For Anthony Chege Migwi, an Information, Security and Forensic student at KCA university, the increased cost of protein animal feeds in the country is what prompted him to devise an alternative route that small scale farmers can use to lower their cost of production.

By converting organic waste, picked from food markets, into fast-growing, high-content-protein larvae of black soldier flies, which are eaten by pigs and chicken, farmers are able to reduce the cost of animal feed production by 30 percent thereby making them earn more from their toil.

According to Migwi, the innovation has helped provide the opportunity for smallholder farmers to shift towards a more reliable, profitable and ultimately more sustainable source of protein for their animals.

Renowned as being one of the most efficient waste recyclers of the insect world, Black soldier flies, unlike common houseflies, don’t have mouths and are incapable of transmitting deadly diseases, posing minimal risk to human or animal health. 

Using the innovation, Migwi told journalists that farmers who traditionally use fishmeal and soybean as protein sources for their animals which are scarcely sourced locally will be able to significantly reduce their production cost and ultimately make a better smile to the bank.

“This is a great innovation that is able to reduce the high cost of production among farmers especially at a time like this when everything is expensive. The larvae as feed supplements have the capacity to improve the income of smallholder farmers as their animals such as chicken are able to gain weight faster, translating to an increase in earnings by 20 percent,” he said.

Migwi hopes to use the innovation to create jobs among youths in the sprawling villages of Mathare, Lucky Summer and Baba Ndogo. After commercialization of the invention, the young innovator expressed interest to collaborate with industry heavy-weights to offer lasting solutions to farmers’ high production woes.

His innovation is among tens of others on display at KCA university’s second innovation week and industry summit themed leveraging on Academia-Industry linkages to foster sustainable innovations.

While launching the one-week event, the chairperson, Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital Prof. Olive Mugenga rooted the need to create synergies that will lead to ground-breaking solutions and address the most pressing social-economic challenges in the society.

Prof. Mugenda upheld the need for enhanced, strong collaborations between higher learning institutions and industries to promote students’ innovations and create jobs for the youth.

She underscored that linkages between innovative students and industry players will not only enable them to advance their innovative ideas but will also give them much-needed industrial exposure.

She added that the partnerships with industry players are key in unlocking the innovation potential of many learners in the country stating that through such linkages, innovations are honed and commercialized for the benefit of the country’s economy.

“All countries thrive because of innovations. When people see societal gaps and work towards filling them, our communities are able to live better. For students, such innovations cannot be effective unless they are linked with the relevant industry players for them to be better shaped to fit the needs therein,” said Mugenda.

She at the same time called on the government to create enough funds to support the innovators with capital to scale up the inventions for enhanced results.

On his part, Isiah Wakindiki, the KCA university Vice Chancellor and CEO revealed that the varsity will soon be launching a Sh 10 million grant to support the take-offs and facilitate further inventions.

“The innovators need capital and as a university we are set to become part of the growth. We will be launching a Sh 10 million grant to support our innovators to scale up their innovations to greater heights,” said Wakindiki.

Safaricom Technology and Innovation’s expert Andrew Musila revealed that the giant communication company has been and will continue to support inventors in the country

Musila noted that Safaricom which has sponsored the week-long event will continue to offer thought leadership and the required technology to the innovators to help them achieve their dreams with ease.

“We have supported various community initiatives before and are set to continue encouraging the innovators by offering them transformative technology to solve societal challenges in various facets,” he stated.

Ends…………./

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