Introduction the smarter and thriving snail production

Snail farming has become a very lucrative business in Nigeria. It is one of the most successful and profitable businesses in the country.

Snail farming is a good alternative for animal protein production because it helps to reduce hunger in your community. The snail can be consumed as food by humans and pets alike, making it an ideal source of nutrition for all age groups from infants to adults.

This article will guide you through establishing a thriving snail production enterprise using minimal capital investment. This to achieve a smarter approach to a thriving snail production.

The market

The marketing mix consists of the four main components that a business needs to consider in order to achieve success in the market:

• Product or service
• Price
• Place (distribution)
• Promotion

The farm

• Soil type:
• Size of the farm:
• Predator control:
• Perimeter fencing.

The hatchery

The hatchery is the most important part of a snail farm, as it determines the quality of your stock. The ideal environment for hatching snails is a secure, clean, and well-ventilated structure with a low level of humidity.

Humidity in excess of 60% can cause an increase in disease and dampness that will result in poor hatch rates. Ideal humidity levels range from 30% to 50%.

Management of the growing snails

Snails are mollusks that are found all over the world. Smarter approach to a thriving snail production involve giving the snails vegetables, fruits, and grains, but can also be fed on meat products. The optimal feeding schedule is once a day at room temperature or less than 30°C (86°F). However, this can vary depending on temperature and humidity. If possible, you should feed your snails at night because they are less active during the day. Snails are fed on moistened mixtures of poultry mash (chicken feed), bread, vegetable peelings and leaves mixed with water until a thick paste forms.

The processing unit used in a smarter snail production

Snail meat should be cleaned and cooked before eating. Cleaning instructions are as follows:

• Remove the head from the body of the snail with a sharp knife or snipping tool, then rinse each one with water to remove any dirt or mud that may be on its shell.
• The snail can now be boiled in a pot of water for about ten minutes. During this time, it will turn red as it cooks inside its shell. If you like your snail soft-boiled, then leave it to boil for longer; if you prefer them hard-boiled, then take them out earlier.

Table 1: Snail weight variation and corresponding feed conversion rate in relation to snail size.

• Weight (g)
• Feed conversion rate (FCR)
• 150g: 1.5
• 200g: 1.2
• 250g: 1.1
• 300g: 1.0

Snail farming is a very lucrative business if done properly.

Snail farming is a very lucrative business if done properly. The profit margins are high, and there is no need for any major investment. However, in order to make it work, you need to be willing to put in the time and hard work that this type of enterprise demands.