Scarcity of white ants hits Western region

By Grace Wekesa

An acute shortage of white ants has hit Western region and locals are straining to replace the delicacy with other foods.

The persistent scarcity experienced in major parts of the province has been blamed on erratic weather patterns, which has forced the insects to hibernate.

Climate change has contributed to the insects not coming out of the ground in the months they are expected to appear.

The ants usually come out after rains begin to pound the area following a dry weather spell.

According to Feneas Mulala, the Western Provincial director of veterinary services,  the region has experienced unpredictable cold weather this year, forcing the insects to stay unusually longer underground.

“The white ants like warm weather, the region has experienced cold weather throughout because of persistent rains, which has forced the insects to remain in the soil,” said Dr Mulala adding: “This is the core reason you cannot find white ants in Limuru where weather conditions are extremely cold throughout the year.

High demand

Mulala reiterated that other insects, which live in the soil like termites also hide during cold weather until the climate changes.

 As a result of the scarcity of the highly nutritious insects, prices have skyrocketed due to increased demand.

Traders are experiencing short supply in a region where the insects come out in plenty.

In Kakamega County, Patrick Abukutsa, who trades in the insects says the prices are ranging between Sh200 and Sh250 per small tea cup.

Abukutsa  told The County Weekly that he was getting only little supplies from the outskirts of the town, which could not meet the demand.

He said  the white ants were scarce because of the rains but he is optimistic that the insects will be in plenty when sunshine resumes next month.

“Demand for white ants is so high that I cannot satisfy my customers, some who are in Nairobi,’’ he says.

However, the businessman said they are expecting the insects to come out of the ground in October at the beginning of short rains season.

Currently, most markets do not have the insects.

Vibrating drums

White ants are sometime eaten raw or fried to make them more delicious.

Residents of Western and Nyanza regions eat the insects. Scientists are currently carrying out  experiments aimed at  increasing the breeding of white ants throughout the year to meet the increasing demand.

The insects are nutritious having a good store of fat, iron and proteins, and are tasty when cooked.

Abukutsa points out that most buyers of the commodity are people living with HIV/Aids  and those with anaemia.

It is believed that a white ant neutralises white blood cells for the people living with HIV/Aids and they prolong their lives.

He also says the white ants cannot be compared to meat proteins as the cows are often injected thus weakening their protein contents but the insects’ proteins are pure.

The trader believes that mankind must have tampered with the nature leading to the white ants scarcity because this year they were harvested at the end of July.

Another reason that might have contributed to the insects being scarce, he explains,  is that most of the bushes where the insects like to stay  have been cleared by man making it difficult to get them.

Additionally, he says farmers’ nowadays use ammonium fertilizer during top dressing and that must have killed the white ants inside the ground.

The insects also increase one’s lifetime when often eaten and they lack cholesterol.

Oil is not necessary when cooking them because their bodies are naturally high in fat.

Past generations resisted diseases because they ate such kinds of foods.

They can be eaten with ugali or taken with tea. 

In many parts of Busia, Teso and Bungoma areas residents beat vibrating drums to entice the insects to come out of the ground.