Mopane worm utilisation and rural livelihoods in Southern Africa

Mberengwa
Chiredzi
Chivi
Mwenezi
Ndiweni
Kapeni
Figure 2. Quantity of Mopane Worms Harvested by Survey Area
0 50 100 150 200 250
Why are mopane worms harvested?
mean kgs dried MWs per hhld
Whereas harvesting of mopane worms was traditionally a subsistence livelihood
activity, undertaken largely for nutritional purposes, increasing commercialisation of
the resource has been taking place throughout the mopane belt in recent years
(Hobane, 1994, 1995; Rebe, 1999 quoted in Kozaniya and Frost, 2002). Trading (cash
sales and barter exchange) accounted for a large proportion (between 76- 94%) of
MWs collected in communities studied in Zimbabwe (Figure 4 and Table 13). The
distribution of MW output in Chilonga, Chiredzi district typifies the pattern of
utilization. Following the 2001/2002 harvests, 59% of MW stocks were sold for cash
and a further 19% were exchanged for goods, 9% were consumed at home , 5% were
given as gifts and at the time of the survey (July 2002), 10% were held in store for
own use or sale (Rutamba, 2003). These results contrast with those obtained by
Hobane in the early 90s who found that over three successive years (1990-1992), only
30-38 % of stocks were sold, 24-36% exchanged, 28-39% consumed and 2-10% given
to others (Hobane, 1994, quoted in Gondo and Frost, 2002).
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1998/99
1999/00
2000/01
2001/02