Zimbabwe farmers turn to maggot-Farming to survive the Climate Challenges

When experts first suggested maggot farming to farmers in Nyangambe, a drought-stricken region in southeastern Zimbabwe, the idea was met with skepticism and fear. For many, including Mari Choumumba, the association of flies with cholera outbreaks made breeding them unthinkable. However, the initiative, backed by Zimbabwe's government and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), aimed to introduce black soldier fly farming as a sustainable solution for animal feed and garden manure.

Photo source: AP News

“At first, we thought donors were bringing food aid after the pandemic,” recalls Choumumba. “But when we realized it was about maggot farming, most people rejected it, thinking all flies cause cholera.”

Fast forward a year, and Choumumba is now thriving. She manages a cement pit where black soldier fly larvae feed on rotting waste. Harvesting around 15 kilograms of maggots every 21 days, she processes them into protein-rich feed for her chickens, which she sells along with eggs to local restaurants and neighbors.

Photo source: The Detroit News

This innovative approach has slashed costs for rural farmers. Before maggot farming, feed accounted for 80% of chicken production expenses. According to USAID, these costs have dropped by 40%, making poultry farming more profitable and accessible.

The environmental benefits are significant as well. Choumumba explains, “Nothing goes to waste now. Corn leaves, banana peels, even kitchen scraps—we collect them to feed our maggots instead of littering the environment.”

Black soldier flies, whose larvae are the backbone of this venture, have a short life cycle but lay up to 900 eggs. The larvae transform organic waste into a protein source with 55–60% crude protein, making it a powerful alternative to traditional animal feed.

“This is a game changer,” says Professor Robert Musundire, an agricultural scientist and entomologist at Chinhoyi University of Technology. The university supports farmers with breeding techniques and promotes the adoption of maggot farming across Zimbabwe.

With low labor costs and high returns, black soldier fly farming is gaining traction as a climate-smart agricultural solution. Donors and governments across Africa are advocating for its adoption to address food insecurity and support sustainable farming practices amid worsening climate conditions.

What started as a daunting concept has turned into a lifeline for farmers like Choumumba, proving that even the unlikeliest ideas can bring hope and resilience to communities facing the harsh realities of climate change.