Snail Farming As Source Of Employment

By Olive Ejang Tebug

Snail meat popularly known as Congo Meat is consumed in many countries in the world, with some, considering it as a delicacy for the rich.Snail farming and research are already being practised in countries like Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, and Cameroon to a limited extent.

Nigeria is currently exporting snails to USA, Britain, France though the exportation is still very low.Despite the high demand for snails, the supply is solely dependent on handpicking from nature.

During the rainy season, the quantity of snails in the market is much compared to the dry season. But activities like snail hunting, bush burning, deforestation and agricultural pesticides are causing a decline in the population of snails.

As such, progress in snail farming could open new opportunities of increasing self-employment, demanding little capital investment and not labour intensive.

Rearing Snails

Snails can be reared under extensive, semi-extensive and intensive systems, depending on the location. Snails develop their activities at sunset and end at sunrise. The most appropriate period to rear snails is from March to October, which is the rainy season.

The choice of a site has to consider the wind, soil characteristic and the micro-climate. The site has to be protected from wind since wind favours the loss of water in the soil. Sandy and loamy or humus soils are the best for snail farming and the soil should have good characteristic to retain water.

Snail houses could be built from old tyres, drums and tanks, high fenced pens and low fenced pens. The house should be able to stop snails from escaping, accessible, well ventilated, spacious, affordable and durable. It must also be protected against predators and insect infestations.

For the feeding, snails feed on green leaves like paw-paw, cassava and sweet potato leaves. They could also feed on fruits like paw-paws, oranges, palm nuts, pear, amongst others. Calcium and phosphorus are very essential minerals in the nutrition of snails. Wood ash spread round the snailery could also be a good mineral supplement.

Medical Values

Snail meat is a good source of animal protein and the saliva contains the enzyme B-glucosinodase that is used pharmaceutically. They are excellent antidote for vascular diseases like heart attacks, cardiac arrest, hypertension and stroke due to the high calcium content.

Also, a mixture of snail blood and palm kernel oil in equal parts when rubbed on the body reduces the severity of stroke and severe headache. It is easily digested and good for stomach disorder, accelerates the movement of foetus, delivery and it is good source of iron for nursing mothers.

Snails are also used in native medicines like making the birth of a new baby relatively easier women and for inducing birth in overdue pregnancy. It is widely used to solve the problem of the placenta retention after birth.

The blush fluid from snails is used to stop bleeding and for circumcision of babies.

Snail Industry In Cameroon

The Director of Community Action for Development, CADEV, Tombel, Jacob Mbonteh Nzang, they have moved from snail farming to processing. He said the organisation has set up an industry in Tombel to process snail meat for national and international consumption.

The Director added that he has organised several workshops to train and evaluate Community-based Organizations, CBOs, on snail rearing and it is on the strength of this that the National Association of Snail Farmers, NASFARM, was formed with eight chapters.

In it's processing, CADEV shall buy snails from individuals and CBOs doing snail rearing, process and distribute it nationally. For exportation, he said the industry would process, dry, package and export it.

Mbonteh advised that snails lend themselves to both small and large-scale production and the future looks bright, and it's farming should be encouraged to avoid extinction.

Comments

[mee]

i have developed serious passion for snail farming,i want to get started it seems to be one of my biggest opportunities. i graduted from the uni., 2005 and no job yet,please i need every necessary information on snail farming

[Pedigree]

I have been looking for a site that will tak about snail farming like this. Thank Almighty God I have Found One. I really have passion for snail cos I eat them alot. I will appreciate it if anyone can provide me clues on how to get to the internation companies interested in buying snail from Nigeria. I ahve already start rearing snail and i intend to sell them internationally when they are due.
Thanks

Kabir ADam
Kano, Nigeria
+234803533908
[email protected]
www.kokoritrading.blogspot.com

[Mr Hayes Olasumbo Gabriel]

I want to start exporting snail, Please how do i go about it.

[Sunny Enwerem]

hi am a proud farmer and am xpecialized in snail breeding,sales and supply as my specialty and would be grateful to have any one interested in us running this bizness together,am a breeder and a marketer based in abeokuta and lagos,reach me on [email protected] if u r interested in getting pictures on my breeds any time.

[Weekendnews3]

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