Many researches indicate that locusts have many benefits, the first of which is that they contain protein, some minerals, and vitamins such as “B2” (riboflavin) and “B9” (folic acid).
The Vice Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Ain Shams University, Egypt, Hisham Al-Hariri, confirmed that locusts have a very high nutritional value, and have benefits proven by many scientific studies.
It may be that the pioneers of what is known in the Qassim region as the “Jarda Market” are ignorant of these scientific facts, but they are keen to buy “locusts”, whose health benefits they see according to their popular or historical perspective, far from scientific and medical studies.
“News 24He monitored the increase in the prices of this organism, which passes through the country on an annual and temporary basis, and recorded, within 5 days, a 100% increase in its prices, which was justified by the seller, Muhammad Musleh, by the benefits that the “locusts” hoard according to its concept, and according to its importance to those who paid from 50 to 60 riyals , for a bundle weighing approximately 3 to 4 kg.
One of the sellers said that the method of cooking “locusts” requires washing and drying them, and adding some salt to them, indicating that the increase in demand for this organism may push its prices in the coming weeks until it reaches “700 and 800” riyals for the bag of the aforementioned weight.
It is noteworthy that the Ministry of Water, Environment and Agriculture conducts inspection tours of such markets, in order to prevent the sale of any agricultural or animal products that may have been subjected to pesticide spraying, in order to preserve human life from the danger of these chemicals.