SNAIL farming is a lucrative business - By The Nation News Paper of 8/7/2009

SNAIL farming is a lucrative business .It has helped a lot of families to improve their live hoods .Many a family has achieved economic freedom by going into snail farming.

 The Director, The Thy Consulting, Ismail Azeez, who has made a success of snail farming said it offers great prospects because over-collection of snails from the bush has led to a shortage and boosted prices.

            Snail meat is a rare delicacy for many because it provides a substantial source of protein. Azeez says it is used to prepare a variety of meals, including soups, sauces and kabab. There is a strong market for snail in hotels and restaurants, which need to be provided about 5,000 snails every week, he said.

The evolving industry, the snail expert said, has laid a foundation for long-term economic prosperity for the people involved.

            He said there is potential for export to the international market.” One can keep one’s job and do this on part time until the business grows.” He adds.

            With the business growing rapidly and gaining a place in the economy, Azeez wants Nigeria to turn into one of the biggest snail exporters.

            For him, there are opportunities for more farms. For him, small- scale farms could make enormous difference.

            Still on prospect of snail farming, The Thy Consulting boss noted that snail farming is a virgin area in livestock farming, which offer lower risks compare to other livestock farming due to the fact that it has a low capital requirement.

            To make a success, he said the prospective farmer should be able to provide the right equipment and supplies including pens. The pens need to be kept humid always and the snail moist.

            The snails, he explained need a damp environment and the farmer needs to drain the place and make it wet for them to stay. Information, Azeez adds, is important for every beginner to understand the challenges in the business.

           For instance, a snail farmer ought to how react during period of extreme weather, the business needs a water reservoir to contain drought, he said.

“It is also important to know that it takes time to make a fortune. One would need to support himself with other source of income until the business stabilizers,” he said

            He expects the farmer to understand the biological cycle of snail production. “It takes 12 months to produce mature sized ones. Sometimes it can take up to two years to reach the size which meets the demands of five star hotels and restaurants,” he explains.

He said snails are not expensive to rear. It would cost a prospective farmer about N25, 000 to set up the business. The most important thing is to get all the conditions for their survival right. Snail farming requires a significant time of commitment to ensure that the health and fitness levels of the snails are guaranteed. The higher the investment the more it would significantly boost the income levels for people and make a notable difference to quality of life.

            There are greater returns from large scale rearing. With bigger investment, there is higher return with lower level of inputs.

            Azeez said prospective farmers need technical knowledge to manage the farms. “The business is labour intensive and the business need a lot of water to run the pens,” he says.

            He knows the nuts and bolts of the business, his training enables the prospective farmer to save cost and optimizes the way to run their business successfully.

            Azeez wants to reach as many Nigerians as possible to develop partnership and grow the snail rearing business. The running cost, he says, is very low, as their feeds can be prepared locally.

They feed on leaves and fruits. They also feed on pawpaw, cassava, and sweet potatoes leaves.

According to experts, peels of mangoes plantain cocoyam and pawpaw have huge nutritive value and can be used as sole diet of snails.

Azeez said farmers should be prepared against predators, parasites and disease in order to keep mortality rates to minimum .The major  predators of snails are field mice, rat,  frogs, toads, and  domesticated birds such as ducks, turkeys, lizards, and snakes, and  beetle, millipedes and centipedes.

Azeez advises that a professional hand should be employed to ensure that the snails are in good hands all the time.

For one to do the business right, one needs to learn valuable lessons on how to do the business successfully.