The research aimed at assessing the perceptions and willingness of poultry farmers, feed traders and processors to use insects as a source of protein ingredient in poultry feed. The research used a cross-sectional design and a structured questionnaire to collect quantitative data from 287 poultry farmers and 71 feed traders from 3 culturally diverse regions in Uganda. The study findings revealed that majority of the farmers mixed their own poultry feed. Willingness to use insects in poultry feeds was expressed by over 70% of the farmers, feed traders and processors, indicating a strong potential demand for insect-based feeds. However, some poultry farmers doubted the possibility of acquiring insects (rearing/harvesting) in large enough quantities and the consumers’ acceptance of poultry products from birds raised on insect-based feed. Nonetheless, there is a high potential for adoption of insects for use as poultry feed if they can be produced in sustainable quantities that ensure the viability of poultry farming and the feed processing businesses. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 8 (2): 32-41, December, 2018

The perception of key players in the fish farming sector towards the use of insects is important for their acceptance to adopt insects as an alternative protein source to the expensive fish meal. Perception was established through a cross-sectional study of 208 fish farmers and 71 fish feed traders and/or processors conducted in Gulu, Tororo and Masaka districts in Uganda, using descriptive, Chi-square, correlation and factor statistical analysis of the data collected. Males dominated the fish farming and fish feed trading and/or processing enterprises. Youths were involved to almost the same extent as adults. Fish farmers majorly practiced pond fish farming, mainly using vegetable and grain based feeds. Most fish farmers (94.9%) and feed traders or processors (91.5%) were willing to use insects for feed but only 44.8% of fish farmers and 8.6% of feed traders and processors had ever used insects. All insects ever used by the respondents for feeding fish, including white ants, grasshoppers, termites and cockroaches were not reared but harvested from the environment. Willingness to use (rear/buy/sell) insects as fish feed was significantly and positively correlated with farmers’ and fish feed traders’ and/or processors’ perception that insects were good sources of nourishment for fish. Familiarity with use of insects and knowledge/awareness of their use significantly contributed to respondents’ positive perception. The apparent willingness to use insects for feeding fish should be promoted by encouraging mass insect production. Assessment of the consumer’s acceptability of fish reared on insects is necessary to ensure market for insect-fed fish.