(B)eat the locust will create resilient communities who can deal with desert locust outbreaks with a bottom-up approach. It will establish an insect value chain that can be scaled to process desert locusts into animal feed during an outbreak, and promote the use of biopesticides. This will not only answer the need to diversify the incomes of community members who are affected by desert locust invasions, but also creates opportunities for communities to advocate for environmentally friendly ways to control future outbreaks. The project targets mostly youth and women groups living in Marsabit, Samburu, Isiolo and Laikipia, in a three year partnership of IMPACT Kenya, Cordaid and ICIPE. The project envisages that when the locusts return to the country, communities will be able to harvest the protein rich insects and turn the plague into an opportunity. With the next invasion still being unclear when it will occur, the project also looks to identify, train and equip community based enterprenuers who will farm crickets, and linking them to existing markets.

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OUTCOMES

1. Biopesticides have been adopted through policy (county and national level) as the preferred mechanism for controlling Desert Locust Outbreaks in target communities.

2. Communities build livelihoods on insect value-chains.

3. Establishing Insect value chains for human and animal consumption

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