Over the past 20 years, the mopane harvests in Zimbabwe have been fluctuating, mainly due to climate change, deforestation, and early harves...
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Over the past 20 years, the mopane harvests in Zimbabwe have been fluctuating, mainly due to climate change, deforestation, and early harvesting for commercial purposes, have drastically reduced their numbers in the wild.
The population of Mopane worms (Gonimbrasia Belina), a source of protein for an estimated 2 billion people around the world, according to FAO is under threat in Zimbabwe.Climate change, deforestation, and early harvesting for commercial purposes, have drastically reduced their numbers in the wild. Locally, an estimated 100,000km² of mopane woodland, where Mopane worms breed and feed, is under threat.
In 2020-2021, there were unusual numbers, a decline of around 30 percent due to climate variability. Low harvests have deprived communities of protein and zinc. This leads to hunger, malnutrition and sources of income.
In 2020-2021, there were unusual numbers, a decline of around 30 percent due to climate variability. Low harvests have deprived communities of protein and zinc. This leads to hunger, malnutrition and sources of income.
To preserve the worm population, a farmer in arid Chiredzi established a mopane worm conservation farm in 2015. Since then, he has a consistent harvest of 20 kg a month, while preserving woodlots. The farmer said they release a portion of their caterpillars into the forest to turn into moths to maintain the species in the wild.
He also breeds crickets and trains farmers to share information about mopane worms. The farmer is the first of the known two in the country, and he is using his resources to run the farm.
According to an expert, Felix Matutu, from the Forestry Commission, there has been a local extinction in some areas, such as Matabeleland South. In some areas, Mopane worms are no longer there.
“There has been a local extinction in some areas, such as Matabeleland South. In some areas, Mopane worms are no longer there. In some years, for example in 2020-2021, we have experienced some unusual numbers. The numbers are inconsistent, but there has been a general decline of about 30 percent. The mopane areas have experienced climate variability, sometimes short drizzle that may affect mopane worms, including extreme weather conditions.”
But to try and preserve them, one farmer based in Chiredzi, to the southeast of the country, has established a mopane worm conservation farm. The venture, which started in 2015 seeks to increase supply, and safeguard the worms from unsustainable practices in the woodland, such as over-harvesting and deforestation.
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| Mopane Worms: In Zimbabwe, Climate Change Reduce Harvests |
“There has been a local extinction in some areas, such as Matabeleland South. In some areas, Mopane worms are no longer there. In some years, for example in 2020-2021, we have experienced some unusual numbers. The numbers are inconsistent, but there has been a general decline of about 30 percent. The mopane areas have experienced climate variability, sometimes short drizzle that may affect mopane worms, including extreme weather conditions.”
But to try and preserve them, one farmer based in Chiredzi, to the southeast of the country, has established a mopane worm conservation farm. The venture, which started in 2015 seeks to increase supply, and safeguard the worms from unsustainable practices in the woodland, such as over-harvesting and deforestation.
With dwindling harvests, indigenous communities who rely on the worms for food and business have been affected. “We release a portion of the caterpillars into the forest to turn into moths to maintain the species in the wild.”
With the training he got from a local college, the farmer now educates other farmers on sustainable ways of harvesting the worms. The farmer said they release a portion of their caterpillars into the forest to turn into moths to maintain the species in the wild. The mopane worms trade in Matabeleland South, another remote producing area, is estimated at USD $500,000 per year.
Another semi-domestication of mopane worms project was set up, according to Dr Lesley Macheka, the Director Innovation and Industrialization, Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology.
Another semi-domestication of mopane worms project was set up, according to Dr Lesley Macheka, the Director Innovation and Industrialization, Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology.
“It is high time we start thinking of semi-domestication of mopane worms to ensure sustainability and availability of mopane worms. I am happy to inform you that semi-domestication of mopane worms is already happening in the country, though still at a small scale.”
According to Dr Macheka, “It is high time we start thinking of semi-domestication of mopane worms to ensure sustainability and availability of mopane worms. I am happy to inform you that semi-domestication of mopane worms is already happening in the country, though still at a small scale.”
According to Dr Macheka, “It is high time we start thinking of semi-domestication of mopane worms to ensure sustainability and availability of mopane worms. I am happy to inform you that semi-domestication of mopane worms is already happening in the country, though still at a small scale.”
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