Insect breeding, a money-making and money-making industry

According to IRNA, it is hard for many people to imagine that these insects, which often get rid of them and sometimes run away from them, are a bread and water job for some people, a job that is also valuable. And it even helps the environment.

In recent decades, due to scientific and technological advances, new methods and solutions for earning money have emerged, one of which is insect breeding.

The use of protein in insects for nutritional purposes in the preparation of animal feed, poultry and aquatic products and medical uses in the preparation of various drugs as well as cosmetics is one of the most important reasons for their breeding and this industry in many European countries. It is common.

محمد آروین It is one of the breeders of insect breeders in Qazvin, which through its trade has been able to directly and indirectly create entrepreneurship for one thousand people throughout Iran.

IRNA correspondent went to him in this regard to make citizens more familiar with this industry and the benefits of insect production.

IRNA: Please introduce yourself and tell us about your education and job.

Mohammad Arvin I am a 40-year-old resident of Alborz city in Qazvin province. I consulted in this area.

From 1379 until today, I make a living through insects.

The insects we raise play an important role in plant production and the food industry. Because some of them are used as natural pesticides and others are used for nutritional purposes of livestock, poultry and other animals.

IRNA: Where did the idea of ​​raising insects come from?

A unit called Entomology is taught in universities, in which students are required to deliver some insects to the professor.

I provided insects for students who, for whatever reason, were unable to catch them, and I made money that way. As I mentioned before, dealing with insects has been and still is a lot of fun for me, and because of this interest in books and foreign sources, I was constantly studying the different species and habitats of different insects.

Based on research, I knew very well where, for example, an insect used for pesticides lived.

But the idea of ​​raising insects struck me in the mind of a lady who, by preparing insects for students, ordered me some biological insects, the preparation of which was very low due to its quantity in nature, so I decided to breed them and today I consider myself a successful person in this field.

The reason for my success in my work is research, study and productivity of past experiences. So I study in this field five hours a day.

IRNA: Tell us about the problems you faced in the first years of your activity?

Everything has its difficulties, but the production and breeding of insects is one of those jobs whose difficulties are indescribable.

In the early years of my career, I had a lot of problems, perhaps the most important of which was the lack of awareness of the people about this job because I was mostly dealing with farmers.

There was not even the equipment needed for this work in the market and I used to order the equipment I used from foreign films at a very high price to the carpenter and welder, but today, thanks to the old industry, its infrastructure and equipment are in the market. There is and is available.

IRNA: Tell us about the economic benefits of raising insects?

Breeding insects has many benefits, high profits and hard work, so no matter how much you love insects, you still can not cope with breeding some insects.

For example, raising black soldier flies is not pleasant at all because of the bad smell it creates.

But the most important advantages of insect breeding are small space, low nutrition and high spawning speed, because insects can grow in a small space and enthusiasts can breed in the home and under the title of home-based jobs. To be busy.

Insects produce up to 64 kg of protein per 64 cubic meters, which has led to many home-based businesses in this field.

On the other hand, the speed of spawning and growth of insects is not comparable to the birth of caterpillars and birds.

As I mentioned, the food volume of insects is also low compared to other living organisms, for example, the amount of water consumed to produce one kilogram of protein in beef is 2 liters, and for chickens and turkeys is 4 liters, but crickets bring one kilogram of protein with one liter of water. has it. Therefore, in the current situation where the amount of water in some cities and villages is not desirable, this profession can be a stable and profitable job, provided it learns its challenges and ups and downs.

The speed of spawning and reproduction of insects has led to higher yields from insects than other living organisms. For example, a cow gives birth to four calves in 4 years, but crickets reproduce in 4 weeks.

Of course, the benefits of raising insects do not mean that this job is comfortable and easy. Insects are less obvious due to their small size, their problems and diseases, and this is why we sometimes see their high mortality.

IRNA: Explain a little more about the types of insects in terms of consumption and what category of breeders are more inclined to breed?

Insects are divided into different categories. Nutritional insects are used to feed livestock, poultry, aquatic animals, and even some insects, decorative insects used in the arts, and medical insects and biological insects for the environment.

The breeding of biological and feeding insects and decorative insects is more welcomed by the citizens than other insects because the breeding of medical insects is very difficult and requires its own isolated space and its own instructions.

IRNA: Insect breeding, like other animals, is in four seasons?

Insects can be bred in four seasons, but since customer demand is almost non-existent in some seasons, it is more cost-effective to breed insects on a seasonal basis. For example, insects such as the seven-spot cobbler or the Bracon bee are effective for farmers and gardeners in certain seasons.

Bracon bees can be raised only from May 1 to the end of June; Because after these seasons, the cal, which is the egg of the queen bee, disappears. But edible insects can be produced to feed animals throughout the year because they have a customer throughout the year.

IRNA: Which insect is the most famous profitable insect in the field of breeding?

All produced insects are really useful, but in the category of biological insects, some insects such as Cryptolmus ladybugs are more fortunate than other insects due to the approval of some government agencies such as agricultural jihad and farmers’ familiarity with this insect as a strong pesticide.

Nutritional insects produced in Iran are also limited to a few species, including myeloma larvae, crickets, beetles, and a hard-shelled species called snails, used by pet shops, poultry farmers, and fish farmers. Is decorative.

IRNA: In these few years, how much has been the activity of welcoming and supporting the responsible agencies such as Jihad Keshavarzi?

In recent years, the support has increased more than before, but the concern about our work and the agricultural jihad in the province is that the support of this department is based on the instructions given to them by the ministry. In other words, agricultural jihad only supports the breeding of a series of insects such as Cryptolmos ladybugs and Bracon bees.

While it can work in the field of insect breeding and training and providing a platform for exports.

IRNA: Considering that you are one of the 10 most successful producers in Iran and you were the first person to breed a 7-point ladybug, how successful were you in exporting your products to other countries?

Unfortunately, the export platform in Iran is not possible for this, while my customers abroad are more than domestic customers, but unfortunately, it is not easy to enter this field.

There are some companies that can export insects under certain conditions by going through the steps of Haft Khan Rostam after obtaining a license, but these companies want a high percentage of profits, and in a way, such exports are not profitable at all. No, that’s why I gave the export gift to meet it and focused more on domestic sales.

But I focus my work on meeting domestic needs and I send my products all over the country.

IRNA: Can you give a brief explanation about medical insects?

The use of insects in medicine, the production of medicine and cosmetics is so great that the worms of one type of fly are used to treat the wounds of diabetics in some hospitals, and if one can cope with the conditions of insect breeding, it can be used for medical purposes. It can be a lucrative and lucrative job.

Insects generally have high nutritional and medical values, for example, some insects, such as chitin myelomas, disinfect animals due to the production of essential and non-essential amino acids.

Insects are also widely used in medicine and artificial bone.

IRNA: With all these explanations, what advice do you have for people interested in this field and how much capital is needed to start this work?

Research, study, patience, using the experiences of other breeders, education and counseling are some of the things that people should strive to enter the field.

But regarding the amount of capital required, I must say that insects are bred at different costs depending on their species. Income from insect breeding is different, but again it all depends on the breeding place and the number of production, the larger the production space, the higher the income, so it is better if the breeding work is done from home jobs.

IRNA: How many jobs have you created so far?

Directly and indirectly, for more than 1,000 people, I have trained 700 people to date in the dimensions of home, workshop and industrial jobs, and certainly all trained people have become entrepreneurs.

In my collection, there are now 20 people working, and some work as workers, some as marketing experts and some as marketers in virtual networks in our collection.

IRNA: And your final word?

As some inputs, such as soybeans, become more expensive, insects can be used to feed animals, making it possible for officials to provide infrastructure and support for breeders.

On the other hand, Iran has a very high capacity to produce and convert to this industry, which unfortunately is not taken into account, while in some countries, such as Mexico, a large part of the income of its villagers is obtained through this.

With the support of the authorities and informing the citizens and farmers about the insect breeding industry, it is possible to have a lucrative job. On the other hand, some policies such as the return of the population to the villages are provided.