Household Decisions on the Consumption of Edible Termites in the Vhembe District of South Africa

Zitha Ntokozo Blessing (), Senyolo Grany Mmatsatsi and Netshifhefhez Shandukani Rudolf
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Zitha Ntokozo Blessing: Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa
Senyolo Grany Mmatsatsi: Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa
Netshifhefhez Shandukani Rudolf: Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa

Journal of Agribusiness and Rural Development, 2024, vol. 72, issue 2, 218-224

Abstract: This paper aims to identify factors influencing household decisions on whether to consume edible termites and the level of termite consumption in the Vhembe district of Limpopo province in South Africa. The study used secondary data sourced from the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the University of Witwatersrand that was collected from 104 households in the Vhembe District in 2016. A descriptive statistical analysis was used to profile consumers' socio-economic characteristics. In addition, a logistic model and Ordinary Least Squares were used to determine the factors influencing a household's decision to consume edible termites and the level of consumption respectively. The results revealed that demographic factors (the age and gender of the household head) and religious beliefs influenced both consumption and the level of consumption. In addition, the type of termite preferred positively influenced the level of consumption, while knowledge influenced the decision to consume termites. The recommendations based on these results are that efforts should be made to promote the consumption of edible termites among the younger population, particularly males. Education programs could be designed to increase knowledge about termites and their nutritional benefits, which may increase consumption. Additionally, efforts should be made to understand and address the negative influence of religion on the consumption of edible termites.

Keywords: entomophagy; termites; consumers; logistic model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:vrs:pojard:v:72:y:2024:i:2:p:218-224:n:1007

DOI: 10.17306/j.jard.2024.01798

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