Evaluation of the harvesting and marketing of mopane worms and its effect on the income and dietary diversity of households: A case study of Mwenezi District, Zimbabwe

Abstract

For centuries, nontimber forest products have been key aspects of household diets throughout the world. In Southern Africa, mopane worms are widely harvested for household consumption and traded for income generation at the same time contributing immensely to household food security. This study evaluated the harvesting and marketing of mopane worms and its’ effects on household income levels and household dietary diversity in Mwenezi district, Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe. The research was conducted in the 15 villages of ward 15 of Mwenezi District. The study employed qualitative methods to collect data and included semi-structured household interviews. The respondents were identified through snowball sampling techniques. The significance of mopane worms in the study area is three-fold: it is an important source of food, it is a valuable trading commodity, and it is an intrinsic part of local cultural practices. The findings of this study indicated that the historical value placed on mopane worms as a food source and trading commodity had been passed down for generations. The most prominent method of mopane harvesting is shaking of the trees for the worms to fall then pick into sacks and baskets. The least method is cutting down of the trees. The main harvesting period when the mopane worm is fully matured is normally from February to March. Women constitute the majority who do the harvesting of the worms with the least done by boys. Women and girls are mainly responsible for processing of the worms including drying. Most of the mopane worm harvesters sell locally to mainly the middlemen as this have the minimum possible marketing costs. Most of the mopane harvesters are price takers as the marketing options are limited by transport network and availability to access high value markets. The average price off taker price is ZAR300/ bucket. The incomes from the sale of mopane worms ranged from ZAR300 to ZAR4800 and an average ZAR2409 per season. Mopane worm harvester have comparatively higher incomes when compared to none- harvesters and the differences in income levels are statistically significant. The dietary diversities of those harvesting mopane worms are generally higher than the non- harvesters. Mopane harvesters have more meal frequencies when compared to non- harvesters. Mopane harvesters employ lesser number of coping strategies in response to shortages of food at household level. There is need to develop policies that help educate the community with regards to utilisation of natural resources to avoid depletion of the mopane parent stock. In addition, mopane worm harvesters need to be trained on marketing, financial inclusion, value addition and environmental protection issues. Keywords: Nontimber forest products, employment, food security, household dietary diversity, income, mopane worms.