Like many of us, Jannifer Muthike had a vision of who she wanted to be when she grew up. She wanted to join the Air Force and become a pilot.
However, in 2012, this vision evolved drastically when she was admitted to Moi University, not to pursue an aviation-related course, but instead to pursue a degree in entomology and parasitology.
“I had no idea what that even meant,” she says. “I just remember thinking, how did I go from fighter jets to studying about parasites?” she said in an interview with Business Daily.
Entomology and parasitology entail the scientific study of insects and parasites. Predictably, she was not impressed with the course. “Initially, I didn’t want it. I tried switching courses and even universities, but nothing worked,” she said.
Finally, she accepted her fate. Little did she know that she had embarked on a path that would open the gates of self-employment for her and change her life forever.
After graduating in 2017, she delved into the world of large-scale insect farming, where she was mentored by an agripreneur. A year later, she decided to dive fully into the business by enrolling at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology to study insect farming.
Upon completing the course, she started her own insect farming venture at her grandmother’s house. Within a year, she was attracting clients from all over the country and even from countries like Rwanda and Uganda.
Scaling The Business
In 2020, Muthike decided to scale her venture by investing Sh 700,000 into the business, naming her insect farm Dudumasters. The farm, which hosts 35 insect rearing beds, is located in Kutus, Kirinyaga County.
There, she rears various species of insects, with the main ones being red worms and black soldier flies.
Currently, the farm produces at least 5 tons of vermicompost weekly, which Jennifer sells for sh 50 a kilo. On a good week, she makes as much as sh 250,000 – earning more than some corporate executives.
Vermicompost is a nutrient-rich organic fertilizer produced by worms as they break down biodegradable waste like food scraps and plant matter into a dark, crumbly substance called vermicast. This process enhances the material with enzymes, microbes, and essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, improving soil structure, water retention, and plant growth.
A typical day at the farm starts with Jennifer and her workers collecting biodegradable waste from surrounding farms.
“We also collect market waste from the Kutus Market. But not just any waste —we’ve trained farmers on how to preserve waste that is suitable for us,” explained the 29-year-old.
The waste is then packaged into rearing beds, whereby either red worms or black soldier fly eggs are added. Within 21 days, the waste will usually have been vermicomposted into a nutrient-rich waste.
The mature maggots are then harvested, dried, and sold as high-protein animal feed. The nutrient-rich waste, which is now essentially fertilizer, is packaged into 50 kg bags and sold for sh 2500 per bag.
“We also sell eggs to farmers looking to set up small units at home. A 10-gramme pack sells for Sh2,500,” said Jennifer. Her biggest challenge is marketing the products to clients, as many people are skeptical about insect-based products.
For farmers seeking to start the venture, Jennifer advises them to invest about sh 35,000 into acquiring a small-scale starter kit, which includes a cage and stand pre-populated with insects.
With this investment, she estimates that a farmer can harvest at least 10 kg of insect protein and 35 kg of organic fertilizer weekly. Her plan is to scale up and set up 100 satellite units across the country.