Post by Ismail AbdulAzeez on Apr 29, 2009 23:38:03 GMT 1
In recent years snail farming has become one means of achieving economic growth. Snail farming means jobs and economic empowerment capable of lifting many Nigerians above the poverty line.reports Daniel Essiet:
Snail farming is one business that can reduce poverty by creating employment for many in need and also as a means of growing ones stock of wealth.
Mr. Ismail Abdulazeez describes snail farming as a money-spinning business that can provide a substantial source of protein in our diet as well. According to him, snail farming is a virgin area in livestock farming as a result the earlier investors direct attention to it to explore its bright prospects the better.
The Managing Partner, The Thy Consulting observes that the technology for snail farming requires far less capital investment, while much profit is generated in a considerably short period adding that it has lower risk compared to other livestock farming.
Mr. Abdul Azeez who wants more Nigerians to be actively involved explains that virtually every part of snail is of vital use as food, in the pharmaceutical industry, as an export commodity. Its value he says is next to gold and our climate he states is one of the best in snail breeding.
He advises that more Nigerians need to take advantage of this business opportunity because the cost of breeding snails is affordable. Snails can feed on paw-paw, cassava and sweet potato leaves. The peels of mango, plantain, cocoyam and pawpaw have huge nutritive value and can be used in some places as the sole diet of snails. He notes that the running cost is very low, and their feeds can be prepared locally.
Except for the Africa Giants however, different snail species eat different food: Alyssum, fruit and leaves of apple, apricot, artichoke aster, barley, beans, bindweed, California boxwood, almost any cabbage variety, chamomile, carnation, carrot, cauliflower, celeriac (root celery), celery, ripe cherries, chive, citrus, clover, cress, cucumbers (a favorite snail food), dandelion, elder, henbane, hibiscus, hollyhock, kale, larkspur, leek, lettuce (liked, and makes good snails), lily, magnolia, mountain ash, mulberry, mums, nasturtium, nettle, nightshade berries, oats, onion greens, pansy, parsley, peach, ripe pears, peas, petunia, phlox, plum, potatoes (raw or cooked), pumpkins, radish, rape, rose, sorrel, spinach, sweet pea, thistle, thorn apple, tomatoes (well liked), turnip, wheat, yarrow, zinnia. They will eat sweet lupines, but will reject bitter lupines and other plants with high quinolizidine alkaloids. Snails also avoid plants that produce other defensive chemicals, defensive stem hairs, according to the United States Department of Agriculture .
Mr Azeez believes that snail business will always prove a success, for according to him the demand for snail is higher than the supply and as such the market potential of snail is inexhaustible, wondering why Nigerians neglect such lucrative area like snail farming with potentials for export to the international market. "You can keep your present job and do this on part time since it doesn’t require much time, notes Mr Azeez. The demand for snail is higher than the supply and as such the market potential of snail is inexhaustible, locally and internationally, adding that the future prospects of snail farming is great because only very few Nigerians for now have penetrated the lucrative market and reaping profit with ease.
"If your start up capital is N50,000, you can generate a huge sum from that at the end of the year given a risk free year.
Mr. Azeez who provides one-on-one training on snail farming believes that for one to do the business right, one needs to learn valuable lessons on how to do the business successfully. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural Library reveal that the U.S. imports snails worth more than $4.5 million in 1995 and this came from 24 countries. This includes preserved or prepared snails, live snails fresh, chilled, or frozen. Major exporters to the U.S. are France, Indonesia, Greece and China.
The U.S. exported live, fresh, chilled, or frozen snails worth $55,000 to 13 countries; most were shipped to Japan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, Nigerians are involved in exportation but the demand is very high.
Rebecca Thomson and Sheldon Cheney both of whom are experts on Raising Snails state, that West Africa is home to several edible snails, but the most popular according to them are the giant snail (Achatina achatina) and the big black specis (Archachatina marginata)
The former reaches a bodyweight of between 80 and 250g in 18 months to two years, whereas the big black adult weights about 350g or more. The two are far larger than the European and Helixispecies. Even the best-fed snails may fail to grow well, they claim.
The experts disclose that snails fit in well with other farming activities thereby helping to fertilize the soil prior to cultivation of other crops, explaining that those of unmarketable sizes can be fed to pigs, whole. As with any livestock, mini or macro, it is easy to slip on the trial to success. They advise that the best way to keep snails is in a kind of terrarium (glass cube with lid that can be lifted) or other small artificial environments in which temperature, humidity and light intensity can be regulated.
But plastic tunnels according to the experts are also a good choice. The most important factors in housing are humidity and protection against wild animals, birds and thieves. Furthermore, the soil quality is an important factor for growth.
The experts counsel that keeping snails outside in the garden is not recommended as the snails become easy preys for birds and the chances of escaping is equally high. They note that snails are not without problems, especially when exotic species are introduced, whether for farming or as ‘agricultural pest’.
According to the experts, there are several land snails that can be farmed and eaten. Examples are helix aspersa and helix pommatia, these are kept in Europe. Snail species that are suitable for tropical areas are the giant African snails, achatina fulica and achatina achatina (bodyweight between 80 and 250g) and the big black snail Archachatina marginata (bodyweight about 350g).
The experts also warn that snails are vulnerable to over population, as this may result in infection decrease in number of eggs produced, low weight gains and deaths due to build-up of slime on the ground. Lower stocking rates produce larger snails in a shorter time. For African snails, density stocks of about 100 juveniles or 30 pre-adult snails per square meter are recommended. But if you want to breed them yourself, a lower population density of between 6-7 snails per square meter will be required. For the smaller European snails (e.g. Helix Aspersa), stocking densities of 25 snails per square meter for breeding and about 300 for fattening is recommended.
Source: www.thenationonlineng.com/dynamicpage.asp?id=44824
Snail farming is one business that can reduce poverty by creating employment for many in need and also as a means of growing ones stock of wealth.
Mr. Ismail Abdulazeez describes snail farming as a money-spinning business that can provide a substantial source of protein in our diet as well. According to him, snail farming is a virgin area in livestock farming as a result the earlier investors direct attention to it to explore its bright prospects the better.
The Managing Partner, The Thy Consulting observes that the technology for snail farming requires far less capital investment, while much profit is generated in a considerably short period adding that it has lower risk compared to other livestock farming.
Mr. Abdul Azeez who wants more Nigerians to be actively involved explains that virtually every part of snail is of vital use as food, in the pharmaceutical industry, as an export commodity. Its value he says is next to gold and our climate he states is one of the best in snail breeding.
He advises that more Nigerians need to take advantage of this business opportunity because the cost of breeding snails is affordable. Snails can feed on paw-paw, cassava and sweet potato leaves. The peels of mango, plantain, cocoyam and pawpaw have huge nutritive value and can be used in some places as the sole diet of snails. He notes that the running cost is very low, and their feeds can be prepared locally.
Except for the Africa Giants however, different snail species eat different food: Alyssum, fruit and leaves of apple, apricot, artichoke aster, barley, beans, bindweed, California boxwood, almost any cabbage variety, chamomile, carnation, carrot, cauliflower, celeriac (root celery), celery, ripe cherries, chive, citrus, clover, cress, cucumbers (a favorite snail food), dandelion, elder, henbane, hibiscus, hollyhock, kale, larkspur, leek, lettuce (liked, and makes good snails), lily, magnolia, mountain ash, mulberry, mums, nasturtium, nettle, nightshade berries, oats, onion greens, pansy, parsley, peach, ripe pears, peas, petunia, phlox, plum, potatoes (raw or cooked), pumpkins, radish, rape, rose, sorrel, spinach, sweet pea, thistle, thorn apple, tomatoes (well liked), turnip, wheat, yarrow, zinnia. They will eat sweet lupines, but will reject bitter lupines and other plants with high quinolizidine alkaloids. Snails also avoid plants that produce other defensive chemicals, defensive stem hairs, according to the United States Department of Agriculture .
Mr Azeez believes that snail business will always prove a success, for according to him the demand for snail is higher than the supply and as such the market potential of snail is inexhaustible, wondering why Nigerians neglect such lucrative area like snail farming with potentials for export to the international market. "You can keep your present job and do this on part time since it doesn’t require much time, notes Mr Azeez. The demand for snail is higher than the supply and as such the market potential of snail is inexhaustible, locally and internationally, adding that the future prospects of snail farming is great because only very few Nigerians for now have penetrated the lucrative market and reaping profit with ease.
"If your start up capital is N50,000, you can generate a huge sum from that at the end of the year given a risk free year.
Mr. Azeez who provides one-on-one training on snail farming believes that for one to do the business right, one needs to learn valuable lessons on how to do the business successfully. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural Library reveal that the U.S. imports snails worth more than $4.5 million in 1995 and this came from 24 countries. This includes preserved or prepared snails, live snails fresh, chilled, or frozen. Major exporters to the U.S. are France, Indonesia, Greece and China.
The U.S. exported live, fresh, chilled, or frozen snails worth $55,000 to 13 countries; most were shipped to Japan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, Nigerians are involved in exportation but the demand is very high.
Rebecca Thomson and Sheldon Cheney both of whom are experts on Raising Snails state, that West Africa is home to several edible snails, but the most popular according to them are the giant snail (Achatina achatina) and the big black specis (Archachatina marginata)
The former reaches a bodyweight of between 80 and 250g in 18 months to two years, whereas the big black adult weights about 350g or more. The two are far larger than the European and Helixispecies. Even the best-fed snails may fail to grow well, they claim.
The experts disclose that snails fit in well with other farming activities thereby helping to fertilize the soil prior to cultivation of other crops, explaining that those of unmarketable sizes can be fed to pigs, whole. As with any livestock, mini or macro, it is easy to slip on the trial to success. They advise that the best way to keep snails is in a kind of terrarium (glass cube with lid that can be lifted) or other small artificial environments in which temperature, humidity and light intensity can be regulated.
But plastic tunnels according to the experts are also a good choice. The most important factors in housing are humidity and protection against wild animals, birds and thieves. Furthermore, the soil quality is an important factor for growth.
The experts counsel that keeping snails outside in the garden is not recommended as the snails become easy preys for birds and the chances of escaping is equally high. They note that snails are not without problems, especially when exotic species are introduced, whether for farming or as ‘agricultural pest’.
According to the experts, there are several land snails that can be farmed and eaten. Examples are helix aspersa and helix pommatia, these are kept in Europe. Snail species that are suitable for tropical areas are the giant African snails, achatina fulica and achatina achatina (bodyweight between 80 and 250g) and the big black snail Archachatina marginata (bodyweight about 350g).
The experts also warn that snails are vulnerable to over population, as this may result in infection decrease in number of eggs produced, low weight gains and deaths due to build-up of slime on the ground. Lower stocking rates produce larger snails in a shorter time. For African snails, density stocks of about 100 juveniles or 30 pre-adult snails per square meter are recommended. But if you want to breed them yourself, a lower population density of between 6-7 snails per square meter will be required. For the smaller European snails (e.g. Helix Aspersa), stocking densities of 25 snails per square meter for breeding and about 300 for fattening is recommended.
Source: www.thenationonlineng.com/dynamicpage.asp?id=44824