Snail farming, also known as heliculture, is the process of raising snails for commercial purposes. The practice has been gaining popularity in Nigeria, with many entrepreneurs venturing into snail farming as a lucrative business. 

In this article, we will explore snail farming in Nigeria, including its benefits, challenges, and how to start a snail farm.

Starting a snail farm in Nigeria requires careful planning and execution. Here are some steps to follow when starting a snail farm:

Research: Before starting a snail farm, it is essential to conduct thorough research on the business. This includes identifying potential markets, breeds, learning about snail management practices, and understanding the regulations governing snail farming in Nigeria.

Choose a Suitable Location: Snails require a suitable environment to thrive. The location of the farm should have adequate shade, moisture, and soil pH. The farm should also be free from predators and pollution.

Build a Snail Pen: Snails require a sheltered environment to protect them from predators and harsh weather conditions. The pen should be spacious enough to accommodate the snails and provide adequate ventilation.

The size of the farm determines the housing styles and sizes. Housing size determines the comfort of cultured snails. For commercial farming, it is necessary to acquire a permanent farmland. 

Snail can be reared in boxes made of suitable substances like wire gauze (net) and woods. There are different kinds of snaileries that can be built. Some factors have to be taken into consideration, such as the snails’ stage of development and habits. 

This means sorting of snails by age into newly hatched, young and mature snails. It is important to note that younger snails would require more comfortable housing, which should be protected to prevent predators. Snails thrive in dark and humid places; hence avoidance of direct sunlight or heat is necessary. 

You can use fresh leaves and cloth to regulate the temperature. Snails are easily dehydrated, and wind increases the rate of moisture loss in snail housing, which leads to dryness for the animal. 

 To prevent snails from losing water quickly, the snail house must be located in an environment that is protected from the wind. The snails should be wetted at morning and night to regulate temperature. It is necessary to separate the big snails from the small ones once they start growing.

Snail breeds: In Nigeria there are various breeds of snail and they are milk snail (Otala lacteal), white garden snail (Theba pisana), garden snail (Cornu aspersum), Burgundy snail (Helix pomatia) and the most popular African giant snail (Achatina achatina). The giant Africa snail is the best species for heliculture due to its prolificacy and economic size. 

Source for Snails: The next step is to source for snails. Snails can be obtained from the wild or from other snail farms. It is essential to select healthy and mature snails for breeding.

Feed the Snails: Snails require a balanced diet to thrive. Make food and water available for your snails in the morning and night every day. You can feed your snails with plantain, pumpkin, potato, lettuce, pawpaw, cabbage, banana, cucumber, etc.

Snails commonly feed on meal leftovers and green leaves without salt. Calcium is also vital for the growth of their shells. So, ensure you add limestone, and egg shells to their feeds.

Other ideal staples for snail feeds include; corn, pap, beans, and rice, all without salt. Calcium is crucial in feeding snails because it boosts snails’ growth rate and produces thicker shells. It is essential to provide the snails with a balanced diet to ensure their health and productivity.

Soil type: The snail’s major habitat is the soil, and soil contains some of the components and chemical substances that it needs to survive. The soil type should be rich and contain a high level of organic matter. 

The suitable soil for snail farming is sandy-loamy soil, with low water holding capacity. Soil must be balanced, not waterlogged, because the snail also lays its eggs and drinks water out of the soil. The shell of the snail is mainly calcium and it derives most of it from the soil.

Pests and Diseases: Termites, lizards, snakes, ants, chickens, geese and turkeys are the common predators of snails and should be prevented by all means. There are not many diseases identified in snail, but fungus and bacterial diseases that are spread by contact have been noticed in overcrowded pens. 

Look out for pest or pathogens such as parasites, nematodes and fungi, as well as rats, mice, moles, skunks, weasels, birds, frogs, toads and lizards. Termites, ants and earthworms are major pests for snails and can kill the animals if not removed on time.

Reproduction: Snails lay eggs between ages eight and twelve (12) months when they are sexually mature, the fertile eggs hatch between four and six weeks. They don’t have a defined breeding period, and on average they lay five to six (6) clutches of eggs per year, containing on average two hundred (200) eggs per clutch if there are the right conditions. 

After hatching, the baby snail stays in the soil for two to five (2-5) days. The prolific nature of reproduction and the market value (high demand) of snail would compensate farmers for its long maturity period of about two (2) years. The hatchlings should be put in a separate pen to give them available space to grow and maximum protection.

Harvesting: Maturity takes about two (2) years. Only mature snails should be harvested. Check the brim of the shell; if it is mature enough, the brim should be thicker and harder than other parts of the shell. Do not harvest all the mature ones for the market. Keep a few for breeding and to serve as base stock. 

You can use containers, bowls, boxes and baskets to harvest snails and ten (10) kilogram per pack is usually ideal because of the high fragility of snails.

Benefits of Snail Farming in Nigeria

Snail farming has several benefits that make it a viable business venture in Nigeria. Here are some of the advantages of snail farming:

High Demand: Snails are a delicacy in Nigeria, and they are in high demand, especially during festive periods. Snail meat is considered a high-protein, low-fat, and cholesterol-free food, making it an ideal option for health-conscious individuals.

Low Start-up Cost: Unlike other agricultural businesses that require a significant amount of capital to start, snail farming can be started with minimal resources. All that is needed is a suitable location, a few snails to start with, and proper management practices.

Low Mortality Rate: Snails have a low mortality rate, and they are relatively easy to manage. They do not require much attention and can survive on a variety of feeds, making them an excellent option for small-scale farmers.

High Profit Margin: Snail farming has a high-profit margin, and farmers can make a substantial income from the sale of snail meat and other by-products. Snail farming is also a sustainable business venture, as snails reproduce quickly and require minimal inputs.

Challenges of Snail Farming in Nigeria

Despite the benefits of snail farming, there are several challenges that farmers may encounter when starting and managing a snail farm in Nigeria. Some of these challenges include:

Lack of Knowledge: Many farmers may not have adequate knowledge of snail farming, which can result in poor management practices and low productivity.

Predators: Snails are vulnerable to predators, such as rats, snakes, and birds. Farmers need to take measures to protect their snails from these predators.

Disease: Snails are susceptible to diseases, such as bacterial infections and parasitic infestations, which can result in low productivity and high mortality rates.

Marketing: Although there is a high demand for snails in Nigeria, farmers may face challenges in marketing their products. It is essential to identify potential buyers and develop marketing strategies to reach them.

Because snail is an export commodity, its value is especially high in countries outside Nigeria. The climate in Nigeria is particularly favorable for snail breeding. 

Snail feeds are cost-effective, and you can rear your snails as a part-time job. As a result, you can easily make a lot of money from snail farming. During the dry season, snail prices increase, which means more money for you.

If you want to set up a commercial snail business of about two hundred (200) snails, you will need one hundred and forty thousand naira (N 140,000). Forty thousand naira (N 40,000) out of the money will go to the snail pen, and one hundred thousand naira (N 100,000) will be used for the seed snails. One mature snail can give you proceeds of two hundred and fifty naira to eight hundred naira (N 250 to N 800) in the market based on the size