Edible wild field cricket (Brachytrupes portentosus) trading in Bangladesh

Abstract

A cross-sectional survey was conducted to evaluate the market channels, relationship between market intermediates and their functions along with the marketing cost and profit margin of edible wild field cricket Brachytrupes portentosus in Bangladesh. Male respondents were dominantly involved in the insect collection procedure and female were widely engaged in the market. The field cricket trading totally depends on its availability from nature. Generally, this insect becomes available in the winter season (November to February). It was found that insect collectors, wholesaler cum retailers, and local trader cum retailers are the key market intermediates of the four different marketing channels of wild field cricket in Bandarban district of Bangladesh. Among the four observed marketing channels, the channel from insect collectors to the consumer held the big share in the local market. Approximately 43% of the total collection of the wild field crickets occurred through this channel. Both local trader cum retailers and wholesaler cum retailers processed and graded the B. portentosus on the basis of size and sex with the demand of consumers. The net marketing margin was the highest in insect collectors followed by wholesaler cum retailers and local trader cum retailers. The returns on operating capital of insect collectors, wholesaler cum retailers, and local trader cum retailers were 283.7, 48.7 and 42.9%, respectively. The major constraint of edible insect marketing was poor transportation and processing.