If you\u2019re looking to start snail farming business in Nigeria, then you\u2019re on the right page. Here, you\u2019ll learn the basics of the snail farming business.<\/p>\n
\u201cSnails? Snail farming? How are we going to live with snails all over our backyard?,\u201d exclaimed Halimat as her husband explained that he wanted to venture into snail farming.<\/p>\n
Just the thought of snails makes some people shudder and feel nausea. To some others, the thought alone is enough to make them drool over the imaginary pot of soup they could make from it but very little people think of it as a business venture.<\/p>\n
This article intends to be an eye opener to you in that regard so that the next time you see or hear of snails, you will begin to see the business opportunities that lies therein.<\/p>\n
Snail farming, or heliculture as it is popularly called, is the domestication of snails. In simpler terms, helicuture is the rearing of snails at home-like we do chicken or rabbits- for food and profit. This farming of snails even though not as popular as chicken and fish farming is almost as lucrative, if not more lucrative since snails are heavily consumed both locally and internationally.<\/p>\n
In contrast to the high cost involved in starting a fish farm or keeping poultry, snail farming is less capital demanding thus it may be a very good first venture for the novice entrepreneur.<\/p>\n
As more people suffer from lifestyle diseases and disorders like diabetes, hypertension and heart diseases, the general populace is becoming concerned about the food they eat. People are generally desisting from high cholesterol meats and are finding alternatives in sea foods and snails.<\/p>\n
According to an article by punch newspaper published on the 19th<\/sup> of March 2014, \u201cSnail is still in short supply in Nigeria. Preliminary market analysis suggests that an additional 25,000 tons, or a 100 per cent increase, can easily be absorbed\u201d.<\/p>\n That is more than enough evidence to show that there is a market for snail farmers in Nigeria.<\/p>\n Internationally, the snail market is very hard to approximate but an estimate of about 450,000-500,000 tons of snail is being produced annually and are all absorbed in various markets across Europe with the largest markets in France, Italy and Spain.<\/p>\n So, the demand for snail is here to stay and the market is large enough to offer budding entrepreneurs a chance!<\/p>\n Now that we have seen that there is an abundance of demand for snails in Nigeria and abroad, you may be curious as to what it takes to start snail farming.<\/p>\n Other requirements which may not be as fundamental as the ones listed above include:<\/p>\n Snail farming is not as capital intensive as other forms of farming. Due to the \u2018crawling nature\u2019 of snails, a snail farm needs not to be elaborate, hence; it can be built from material you have around your house.<\/p>\n It is noteworthy that the capital you will need to begin the venture will be determined mostly by the scale at which you want to operate; whether a small scale, medium scale or large scale farm. Nevertheless, some noteworthy questions are:<\/p>\n That being said, with a hundred thousand naira (N100,000) only, you can begin a medium scale snail farm that could gross in five times your initial investment.<\/p>\n Snails are survivors. They survive in the wild so they are most likely going to survive in the farm. However, snails are threatened by ants, carnivorous birds and termites.<\/p>\n Snails are also affected by\u00a0 dry and acidic surfaces. It is imperative therefore to keep the soil moist and alkaline at all times.<\/p>\n Snail farms are always being attacked by petty thieves especially when the snails are almost ready for harvests. So be on the look-out!<\/p>\n If I had a single sentence to summarize this post I\u2019ll say: snail farming is still young in Nigeria and it is waiting for young entrepreneurial minds to take it to another level. What are you waiting for?<\/p>\n Want to know more? Leave your questions in the comment and I will get back to you with some answers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you\u2019re looking to start snail farming business in Nigeria, then you\u2019re on the right page. Here, you\u2019ll learn the … <\/p>\nWhat do you need to start snail farming in Nigeria<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n
How much do you need to start a snail farm?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
Risks and threats<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Other interesting facts<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n