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The contribution of ‘chitoumou’, the edible caterpillar Cirina butyrospermi, to the food security of smallholder farmers in southwestern Burkina Faso

Author

Listed:
  • Charlotte L. R. Payne

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Athanase Badolo

    (Université Ouaga 1 JKZ)

  • Sioned Cox

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Bakary Sagnon

    (Université Ouaga 1 JKZ)

  • Darja Dobermann

    (Rothamsted Research)

  • Charlotte Milbank

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Pete Scarborough

    (University of Oxford)

  • Antoine Sanon

    (Université Ouaga 1 JKZ)

  • Fernand Bationo

    (Université Ouaga 1 JKZ)

  • Andrew Balmford

    (University of Cambridge)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Charlotte L. R. Payne & Athanase Badolo & Sioned Cox & Bakary Sagnon & Darja Dobermann & Charlotte Milbank & Pete Scarborough & Antoine Sanon & Fernand Bationo & Andrew Balmford, 2020. "The contribution of ‘chitoumou’, the edible caterpillar Cirina butyrospermi, to the food security of smallholder farmers in southwestern Burkina Faso," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 12(1), pages 221-234, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:12:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1007_s12571-019-00994-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-019-00994-z
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    1. Newton R. Matandirotya & Walter Leal Filho & Gaathier Mahed & Basil Maseko & Cleophas V. Murandu, 2022. "Edible Insects Consumption in Africa towards Environmental Health and Sustainable Food Systems: A Bibliometric Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-17, November.

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