Assoc.Prof.Dr.Nguyen Duy Quynh Tram, Project Manager, reports on project implementation results.

The project is aimed at producing black soldier fly larvae powder to replace part of the fish meal as feed for some freshwater aquatic species, such as: square-head perch, Thai frog, snakehead fish. Thereby contributing to reducing environmental pollution caused by livestock waste and by-products from agricultural production.

According to the order, the project focuses on implementing the main contents: building a process for raising black soldier flies from agricultural by-products on a household scale; perfecting the process for raising Thai frogs, square-head perch, and snakehead fish using black soldier fly larvae as feed; building a model for raising Thai frogs, square-head perch, and snakehead fish using feed produced from black soldier fly larvae as raw materials.

After 2 years of implementation, the project contents show that there are 11 types of agricultural by-products that can be used to raise black soldier flies, black soldier flies have not been found to spread into the wild in the project area, and do not affect daily life and agricultural production. Black soldier fly larvae can be used directly in combination with industrial feed; replace fish meal with black soldier fly larvae meal at a level lower than or equal to 30%; the quality of fish meat is not affected when fed with black soldier fly larvae feed. The survival rate through commercial farming models of 3 freshwater aquatic species: Thai frog, square-head perch, and snakehead fish tested reached from 70% to 85%, giving high productivity and profit.

The project implementation team also recommends that people can use the black soldier fly farming processes issued by the University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University; should combine 50% fresh black soldier fly larvae and 50% industrial feed as feed for the farming subjects; should replace up to 30% of fish meal protein with black soldier fly larvae meal protein to raise snakehead fish and square-head perch and 40% to raise Thai frogs.

News and photos: HOAI THUONG