Snail farming in Nigeria; complete information
Snail farming in Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya is a very profitable business venture but neglected by a huge number of Nigerians. Its meat is high in protein (12-16%) and iron (45-50 mg/kg), low in fat, and contains almost all the amino acids needed by humans.
Snails also play an important role in folk medicine, like in Ghana, the bluish liquid obtained from its shell when the meat has been removed is believed to be good for infant development. The high iron content of the meat is considered important in treating anemia. Also in the past, it was recommended for combating ulcers and asthma.
Snails can also be exported to foreign countries like Europe and North America. However, with this considerable amount of foreign and local demand Nigerians are still ignorant of this trade.
Types of Snails
There are various species of snails, but this article will concentrate on the Giant African Land Snail (GAL), specifically the species of Achatina achatina, Achatina fulica and Archachatina marginata.
Let’s look at them in a little bit more details
Achatina achatina: The Achatina achatina (giant snail, tiger snail) is a widely distributed snail species especially in West Africa (Particularly in Nigeria, Benin, Cote d’ Ivoire, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Liberia). They can grow up to 30 cm in body length and 25cm in shell height. An average adult shell length is 18cm, with an average diameter of 9cm. The species prefers warm conditions 25-30◦C and relative humidity of 80-95% for growing conditions. The conically shaped, fairly pointed shell is brownish with a characteristic of the stripe pattern, that why it is called the tiger snail.
Achatina fulica: The Achatina fulica (garden snail, foolish snail) is a large snail, reaching 20cm in length or occasionally more, with a shell length up to 20cm and a maximum diameter of 12cm. This species originated from in the coastal regions o0f East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania) and by the 19th century, it had extended to Ethopia, southern Somalia, and Northern Mozambique. It can adapt to a wide range of environments, modifying its life to suit local conditions. The conical spiraled shell is predominantly brown with weak, darker branded markings across the spiral. A mature species of this snail weighs 250 grams.
Archachatina marginata: The Archachatina marginata (big black snail, giant African land snail) is large that grows to about 20cm in length and weighs 500 grams. The shell is much less pointed than the Achatina species, the roundness is most obvious in younger animals. The strata in the shell may give the appearance of a “woven” texture. The head of the snail is dark or gray with its foot lightly shaded. They can grow very well in a good drain place and less in a dry place.
Benefits of snail farming in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana
Production of Meat: As earlier said, a snail can be farmed for meat. Its meat can either be cooked or fried and contains a good amount of protein (12-16%) and Iron (45-50 mg/kg).
Medicinal purpose: The liquid can be used to cleanse the eyes of a victim of snake spittle and in Ghana can be used for infant development.
Source of Employment: Venturing into snail farming as a business can help those who are unemployed in our society.
Factors to consider before Venturing into snail farming in Nigeria.
The site Location
The location of the site plays an important role for snail farming in Nigeria, most species of snails thrives best in areas with a moderate temperature and high humidity. Too much wind can accelerate moisture loss in snails, therefore to prevent moisture the land must be sited in a place that protected from the wind. The soil area is also very important as snails grow well on good soils.
Constructing a snailery
A proper constructing for the housing of snail is necessary because the snail is master escapists. The housing method could be extensive, semi-intensive and intensive, on whatever you decide, it should have escape proof so that you don’t wake up one morning and find your snail in your neighbor’s house or garden.
Rearing density
The stocking density affects the growth of the snails. High stocking density tends to slow down the growth of the snails and develop them into small adults, they equally lay fewer clutches of eggs and fewer eggs per clutch.
Food and Feeding
Food and feeding of snails should not really be a problem because snails are vegetarians and will accept most types of food. However, they avoid plants that have hairy leaves and produce toxic chemicals like physic nuts (Jathropa caras). Please note that snails are not fast growing animals, it takes about 15 months for Achatina achatina to reach full maturity even if they eat a huge quantity of food with quality.
Predators, parasites, and diseases
The predators that can eat your snails includes; man, snakes, mice, rats, frogs and toads, domesticated birds etc. Beware of parasites because they can eat the snails’ body tissue until the snails are reduced to putrefying mass and pupate within the shell, making your investments a waste.
Snail farming does not require big parcel of land. In fact, one can start a commercial snail farming business in one’s backyard. Snail farming is environmental friendly and the cost of feeding them is low.
As simple as the business is, one cannot be a successful snail farmer unless one understands the fundamentals of the business. Knowledge is a prerequisite to any successful venture in life; whether it is snail farming or any business at all.
To become a successful snail farmer, one must acquire skills as to the best condition to breed snails, the types of pen required to rear snails, how they reproduce, the types of food they eat, maintenance of the hatchlings and things that can hinder their growth.
Benefits of snail farming in Nigeria
1. It’s easy to run.
2. It is highly lucrative.
3. It is environmental friendly.
4. Snails are highly productive.
5. Low in fat and cholesterol.
6. Highly medicinal and used for health related products.
7. Has traditional healing benefits.
8. A good export opportunity.
9. It contains iron, vitamin A, calcium, magnesium and has very low fat.
Species of snails reared in Nigeria
There are 3 major types of snails used for snail breeding in Nigeria and Africa in general due to their commercial value. These are: Achatina Marginata (AM), Achatina Achatina (AA) and Achatina Fulica (AF). We will hereby describe each specie with visual images for easy identification.
Identification of Achatina Maginata (AM)
The fleshy part is usually dark brown in color; the shell is blunt and less pointed at the tail end but round unlike the other two species.
AM snail specie, being the biggest of the three species, sells fast in the market. AM is most sought for specie in Nigeria. It has market acceptability more than the other two species.
Achartina Marginata (AM). Photo: Saheed Akinola
Therefore, it is advisable for new farmer to begin with AM rearing. It can grow up to 20cm long in size and produces between 5 to 15 eggs in a single clutch and 2 to 3 clutches in a year.
Archatina Marginata’s (AM) eggs usually take between 21 to 32 days to hatch; its eggs are harder and bigger compared to other species of snails. It takes about 8 to 9 months before it reaches point of laying eggs.
Identification of Achatina Achatina (AA)
AA has sharp tail end like AF. It has a tiger patterned shell. It survives in a more humid environment unlike the AM specie.
Achatina Achatina (AA). Photo: Saheed Akinola
Achatina Fulica (AF)
The AF snail is also known as the Garden Snail. The tail end is unusually sharp just like the AA. It is the smallest of the three African giant species. It has low market patronage in Nigeria because of its small sizes. It lays between 200 to 500 eggs in a clutch and can produce up to 3 to 4 clutches a year.
Achatina Fulica (AF). Photo: Saheed Akinola
Where to source for your snails
Mature adult snails for farming business could either be sourced from deep forests or from a snail Farm. The only place you shouldn’t buy snails for rearing is your city and local markets. Live snails from such markets are usually stressed and are best for your pot.
Snail House/Soil
The best environment to situate your snail pen is a low plain ground. The farm should not be exposed to excessive wind because too much wind would dry out and dehydrate your snails.
Your snails should not also be exposed to direct sunlight. It is best to have trees like banana or plantain planted around your snail farm.
The ideal soil for Snail pen. Photo: Saheed Akinola
Snails cannot be reared on bare concrete floors without putting soil on it because snails also get some of the calcium required for their growth from soil. The floor of your snail pen must be made up of balanced soil; the soil must neither be too dry nor waterlogged.
You should also make sure the soil of your snail farm is not acidic or clayey as this may be harmful to the snails.
Depending on the scale of snail farming you want to go into, your snails can be reared in a large covered box if you are considering small scale snail farming, or in a concrete pen with soil flooring. Snails could also be reared in trench and free range pens.
The best soil for rearing snails is loamy soil that has low water retention. The soil of your snail farm is highly critical to the growth and survival of the snails because snails derive calcium used for forming its shell from the soil. It also gets its water from the soil and lays its eggs in the soil.
Snail feeds
Feeding is one of the most important factors in snail farming. Snails are easy to feed, they will feed on nearly every organic food source that is non-toxic, including leaves, fruits, vegetables, tubers and household wastes that does not contain table salt.
A mini free range snail pen. Photo: Saheed Akinola
Snails enjoy common food such as fruits and vegetables like banana, melon, cabbage, carrot, pawpaw, lettuce, cucumber, potato, pumpkin, plantain etc. you can equally formulate special feeds for your snails.
It is also encouraged to give calcium supplement to your snails once in a while to help them in the formation of their shells
The most interesting part of snail farming business is that you could start with little capital with few snails and grows within a short period of time. Therefore, I advise every youth and adults including retirees to key into it.
Source: naij.com
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