By WIFAH J. NDE
Green grasshopper locally called ‘Mungwin’ in the Northwest region of Cameroon is a species of insects of suborder caeslifera within the order of orthoptera just like crickets.
They are insects which do not undergo complete metamorphosis. Common in the grass field regions especially in the Northwest region, the history of this insect can be traced as far back as 250 million years ago. They are herbivores and usually emerge in the Northwest region at the close of the rainy season.
The interesting part of this insect however, is not its history but the rich economic and nutritive side of it beneath the greenish pearl.
Though quite seasonal, it is a great source of livelihood that can generate income capable of sustaining an average Cameroonian family for months.
Ma Helen is a petty trader in Bamenda, she told The SUN that ‘mungwin’ is a wonderful and quick money making source for her. She made a profit of over FCFA 500,000 last year and can sometimes make close to a million in some seasons. She regrets the fact that it is a short-lived business, usually 1-2 months. Her customers are Bamenda city dwellers, she sometimes, after thorough drying, packages them to sell abroad.
Nanga Elody who is a student in Bamenda but takes advantage of the seasonal business says she buys a bucket of fresh ‘mungwin’ at FCFA 5,000-8,000 and sometimes, at FCFA 12,000 when there is scarcity. She says she makes profit worth FCFA 2,000-5,000 per bucket and at the end of each season, she makes up to FCFA 200,000 as profit.
Mr. Fulung is a family head in Tubah, one of the Subdivisions in Mezam, Northwest region. He explains to us that during the season of ‘mungwin’, he buys or rents big drums and with the use of iron sheets, he creates a smooth surfaced funnel into the drums and with the aid of strong rayed bulbs, ‘mungwin’ are attracted to the sheets and they are trapped.
In terms of financial gains, Mr. Fulung testified that for the past 4 years that he has been involved in this business, he has never made less than FCFA 700,000 per year. He says his bulbs equally benefit the members of his community who catch the grasshoppers for home consumption and economic gains.
Fointama Emmanuel, a Masters Degree holder in Food Management working with the Bambili Integrated health center explained that grasshoppers are highly rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals such as iron and phosphorous.
Though it requires a huge quantity to be able to benefit the amount of proteins and energy that one could easily get from 100grams of meat, Emmanuel says the protein gotten from grasshoppers is void of fat like most insects and so he thinks it is a great meat alternative for those who want to avoid goiter.