is registered in the American Economic Association registry for randomized control trials with registration number AEARCTR-0009996. Initial registration date: 02 September 2022, last updated 17 May 2023.
AB - BackgroundEdible insects are a sustainable source of high-quality animal protein. Insect farming is gaining interest globally, particularly in low-income countries, where it may provide substantial nutritional and economic benefits. To enhance insect farming practices in Africa, new farming systems are being developed. However, knowledge on how to best promote uptake of these systems is lacking. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the effectiveness of educational interventions in promoting insect farming for household consumption in Africa.MethodThe study is designed as a multi-site randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impacts of agricultural training alone or in combination with nutrition education on the adoption of insect farming in Ghana, Kenya and Uganda. In each of the three countries, ninety-nine villages are randomly assigned to one of three arms: two intervention arms and a control arm with no interventions. Focusing on production (P), the first intervention arm covers agricultural training on insect farming combined with provision of insect production starter kits. Focusing on both production and consumption (PC), the second intervention arm involves the same intervention components as treatment P plus additional nutrition education. The impacts of the interventions are measured by comparing baseline and endline data collected one year apart. Primary outcomes are adoption of insect farming and consumption of the farmed insects.DiscussionUnderstanding the drivers and impacts of novel agricultural practices is crucial for transitioning to sustainable food systems. The current project is the first to investigate how educational interventions promote insect farming for household consumption in low-income countries. The results will contribute evidence-based knowledge to support sustainable development through insect farming in Africa.Trial registrationThe protocol is registered in the American Economic Association registry for randomized control trials with registration number AEARCTR-0009996. Initial registration date: 02 September 2022, last updated 17 May 2023.
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0288870
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0288870
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 37467293
VL - 18
JO - PLoS ONE
JF - PLoS ONE
SN - 1932-6203
IS - 7
M1 - e0288870
ER -
ID: 360330694