Grasshopper Harvest 'Booming Business' Effects on the Ecosystems

Grasshoppers are a delicacy in northern Nigeria, and business is booming. But authorities are questioning if the way the insects are harvested makes them unsafe to eat.

"Grasshoppers are not only consumed in Katsina but in other places like Kano, Kaduna, Abuja, Lagos and other cities in Nigeria.

"Beyond that, thousands of bags of grasshoppers delivered to Katsina from Niger Republic and nearby bushes around Katsina are processed for export to England, America, Saudi Arabia and other African countries such as Cameroon, Ghana and Central Africa Republic, Daily Trust reports.

Grasshopper business in Nigeria is gradually becoming a highly lucrative business in parts of northern Nigeria as the insect is fast becoming a sought-after tasty delicacy and delicious snack consumed in northern states such as Katsina, Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Jos, FCT, even Lagos and beyond.

Grasshoppers are tropical insects, which pose great danger to farmers, because they feed on plants, grasses and crops in tropical, semi-arid regions or any other areas that are favourable to their existence.

According to Businessgist, "As dangerous as grasshopper is to farming, it is seen as a goldmine for some, as it is a sought-after commodity for residents of Borno, Katsina, Kaduna, and other places. Grasshopper is a delicious delicacy in northern Nigeria, and the grasshopper business is booming over there".

Grasshopper business is a venture that arrests the attention of many food entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

The grasshopper benefits humans and the ecosystem in general by facilitating plant decomposition and regrowth, creating a balance between the types of plants that thrive.?

Despite their small size, grasshoppers consume enough plant life to influence the types of plants that subsequently grow.

Grasshoppers play a significant role in various ecosystems and have both direct and indirect economic importance.?

As herbivores, they contribute to the natural balance of plant populations by consuming vegetation, which can impact the growth and distribution of plant species.

Grasshoppers are a sustainable protein source, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 99%, water consumption 1,000-fold, and arable land usage 1,500-fold, all while providing an ingredient with over 70% whole protein.”

Most grasshopper species play a central role in food webs, both as consumers and as prey. Herbivory by grasshoppers is an essential ecosystem function and speeds up the flow of energy and cycling of nutrients from plants.

They create nutrients by breaking down plants, fertilizing the soil with their feces and facilitating plant growth.They hunt small plant pests.? It inhibits plant growth and prevents congestion and death.

The primary injury caused by grasshoppers is defoliation, as they consume and clip foliage as they feed.

Grasshoppers also cause direct crop losses by feeding on ripening grain. With favorable, warm dry climatic conditions, grasshoppers can hatch and mature two to four weeks earlier than normal. They hunt small plant pests.?

Grasshoppers have chewing mouthparts that tear away plant tissue. Grasshopper injury is most often associated with rangeland, corn, small grains, and vegetable crops.

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