Snail farming in Cyprus showing slow growth
By Joseph Erinle
SNAIL farming could be one of the most lucrative businesses in Cyprus, with the island’s climate making it ideal for the sector to prosper but no one is taking advantage, it emerged yesterday.
A special report presented during a discussion at the House Agriculture Committee showed that international demand for
snails was so staggering that if the whole of Cyprus was filled with snail farms, it still wouldn’t satisfy foreign demand.
However during the session it emerged that the sector hadn’t even been included in the Agricultural Development Plan
(ADP), which agricultural organisations said should change.
The Agriculture Ministry also lacks knowledge and human resources to develop snail farming, deputies heard.
There are currently around 150 snail farms operating in Cyprus with little or no guidance, which as a consequence leads
to insufficient inspections by the state.
Farmers also lack the technical knowledge to maintain the farms. Some of the responsibility also lies with snail farmers,
most of who fail to register at the Ministry.
The first senior officer of the Veterinary Services, Pavlos Tomazou, called on snail farmers to register so the relevant
services can carry out health and safety inspections, but also for the farmers’ own protection.
“Snail production seems like a sector with great prospects so the Veterinary Services, with inspections to spot illnesses
and guarantee the protection of consumers, are in the process of preparing a Plan of Order, which we will discuss with
all involved bodies,” he said.
As things stand today, there are only two or three government officials that deal with snail farming, but Tomazou hopes
that by the end of the year, there will be better coordination.
Tomazou said efforts would be made to seek EU funding to help the sector. “We will try to find a way to absorb EU funds.”
He advised prospective snail farmers to seek all the information they need first and create the necessary substructure
before creating their business.
Representing the Larnaca Intercollege research team, Evangelos Evangelou presented the Committee with a study by
the college into the prospects of snail farming in Cyprus. The results were encouraging.
According to the study, Cyprus is ideal for developing snail farming, mainly due to its climate, and the profit margins for
setting up such a business should not be scoffed at, it said.
Evangelou said it would cost prospective snail farmers €19,500 to set up their business, with no return for the first year.
The second year, however, they would spend around €2,800 on maintenance and receive €5,000 in income.
By the third year, expenses would increase to €3,650 and income to €19,600.
“By the third year, farmers will have made all their money back, with a net profit of €15,000 a year from then on, which isn’t
bad for 250 hours work over the year,” said Evangelou.
“Based on 2007 statistics, international snail consumption reached around 430,000 tonnes, worth around $7 billion,” he
added. “If we examine the biological circle of a snail’s development, they live, grow and reproduce in specific
temperatures. In Cyprus, we have a huge advantage to develop this sector because of our climate.”
This could only be achieved through training programmes, he added.
A survey by the Commerce Ministry on the market has shown that France was one of the biggest importers of snails in
the EU, while Cyprus would have Greece, Italy and Spain to compete with in the snail industry.
After the meeting, DISY Deputy Kyriacos Hadjiyiannis said the discussion had proved extremely useful.
“This is an innovative sector, with great prospects for Cyprus’ economy as an alternative to the classic agricultural sectors,”
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said Hadjiyiannis. “If the right actions were taken, Cyprus could turn into one of the biggest snail exporters in central
Europe.”
Developing snail farming, he added, would prove hugely beneficially to Cyprus as a nation, which was why he felt it was
imperative the sector is included in the ADP.
“We are funding sectors that don’t bring results but this sector will be very productive,” said Hadjiyiannis, adding: “Once
there is coordination among the relevant services, snail farming can be included in the ADP.”
* Anyone interested in taking up the profession can call Intercollege on the number 70003200 for more information.
Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2009
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Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Literature review to all my seminar attendees
I told you of how our former president has spotted a money making machine in snail farming,now i i have something even worse .South Africa is embarking on a gigantic snail farmland that is 100% bigger than Obasanjo snail farm .
Snail Farm - Excellent Investment Opportunity
Category: Agriculture / Farming
Size: 19,500 m2
Key features:
• Production of eggs / baby snails for breeders
• Production of snails for the market
• Using the most efficient French experience
• Accent on ecological farming
• Opportunity for closed cycle production
Concept:
Snail Farm – 'Helix Aspersa M_M' is designed to meet the needs of the snail breeders in the country and Europe.
It is the biggest farm in its kind in Bulgaria. It has used a French "know how" and French equipment by the project development according to the standards and the ambitious aims. Situated on 19,500 m2 of land, this manufacture development has a total build-up area of more than 2,000 m2, including local heating working on solid fuel, refrigerator cell, stores, producing halls, generator. There are also 5,000 m2 covered and 2,000 m2 open breeding parks. The whole Snail Farm is supplied with local water drilling.
Location:
Snail Farm – 'Helix Aspersa M_M' is located in the Eastern Lowlands of the 'Stara Planina' Mountain, on 40 km from Nessebar Town and the Black Sea Coast (coordinates by Google earth – Latitude: 42°47'32.66"N and Longitude: 27°20'12.02"E). It is on the lower end of the Preobradzentsi Village, Burgas District. There are direct road accesses to the coast and inland.
Opportunities:
Snail Farm – 'Helix Aspersa M_M' offers the possibility to join the attractive production of dainty foods. It production halls can work whole year in '2 months' producing cycles. The breeding parks ensure material for the reproduction and the market. There is also an architecture planning for snail processing workshop to the farm.
In connection with the concept of this project it can provide also the 'know-how' to the coming breeders in form of teaching-working courses.
For you snail lovers, on a previous post we talked about snails as pets. That’s right, as home pets as fish, dogs and cats.
One special kind of snails are the Achatina Fullic or African Giant Snails. These are the biggest snails on Earth, when they are babies they only have 0.5 inches, but they can reach up to 12 inches and weight 2.2 pounds in their adulthood.
Original from Africa, these large beauties can be found almost anywhere since the times of World War II when they were used as canned food. Just imagine animals that eat almost anything and grow large in length and weight so fast.
But it is their big size what makes them a hard to raise as pets: all the food it has to eat, their massive reproduction (300 to 500 eggs!), their fast growth, their destructive potential (especially for agriculture), and that they can carry the parasite that causes meningitis. But still, very impressive animals, only for truly dedicated snail lovers.
Please note, African Giant Land Snails are illegal in the U.S. (but not in other countries).
Dangerous aquarium snails: how to get rid of them
As a fish breeder you obviously want your aquarium free predating snails. However, you not necessarily have to get rid of them all; you can always keep a few of them to give life and variety to the aquarium environment.
Two of the first things you must take away from your aquarium are dead snails. They are not beneficial at all, they pollute the environment. Likewise, poisoning products damage plants and the rest of aquatic creatures, so you better do not use whatsoever.
One of the best solutions to clean your aquarium is getting an animal that mainly eats sea invertebrates, as Clown loach, which only eats mollusk eggs and leaves the plants untouched.
Clown loach can live for over 22 years! So you can consider it a good long-time investment. But if you want something cheap –I mean really cheap- you can place on a lettuce leaf at night. In just 30 minutes you will be stunned by the loads of snails gathering around the lettuce.
In addition to this, you can prevent the massive snail reproduction by is removing the jelly layer covering the leaves were snail eggs lay on. It is a leg work, but it is easy and priceless.
Finally, keep in mind that although these and other techniques help eliminate dangerous snails from aquariums, the main reason of snail overpopulation is overfeeding. Therefore, if you regularly clean your aquarium (focusing on the rests of food on the bottom) you can save yourself a great deal of work and trouble.
How to choose aquarium snails
On a previous post I talked to you about the role of aquarium snails, now I am going to teach you how to choose good team mates for your fish aquarium that will help improve the water environment instead of wreaking havoc.
Apple snail in aquarium
These are good choices of snail species for your fish aquarium:
Apple snails (Ampullariidae family): Apple snail is the most sought-after variety of this family because of its beautiful and eye-catching orange color. Though beautiful and goof for your fish aquarium, you have to raise it in a separate environment from the other sea animals because if you let them reproduce in large quantities they will end up turning to plants to survive.
Ramshorn snails (Tropidiscus planorbis): it has a dark red shell and measures just 5mm. It is a very peaceful snail and the great news: it eats detritus and wastes, no plants.
Ghost shrimp (Natantia gen sp): these handsome snails are the favorites of aquarium aficionados; it has very little possibilities of becoming a plague. Though, they can reproduce easily, so you better raise them in a separate place so their baby snails can be safe from the aquarium inhabitants. They love eating the rests that sit at the bottom of the aquarium.
Mystery snails (Pomacea Bridgesii): I call it this the cleanser because it does the whole cleaning job, and he does it fast and thoroughly. This buddy only eats algae, no other vegetal unless it is covered by algae. Definitely a must-have.
What type of snails do you have in your aquariums?
Aquarium snails, bad or good?
I recently went to a pet store and while checking on the fish aquariums I noticed some cutie little snails in them that naturally made me wonder, why are they in there?
I always thought aquarium snails presence was harmful since they are plant predators, and plants are necessary to keep nitrogen in the right level to maintain water in good condition and provide enough oxygen to fish. Moreover, aquarium plants ensure the precise dose of CO2 and right lightning.
From this, you can naturally deduce that snails must be taken away immediately. However, NOT ALL snail species are harmful for an aquarium; in fact, they can be beneficial to keep it in good condition. Therefore, we have to learn how to tell good snail from bad snails.
How to indentify good aquarium snails from bad snails
1. Snail classification: identify which type of snails you have in your aquarium.
2. Holes in leaves: check if your aquarium plants have any holes.
3. Snails number: you know you have too many snails when the aquarium is visibly destroyed. You should proceed to remove them before they form a plague.
4. Snail shell: look if they have these characteristics:
1.
a) Oval shell: it is called Lymnaea stagnalis and is one of the most dangerous nails. It spends most the day devouring plants. Be careful, they reproduce themselves quite quickly.
• b) Swirl shell: easily confused with a conch, it is known as Malaysian trumpet snail. When you have just a few of them they do not represent any major danger, since they help cleanse and refresh the fish aquarium. When they grow in large numbers, they will need more plants and they will be hard to detect, since they spent most of the day under soil.
The biggest snail on Earth
For you snail lovers, on a previous post we talked about snails as pets. That’s right, as home pets as fish, dogs and cats.
One special kind of snails are the Achatina Fullic or African Giant Snails. These are the biggest snails on Earth, when they are babies they only have 0.5 inches, but they can reach up to 12 inches and weight 2.2 pounds in their adulthood.
Original from Africa, these large beauties can be found almost anywhere since the times of World War II when they were used as canned food. Just imagine animals that eat almost anything and grow large in length and weight so fast.
But it is their big size what makes them a hard to raise as pets: all the food it has to eat, their massive reproduction (300 to 500 eggs!), their fast growth, their destructive potential (especially for agriculture), and that they can carry the parasite that causes meningitis. But still, very impressive animals, only for truly dedicated snail lovers.
Please note, African Giant Land Snails are illegal in the U.S. (but not in other countries).
HAVING SNAILS AS ADORABLE PETS
Snails can be adorable pets (II)
Snails are not only nice decoration for the fishbowl; they can also be adorable pets that can live alone or with other animals.
There are two types of snails, that due to their differences, each kind has a particular care.
Water snails
• Also known as conches, water snails are small and have eye-catching colors (they present different shades of green and yellow).
• They can live alone or with other small sea animals in a fishbowl. You better leave 8 inches free of water, since they lay their eggs in the dry areas.
• For hygiene reasons, when changing the fishbowl water add chlorine tablets to prevent diseases.
• You can get them pet stores for $1 each.
Terrestrial snails
• Mostly known as escargot, these snails present a brown or coffee-like color and they can reach up to 10 inches (as the ones in Ecuador). Their feeding is mostly vegetal; they eat lettuce, papaya leaves, and any other edible leaf.
• The best place to have soil snails is a delimited place in your garden or a humid place with compost so they can comfortably lay their eggs on.
• You can get them pet stores for $2 each.
•
DISCOVERED
SOUTH AFRICA’S NEW “GOLD MINE’”[SNAIL FARM PROJECT]
SOUTH AFRICA IS PALNNING TO TURN THE WHOLE EATH TO A SNAIL PLANET.
By JOSEPH ERINLE
South Africa's first snail farm is due to be opened in Saldanha Bay next year. The pilot Heliciculture farm is expected to create at least 200 direct jobs and generate an annual turnover of R28,5-million.
Bertie Hechter, senior project manager for the Western Cape's department of social development, said the farm would add considerable value to the provincial economy. The development forms part of the department's poverty-eradication programme.
"I applaud the courage of the MEC (for Social Development, Kholeka Mqulwana) to take this bold step."
http://www.planetsnail.blogspot.com
Mqulwana's spokesperson, Simphiwe Xako, said the snail farm was one of several projects planned by the department to build social capital in the province.
The department this week called for expressions of interest from specialists to carry out a feasibility study for an auditing system for the farm. Hechter said the department has been working on plans for a snail farm since 1998.
Continues Below ↓
A joint partnership agreement has been signed with world's third largest snail farm. It is in France.
Hechter said the Saldanha Bay farm would be the first where snails would be bred in tunnels or batteries throughout the year. It will have 35 million snails at a time when in full production.
Hechter said the farm would breed the indigenous common brown snail, helix aspersa.
Most of the snails would be exported.He said there was a shortage of 40-48 000 tons of snails for the international market.
France alone consumed 20 000 tons of snails in December and January. This strong demand meant South Africa could export its snails at four or five times more than the local price.
Hechter said, while it would cost R27-million to set up the farm, the profitability of the venture had been verified. The province had already spent R3-million to research the viability of the farm.
He said the province had signed an agreement with the Saldanha municipality to release the land needed for the farm at a preferential rate.
Hechter said besides the culinary uses for the "little critters we step on", there were also medical benefits. Snails are cholesterol-free, contain nine minerals and produce anti-bacterial mucous.
How to control snails in your garden
Slugs and Snails are the biggest threat to our garden’s productivity. One of the best ways I have found to keep their population down is to go into the garden after dusk and try to catch them at it with a torch. I have been doing this for a while now, storing them in a empty jam jar and giving them to the chickens in the morning.
I was up late one night last week when it started to rain. Slugs and snails love the rain so I though I would go out and have a look for some. I hunted around the back garden for a while and found quite a good lot of them, then I though I would check the front garden. We have nothing growing there but I was thinking more about how much the chickens love them. Now the council have still not taken away the garden rubbish from about a 2 months ago and our front garden is beginning to resemble a giant compost heap. Although this is very ugly, that night I discovered that it is a haven for snails. I must have spent about an hour rummaging though decomposing plants with a torch and if any of the neighbours saw me I would not have blamed them for phoning the police. I must have looked quite strange. But, the police did not show up and managed to find about 200 snails of various sizes. A lot more than I had anticipated. I kept them in a jug with cling film over the top to keep them in.
The next day I went to the garden to feed them to the chickens and they were loving it. I think the actual snail is a good source of protein which is especially good for the one which we are fattening to eat and the shells are good for them too as they are a source of calcium which strengthens their egg’s shells.
They take a minute or two to eat each snail as they have to peck through the shell and after about 10 snails I was beginning to think I should go inside and do some proper work. But I had 190 snails to go through! I did not want to just leave them in the run for the chickens to eat as I was starting to suspect that that quantity might be too much for them in one day and if just a handful had escaped the chicken run then my runner beans would have been gone in seconds. So I grabbed a big plastic box and put them in there with some leaves and sticks to munch on. I am hoping that i might have created a little snail farm from which I will be able to take out a few snails a day for the chickens. Hopefully I will be able to create an environment in there where they will be able to breed giving the chickens a perpetual supply of protein and calcium. We’ll see.
Snail Farm - Excellent Investment Opportunity
Category: Agriculture / Farming
Size: 19,500 m2
Key features:
• Production of eggs / baby snails for breeders
• Production of snails for the market
• Using the most efficient French experience
• Accent on ecological farming
• Opportunity for closed cycle production
Concept:
Snail Farm – 'Helix Aspersa M_M' is designed to meet the needs of the snail breeders in the country and Europe.
It is the biggest farm in its kind in Bulgaria. It has used a French "know how" and French equipment by the project development according to the standards and the ambitious aims. Situated on 19,500 m2 of land, this manufacture development has a total build-up area of more than 2,000 m2, including local heating working on solid fuel, refrigerator cell, stores, producing halls, generator. There are also 5,000 m2 covered and 2,000 m2 open breeding parks. The whole Snail Farm is supplied with local water drilling.
Location:
Snail Farm – 'Helix Aspersa M_M' is located in the Eastern Lowlands of the 'Stara Planina' Mountain, on 40 km from Nessebar Town and the Black Sea Coast (coordinates by Google earth – Latitude: 42°47'32.66"N and Longitude: 27°20'12.02"E). It is on the lower end of the Preobradzentsi Village, Burgas District. There are direct road accesses to the coast and inland.
Opportunities:
Snail Farm – 'Helix Aspersa M_M' offers the possibility to join the attractive production of dainty foods. It production halls can work whole year in '2 months' producing cycles. The breeding parks ensure material for the reproduction and the market. There is also an architecture planning for snail processing workshop to the farm.
In connection with the concept of this project it can provide also the 'know-how' to the coming breeders in form of teaching-working courses.
For you snail lovers, on a previous post we talked about snails as pets. That’s right, as home pets as fish, dogs and cats.
One special kind of snails are the Achatina Fullic or African Giant Snails. These are the biggest snails on Earth, when they are babies they only have 0.5 inches, but they can reach up to 12 inches and weight 2.2 pounds in their adulthood.
Original from Africa, these large beauties can be found almost anywhere since the times of World War II when they were used as canned food. Just imagine animals that eat almost anything and grow large in length and weight so fast.
But it is their big size what makes them a hard to raise as pets: all the food it has to eat, their massive reproduction (300 to 500 eggs!), their fast growth, their destructive potential (especially for agriculture), and that they can carry the parasite that causes meningitis. But still, very impressive animals, only for truly dedicated snail lovers.
Please note, African Giant Land Snails are illegal in the U.S. (but not in other countries).
Dangerous aquarium snails: how to get rid of them
As a fish breeder you obviously want your aquarium free predating snails. However, you not necessarily have to get rid of them all; you can always keep a few of them to give life and variety to the aquarium environment.
Two of the first things you must take away from your aquarium are dead snails. They are not beneficial at all, they pollute the environment. Likewise, poisoning products damage plants and the rest of aquatic creatures, so you better do not use whatsoever.
One of the best solutions to clean your aquarium is getting an animal that mainly eats sea invertebrates, as Clown loach, which only eats mollusk eggs and leaves the plants untouched.
Clown loach can live for over 22 years! So you can consider it a good long-time investment. But if you want something cheap –I mean really cheap- you can place on a lettuce leaf at night. In just 30 minutes you will be stunned by the loads of snails gathering around the lettuce.
In addition to this, you can prevent the massive snail reproduction by is removing the jelly layer covering the leaves were snail eggs lay on. It is a leg work, but it is easy and priceless.
Finally, keep in mind that although these and other techniques help eliminate dangerous snails from aquariums, the main reason of snail overpopulation is overfeeding. Therefore, if you regularly clean your aquarium (focusing on the rests of food on the bottom) you can save yourself a great deal of work and trouble.
How to choose aquarium snails
On a previous post I talked to you about the role of aquarium snails, now I am going to teach you how to choose good team mates for your fish aquarium that will help improve the water environment instead of wreaking havoc.
Apple snail in aquarium
These are good choices of snail species for your fish aquarium:
Apple snails (Ampullariidae family): Apple snail is the most sought-after variety of this family because of its beautiful and eye-catching orange color. Though beautiful and goof for your fish aquarium, you have to raise it in a separate environment from the other sea animals because if you let them reproduce in large quantities they will end up turning to plants to survive.
Ramshorn snails (Tropidiscus planorbis): it has a dark red shell and measures just 5mm. It is a very peaceful snail and the great news: it eats detritus and wastes, no plants.
Ghost shrimp (Natantia gen sp): these handsome snails are the favorites of aquarium aficionados; it has very little possibilities of becoming a plague. Though, they can reproduce easily, so you better raise them in a separate place so their baby snails can be safe from the aquarium inhabitants. They love eating the rests that sit at the bottom of the aquarium.
Mystery snails (Pomacea Bridgesii): I call it this the cleanser because it does the whole cleaning job, and he does it fast and thoroughly. This buddy only eats algae, no other vegetal unless it is covered by algae. Definitely a must-have.
What type of snails do you have in your aquariums?
Aquarium snails, bad or good?
I recently went to a pet store and while checking on the fish aquariums I noticed some cutie little snails in them that naturally made me wonder, why are they in there?
I always thought aquarium snails presence was harmful since they are plant predators, and plants are necessary to keep nitrogen in the right level to maintain water in good condition and provide enough oxygen to fish. Moreover, aquarium plants ensure the precise dose of CO2 and right lightning.
From this, you can naturally deduce that snails must be taken away immediately. However, NOT ALL snail species are harmful for an aquarium; in fact, they can be beneficial to keep it in good condition. Therefore, we have to learn how to tell good snail from bad snails.
How to indentify good aquarium snails from bad snails
1. Snail classification: identify which type of snails you have in your aquarium.
2. Holes in leaves: check if your aquarium plants have any holes.
3. Snails number: you know you have too many snails when the aquarium is visibly destroyed. You should proceed to remove them before they form a plague.
4. Snail shell: look if they have these characteristics:
1.
a) Oval shell: it is called Lymnaea stagnalis and is one of the most dangerous nails. It spends most the day devouring plants. Be careful, they reproduce themselves quite quickly.
• b) Swirl shell: easily confused with a conch, it is known as Malaysian trumpet snail. When you have just a few of them they do not represent any major danger, since they help cleanse and refresh the fish aquarium. When they grow in large numbers, they will need more plants and they will be hard to detect, since they spent most of the day under soil.
The biggest snail on Earth
For you snail lovers, on a previous post we talked about snails as pets. That’s right, as home pets as fish, dogs and cats.
One special kind of snails are the Achatina Fullic or African Giant Snails. These are the biggest snails on Earth, when they are babies they only have 0.5 inches, but they can reach up to 12 inches and weight 2.2 pounds in their adulthood.
Original from Africa, these large beauties can be found almost anywhere since the times of World War II when they were used as canned food. Just imagine animals that eat almost anything and grow large in length and weight so fast.
But it is their big size what makes them a hard to raise as pets: all the food it has to eat, their massive reproduction (300 to 500 eggs!), their fast growth, their destructive potential (especially for agriculture), and that they can carry the parasite that causes meningitis. But still, very impressive animals, only for truly dedicated snail lovers.
Please note, African Giant Land Snails are illegal in the U.S. (but not in other countries).
HAVING SNAILS AS ADORABLE PETS
Snails can be adorable pets (II)
Snails are not only nice decoration for the fishbowl; they can also be adorable pets that can live alone or with other animals.
There are two types of snails, that due to their differences, each kind has a particular care.
Water snails
• Also known as conches, water snails are small and have eye-catching colors (they present different shades of green and yellow).
• They can live alone or with other small sea animals in a fishbowl. You better leave 8 inches free of water, since they lay their eggs in the dry areas.
• For hygiene reasons, when changing the fishbowl water add chlorine tablets to prevent diseases.
• You can get them pet stores for $1 each.
Terrestrial snails
• Mostly known as escargot, these snails present a brown or coffee-like color and they can reach up to 10 inches (as the ones in Ecuador). Their feeding is mostly vegetal; they eat lettuce, papaya leaves, and any other edible leaf.
• The best place to have soil snails is a delimited place in your garden or a humid place with compost so they can comfortably lay their eggs on.
• You can get them pet stores for $2 each.
•
DISCOVERED
SOUTH AFRICA’S NEW “GOLD MINE’”[SNAIL FARM PROJECT]
SOUTH AFRICA IS PALNNING TO TURN THE WHOLE EATH TO A SNAIL PLANET.
By JOSEPH ERINLE
South Africa's first snail farm is due to be opened in Saldanha Bay next year. The pilot Heliciculture farm is expected to create at least 200 direct jobs and generate an annual turnover of R28,5-million.
Bertie Hechter, senior project manager for the Western Cape's department of social development, said the farm would add considerable value to the provincial economy. The development forms part of the department's poverty-eradication programme.
"I applaud the courage of the MEC (for Social Development, Kholeka Mqulwana) to take this bold step."
http://www.planetsnail.blogspot.com
Mqulwana's spokesperson, Simphiwe Xako, said the snail farm was one of several projects planned by the department to build social capital in the province.
The department this week called for expressions of interest from specialists to carry out a feasibility study for an auditing system for the farm. Hechter said the department has been working on plans for a snail farm since 1998.
Continues Below ↓
A joint partnership agreement has been signed with world's third largest snail farm. It is in France.
Hechter said the Saldanha Bay farm would be the first where snails would be bred in tunnels or batteries throughout the year. It will have 35 million snails at a time when in full production.
Hechter said the farm would breed the indigenous common brown snail, helix aspersa.
Most of the snails would be exported.He said there was a shortage of 40-48 000 tons of snails for the international market.
France alone consumed 20 000 tons of snails in December and January. This strong demand meant South Africa could export its snails at four or five times more than the local price.
Hechter said, while it would cost R27-million to set up the farm, the profitability of the venture had been verified. The province had already spent R3-million to research the viability of the farm.
He said the province had signed an agreement with the Saldanha municipality to release the land needed for the farm at a preferential rate.
Hechter said besides the culinary uses for the "little critters we step on", there were also medical benefits. Snails are cholesterol-free, contain nine minerals and produce anti-bacterial mucous.
How to control snails in your garden
Slugs and Snails are the biggest threat to our garden’s productivity. One of the best ways I have found to keep their population down is to go into the garden after dusk and try to catch them at it with a torch. I have been doing this for a while now, storing them in a empty jam jar and giving them to the chickens in the morning.
I was up late one night last week when it started to rain. Slugs and snails love the rain so I though I would go out and have a look for some. I hunted around the back garden for a while and found quite a good lot of them, then I though I would check the front garden. We have nothing growing there but I was thinking more about how much the chickens love them. Now the council have still not taken away the garden rubbish from about a 2 months ago and our front garden is beginning to resemble a giant compost heap. Although this is very ugly, that night I discovered that it is a haven for snails. I must have spent about an hour rummaging though decomposing plants with a torch and if any of the neighbours saw me I would not have blamed them for phoning the police. I must have looked quite strange. But, the police did not show up and managed to find about 200 snails of various sizes. A lot more than I had anticipated. I kept them in a jug with cling film over the top to keep them in.
The next day I went to the garden to feed them to the chickens and they were loving it. I think the actual snail is a good source of protein which is especially good for the one which we are fattening to eat and the shells are good for them too as they are a source of calcium which strengthens their egg’s shells.
They take a minute or two to eat each snail as they have to peck through the shell and after about 10 snails I was beginning to think I should go inside and do some proper work. But I had 190 snails to go through! I did not want to just leave them in the run for the chickens to eat as I was starting to suspect that that quantity might be too much for them in one day and if just a handful had escaped the chicken run then my runner beans would have been gone in seconds. So I grabbed a big plastic box and put them in there with some leaves and sticks to munch on. I am hoping that i might have created a little snail farm from which I will be able to take out a few snails a day for the chickens. Hopefully I will be able to create an environment in there where they will be able to breed giving the chickens a perpetual supply of protein and calcium. We’ll see.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Basics of Snail rearing by Joseph Erinle
TAI SOLARIN UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION
IJAGUN, IJEBU ODE
OGUN STATE, NIGERIA
GROUP 78
MEMBERS OF THE GROUP
1. ERINLE OLUWADAMILARE JOSEPH (ECONOMICS )
2. SONOIKI OLUWABUNMI GRACE (ECONOMICS )
3. LEMO MOTUNRAYO OLUFOLAKE (EDM/ECO )
PROJECT TOPIC: INVESTMENT APPRAISAL OF SNAIL REARING AND PRODUCTION
(A CASE STUDY OF MUSTARD SEED RESOURCES FARM)
COURSE CODE: ECO 327
COURSE TITLE: PROJECT ANALYSIS (2 )
LECTURER-IN-CHARGE: MR. AGBATOGUN
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Production and rearing of snails is basically a new Agricultural business which was discovered a decade ago.
Basically, snails used to be fetched in the wild by young boys and girls and adult men and women who do this as a source of livelihood and for their immediate family consumption.
However, due to environmental destruction, deforestation and bush burning, all of which has affected the population of snails in the wild to the barest minimum, hence, snail farming technique was adopted not more than ten (10) years ago.
Snail rearing and farming is an agro-based business under animal husbandry. Hence, it belongs to the agriculture industry.
The areas of service or production in the project includes the following; snail rearing & production, sales of snails as pet animals, snail vending to major restaurants and hotels, export opportunities, medicinal advantage and potential art material.
PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT
The purpose of the project is to:
1. Ascertain the feasibility of snail rearing and production as a small and medium scale business enterprise.
2. Ascertain the project viability status.
3. To create awareness of this hidden gold mine.
4. To educate any interested individual of ways of making good source of additional income in the business.
5. To make known to the public why snail production is not only good as an additional source of income, but why everyone should go into it, due to its environmental advantages.
6. To show to the world a new means of reducing unemployment by making people especially the unemployed by making people especially the unemployed self reliant.
7. Finally, (as a field trip project) to show our capability of providing good feasibility report or analysis to an extent on the topic chosen as our field trip topic and economist to be or in training.
OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE
The objectives of the field trip project are below:
1. To make a concise and accurate feasibility report or analysis of the project.
2. To give a concise financial report of the project.
3. To give a forecast of the future income or streams of income that is obtainable via the project.
4. To expose the potential opportunities in the project.
5. To give up to date information regarding the project.
6. To give full details of the rearing to marketing opportunities of the project.
7. To give the risks involved therein and how such risks can be managed.
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL JUSTIFICATION OF THE PROJECT APPRAISAL
There are so many reasons why we chose the production and rearing of snails, some of the reasons are bow:
1. Snail rearing and production is a new business whose opportunity and potentials have not been fully tapped or exploited.
2. Snail rearing business is a business that is capable of creating job opportunity or making the unemployed self reliant.
3. Snail production and rearing can help increase our foreign exchange earnings.
4. Snail has some medicinal benefit such as in the cure of diabetics.
5. Snail production and rearing can help raise the nutrition supplement of the masses in their daily food consumption.
6. Due to massive and geometric deforestation, bush burning etc, hence snail rearing is important and crucial to prevent snail extinction from the earth surface.
7. Snail rearing is also important as it serves as a source of food for man, calcium for poultry birds and as an essential material for artist who knows the value of snail shells in the art work or design.
8. To encourage the breeding of snails as pet animals.
9. To add to the little existing knowledge of the importance of snails to mankind and the environment.
DEFINITION OF TERMS TO BE USED
Before going further, it is pertinent to explain some basic terms to be used during the course of this feasibility report/ field trip project.
1. G.A.L.S: Giant African Land Snails.
2. Molluscs: Biological name for snails.
3. Achatina Fulica: Botanical name for east African land snails.
4. Achatina achatina: Botanical name for tiger snails
5. Achatina magnata: Botanical name for west African land snails or
GALS
6. Nursery: A place where newly hatched snails are kept
and breed apart from adult snails.
7. Incubator: A place where snail eggs that were not burrowed
into the soil by adult snails are burrowed.
8. Hermaphrodites: Containing either male and female sexual cells or
organs.
9. Darting: Transfer of sexual cells or eggs from one snail to
another. It is otherwise known as snail mating.
10. U.V.B: Ultra Violet Bulb
11. Mist spray: Spraying snails with water via watering can
12. Escargot: Snail (in French)
13. Burrowing: Going slightly into or beneath the soil using the
head.
14. Hibernating: A situation where snails seal up their surface with a
soft shell which later hardens up and snails can
hibernate for months without any activity.
15. “Congo meat” A popular slogan for snail meat.
16. Snailry: Snail farm or snail farming
17. De-hibernating: A method or way of making snails stops
hibernating.
18. Hide-out: A place where snails hide from excess sunlight/ sun
ray.
19. Base: The tip or end of the snail shell that is most fragile.
INTRODUCTION AND FACTS ON SNAIL
Snail rearing otherwise known as HELICICULTURE is under mini-livestock farming. They exist majorly in abundance in West Africa and west Europe.
Snails exist both in the terrestrial life (on land) and in the aquatic life (life). However, this project concentrates more on the terrestrial snails in Africa popularly known as G.A.L.S (giant African land snails).
There are different species of G.A.L.S such as:
1. Achatina Fulica (East African Land Snails)
2. Achatina Marginata ( West African land snails)
3. Achatina Achatina (Tiger Snails)
However, this field trip project tent to concentrate and focus on Achatina Margnita which is the main African giant snails, commonly found in the west African region and due to the fact that it is the most commercially preferred snail both in the domestic and international market.
Snails are crawling exo-skeletal invertebrate animals that possess fluid instead of blood. They are eaten in different forms and various delicacies such as:
1. Fried snail
2. Boiled snail
3. Roasted snails (barbecue)
SOURCES OF SNAIL OR SNAIL SOURCING
1. IN THE WILD: this is the oldest means of snail sourcing where hunters or individuals go deep into the forest or farmlands and catch snails. Snails are best caught either very early in the morning before sunrise or evening after sunset because they are nocturnal animal who only come out to feed during the dark.
2. Markets: snails can also be gotten in various markets such as the new-market or oke-aje market, Ita- osun market.
3. Heliciculturist: snails can be gotten from heliciculturist, that is, those into rearing and production of snails in commercial quantity such as Obasanjo farms of Nigeria, that are already into 500, 000 capacity production of snails and many others.
4. Research institutes: snails can also be gotten from research institutes that are into heliciculture
5. Via importation: snails can also be imported from abroad such as from our neighboring countries e.g. Ghana, Benin or west European countries.
Out of all these options above, the best to source for snails with regards to this project is either from the markets or heliciculture because it’s cheaper and safe, and the best species is guaranteed.
Snails is being sold currently as at the time of this field trip project report for N150 for bulk purchase not less that 100 pieces and N200 per snail for individual consumers.
The best snails to be selected for breeding and production purpose are either Achatina Marginata or Achatina Fulica, which are predominantly available in Nigeria especially in both the western part and eastern part of Nigeria. Snails meant for breed should be properly observed and buyers should take note that no part of the snail shell should be broken. It is advised to start breeding with mature adult snails.
TRANSPORTATION
Snails are best transported either in sacks, basket, or wooden cages. Some people use iron cages or sometimes perforate the snail shells and tie the snails up with a rope passed through the holes on the shell. Breed snails should not be treated this way as it delays the growth and production of the snails.
ACCOMODATION
Snails are either accommodated in cages, used tires, big plastic drums or wooden box, plastic tanks. Other housing methods includes; basket, covered buckets, mu or clay pots etc. out of all the housing methods mentioned above, we recommend the use of wooden cages, and big plastic drums or wooden box. We prefer the use o f wooden box. This wooden box of size 20 by 15 cm the length and breadth will be needed for the project which has the capacity to accommodate a maximum of 1500 pieces of snails.
A nursery wooden box of size 20cm by 15cm in length and breadth is required, which can accommodate 1430 pieces of snails. The cost of accommodation will amount to N20,000.
FEEDING
Snails are generally omnivorous animals, that is, they eat both vegetables and flesh. But they are majorly herbivorous. Snails have varieties of food ranging from; pawpaw leaves, cocoyam leaf, water leaf, snail feed. Brewery waste, fruits, corn shaft, other vegetables etc. but only snail feed, water leaf and pawpaw leaves will be adopted for their feeding in this project. The snail feed which is the major feed to be used is produced at N5, 000 per 25kg.
100 pieces of snails can consume 25kg of feed per month. (Adult snails) = N30, 000. For 6 months, 800 pieces of young snails will consume 50kg of feed per month which equal N60, 000 for 6 months.
PEST AND DISEASES
Snails do not fall sick easily. They don’t have any minor or major sickness or disease. However, their common pest or predators such as humans will be minimal or absolutely zero.
GROWTH AND MATURITY
Snails mature between 3 to 6 months. But at six months, they would be fully matured and will have a good market price.
SALES AND MARKETING
Snails can be sold in different form and in different areas or ways. Snails are usually sold in the ways listed below:
1. Snails are usually sold alive in markets.
2. Snails can also be sold in processed form.
3. Snails can be sold in fried form.
4. Snails can be sold in barbecue form.
5. Snails can be sold roasted or boiled mixed with pepper.
6. Snails can be exported out of the country alive, processed or in any of the forms above.
However, we intend to sell our snails alive in our local markets and to restaurants at the usual price of #200 per snail.
PROBLEMS, PROSPECTS & CHALLENGES OF THE PROJECT
CHALLENGES: the challenges of this project are:
1. They are slow growing animal
2. It is not a project in which one will expect quick return due to their slow growing nature
3. Also, they are animals that have their own market, that is, they are not just consumed by everybody of different status because they are usually expensive.
4. They can not be exported to United States of America alive due to their fast rate of reproduction because they can become pest to farmlands if they escape from heliciculturist.
PROBLEMS:
Snails are harmless animals, but they have a lot of problems or factors that may affect them.
Some of theses factor are under two categories which are:
1. Biotic factor
2. A biotic factor
BIOTIC FACTORS:
These are living things that affect snails such as humans, soldier ants, termites, snakes, birds. All these mentioned above can kill the snails. They are explained below:
a. Humans: snails can be stolen by humans if their cage are not properly secured.
b. Soldier ants: these are their common enemies. They usually sting the snails to death in masses.
c. Termites: they do the same thing as soldier ants too.
d. Snakes: snakes usually swallow up the snails in their shell.
e. Birds: birds usually pick up snails, break their shell and swallow them. Some examples of such birds are owl, eagle, hawk etc.
f. Crab: crab usually kill snails just to take over their shells as their new home.
ABIOTIC FACTORS:
There are so many a biotic factors that affect snails. Some extreme factors can kill the snails, while other may cause the snail to hibernate or reduce its rate of growth and development:
a. Salt: snails should not come in contact with salt or neither should their feed contain salt as it will kill the snails. Salt is acidic and snails should not come in contact with it.
b. Extreme weather condition: snails love a temperature between 200c and 250c. Anything beyond this can make the snail to hibernate. Weather condition that is -00c or > 370c an kill the snails.
c. Accidents: snails often get killed or sustain broken shells through accidents such as falling from a great height, mis-handling, etc.
d. Bush burning: this is the most common danger that snails are prone to.
e. Excess carbohydrates: snails should not be fed with foods that have excess carbohydrates as they will swell up and burst.
f. Flood: snails should be kept in a cage that allows easy outflow of water. Snails such as G.A.L.S or Molluscs are not aquatic snails; hence, they can’t survive in a flooded cage as they will be filled with water, swell up and die.
PROBLEMS, AND CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED IN THE FIELD TRIP.
Some of the problems encountered during the field trip are below:
1. Unwillingness of the snail farmer to release his information to us. According to the snails farmer, the information we requested from him usually fetch him a minimum of #10000 per head during for seminar and much more for personal consultation services he renders.
2. There was iota of doubt and skepticism about our genuineness as undergraduate student or maybe a spy who have come to spy at his little gold mine ”snail farm” at his backyard that is fetching him amazing streams of income. According to the farmer, no one should or can be trusted in the Nigeria of nowadays as corruption is everywhere and no one knows who is who.
3. Difficulty in locating a snail farm as most people were surprised that snails are being farmed which is contrary to their ancient belief that they can only be gotten in the wild.
4. Difficulty in accessing Obasanjo Farms of Nigeria at Ota in Ogun state who are currently the largest producers and farmers of snails in Nigeria as at now. The snail farm which started 11 months ago with an initial brood stock of 10,000 pieces of snails have multiplied geometrically after 6 months to more than 80,000 as at may 2008.The restriction was due to the fact that the farm is not yet open for people to access as the former president was waiting for the snails to reach 500,000 pieces before he allows people to come for purchases.
5. The financial assessment of the project has never been done by the farmer. However, the figures we got proved that the business is indeed a viable one via the PAYBACK PERIOD METHOD, AVERAGE RATE OF RETURN METHOD, NPV AND IRR VALUE.
6. Due to their geometric rate of production, it was difficult for us to access the viability of the project through the yearly cash inflow but rather we used monthly cash inflow.
Written by ERINLE OLUWADAMILARE JOSEPH B.Sc/Edu ECONOMICS
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED,NO PART OR PORTION OF THIS MATERIAL MUST BE PUBLICIZED WITHOUT THE FULL CONSENT OF THE AUTHOR.OFFENDERS WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW !
IJAGUN, IJEBU ODE
OGUN STATE, NIGERIA
GROUP 78
MEMBERS OF THE GROUP
1. ERINLE OLUWADAMILARE JOSEPH (ECONOMICS )
2. SONOIKI OLUWABUNMI GRACE (ECONOMICS )
3. LEMO MOTUNRAYO OLUFOLAKE (EDM/ECO )
PROJECT TOPIC: INVESTMENT APPRAISAL OF SNAIL REARING AND PRODUCTION
(A CASE STUDY OF MUSTARD SEED RESOURCES FARM)
COURSE CODE: ECO 327
COURSE TITLE: PROJECT ANALYSIS (2 )
LECTURER-IN-CHARGE: MR. AGBATOGUN
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Production and rearing of snails is basically a new Agricultural business which was discovered a decade ago.
Basically, snails used to be fetched in the wild by young boys and girls and adult men and women who do this as a source of livelihood and for their immediate family consumption.
However, due to environmental destruction, deforestation and bush burning, all of which has affected the population of snails in the wild to the barest minimum, hence, snail farming technique was adopted not more than ten (10) years ago.
Snail rearing and farming is an agro-based business under animal husbandry. Hence, it belongs to the agriculture industry.
The areas of service or production in the project includes the following; snail rearing & production, sales of snails as pet animals, snail vending to major restaurants and hotels, export opportunities, medicinal advantage and potential art material.
PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT
The purpose of the project is to:
1. Ascertain the feasibility of snail rearing and production as a small and medium scale business enterprise.
2. Ascertain the project viability status.
3. To create awareness of this hidden gold mine.
4. To educate any interested individual of ways of making good source of additional income in the business.
5. To make known to the public why snail production is not only good as an additional source of income, but why everyone should go into it, due to its environmental advantages.
6. To show to the world a new means of reducing unemployment by making people especially the unemployed by making people especially the unemployed self reliant.
7. Finally, (as a field trip project) to show our capability of providing good feasibility report or analysis to an extent on the topic chosen as our field trip topic and economist to be or in training.
OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE
The objectives of the field trip project are below:
1. To make a concise and accurate feasibility report or analysis of the project.
2. To give a concise financial report of the project.
3. To give a forecast of the future income or streams of income that is obtainable via the project.
4. To expose the potential opportunities in the project.
5. To give up to date information regarding the project.
6. To give full details of the rearing to marketing opportunities of the project.
7. To give the risks involved therein and how such risks can be managed.
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL JUSTIFICATION OF THE PROJECT APPRAISAL
There are so many reasons why we chose the production and rearing of snails, some of the reasons are bow:
1. Snail rearing and production is a new business whose opportunity and potentials have not been fully tapped or exploited.
2. Snail rearing business is a business that is capable of creating job opportunity or making the unemployed self reliant.
3. Snail production and rearing can help increase our foreign exchange earnings.
4. Snail has some medicinal benefit such as in the cure of diabetics.
5. Snail production and rearing can help raise the nutrition supplement of the masses in their daily food consumption.
6. Due to massive and geometric deforestation, bush burning etc, hence snail rearing is important and crucial to prevent snail extinction from the earth surface.
7. Snail rearing is also important as it serves as a source of food for man, calcium for poultry birds and as an essential material for artist who knows the value of snail shells in the art work or design.
8. To encourage the breeding of snails as pet animals.
9. To add to the little existing knowledge of the importance of snails to mankind and the environment.
DEFINITION OF TERMS TO BE USED
Before going further, it is pertinent to explain some basic terms to be used during the course of this feasibility report/ field trip project.
1. G.A.L.S: Giant African Land Snails.
2. Molluscs: Biological name for snails.
3. Achatina Fulica: Botanical name for east African land snails.
4. Achatina achatina: Botanical name for tiger snails
5. Achatina magnata: Botanical name for west African land snails or
GALS
6. Nursery: A place where newly hatched snails are kept
and breed apart from adult snails.
7. Incubator: A place where snail eggs that were not burrowed
into the soil by adult snails are burrowed.
8. Hermaphrodites: Containing either male and female sexual cells or
organs.
9. Darting: Transfer of sexual cells or eggs from one snail to
another. It is otherwise known as snail mating.
10. U.V.B: Ultra Violet Bulb
11. Mist spray: Spraying snails with water via watering can
12. Escargot: Snail (in French)
13. Burrowing: Going slightly into or beneath the soil using the
head.
14. Hibernating: A situation where snails seal up their surface with a
soft shell which later hardens up and snails can
hibernate for months without any activity.
15. “Congo meat” A popular slogan for snail meat.
16. Snailry: Snail farm or snail farming
17. De-hibernating: A method or way of making snails stops
hibernating.
18. Hide-out: A place where snails hide from excess sunlight/ sun
ray.
19. Base: The tip or end of the snail shell that is most fragile.
INTRODUCTION AND FACTS ON SNAIL
Snail rearing otherwise known as HELICICULTURE is under mini-livestock farming. They exist majorly in abundance in West Africa and west Europe.
Snails exist both in the terrestrial life (on land) and in the aquatic life (life). However, this project concentrates more on the terrestrial snails in Africa popularly known as G.A.L.S (giant African land snails).
There are different species of G.A.L.S such as:
1. Achatina Fulica (East African Land Snails)
2. Achatina Marginata ( West African land snails)
3. Achatina Achatina (Tiger Snails)
However, this field trip project tent to concentrate and focus on Achatina Margnita which is the main African giant snails, commonly found in the west African region and due to the fact that it is the most commercially preferred snail both in the domestic and international market.
Snails are crawling exo-skeletal invertebrate animals that possess fluid instead of blood. They are eaten in different forms and various delicacies such as:
1. Fried snail
2. Boiled snail
3. Roasted snails (barbecue)
SOURCES OF SNAIL OR SNAIL SOURCING
1. IN THE WILD: this is the oldest means of snail sourcing where hunters or individuals go deep into the forest or farmlands and catch snails. Snails are best caught either very early in the morning before sunrise or evening after sunset because they are nocturnal animal who only come out to feed during the dark.
2. Markets: snails can also be gotten in various markets such as the new-market or oke-aje market, Ita- osun market.
3. Heliciculturist: snails can be gotten from heliciculturist, that is, those into rearing and production of snails in commercial quantity such as Obasanjo farms of Nigeria, that are already into 500, 000 capacity production of snails and many others.
4. Research institutes: snails can also be gotten from research institutes that are into heliciculture
5. Via importation: snails can also be imported from abroad such as from our neighboring countries e.g. Ghana, Benin or west European countries.
Out of all these options above, the best to source for snails with regards to this project is either from the markets or heliciculture because it’s cheaper and safe, and the best species is guaranteed.
Snails is being sold currently as at the time of this field trip project report for N150 for bulk purchase not less that 100 pieces and N200 per snail for individual consumers.
The best snails to be selected for breeding and production purpose are either Achatina Marginata or Achatina Fulica, which are predominantly available in Nigeria especially in both the western part and eastern part of Nigeria. Snails meant for breed should be properly observed and buyers should take note that no part of the snail shell should be broken. It is advised to start breeding with mature adult snails.
TRANSPORTATION
Snails are best transported either in sacks, basket, or wooden cages. Some people use iron cages or sometimes perforate the snail shells and tie the snails up with a rope passed through the holes on the shell. Breed snails should not be treated this way as it delays the growth and production of the snails.
ACCOMODATION
Snails are either accommodated in cages, used tires, big plastic drums or wooden box, plastic tanks. Other housing methods includes; basket, covered buckets, mu or clay pots etc. out of all the housing methods mentioned above, we recommend the use of wooden cages, and big plastic drums or wooden box. We prefer the use o f wooden box. This wooden box of size 20 by 15 cm the length and breadth will be needed for the project which has the capacity to accommodate a maximum of 1500 pieces of snails.
A nursery wooden box of size 20cm by 15cm in length and breadth is required, which can accommodate 1430 pieces of snails. The cost of accommodation will amount to N20,000.
FEEDING
Snails are generally omnivorous animals, that is, they eat both vegetables and flesh. But they are majorly herbivorous. Snails have varieties of food ranging from; pawpaw leaves, cocoyam leaf, water leaf, snail feed. Brewery waste, fruits, corn shaft, other vegetables etc. but only snail feed, water leaf and pawpaw leaves will be adopted for their feeding in this project. The snail feed which is the major feed to be used is produced at N5, 000 per 25kg.
100 pieces of snails can consume 25kg of feed per month. (Adult snails) = N30, 000. For 6 months, 800 pieces of young snails will consume 50kg of feed per month which equal N60, 000 for 6 months.
PEST AND DISEASES
Snails do not fall sick easily. They don’t have any minor or major sickness or disease. However, their common pest or predators such as humans will be minimal or absolutely zero.
GROWTH AND MATURITY
Snails mature between 3 to 6 months. But at six months, they would be fully matured and will have a good market price.
SALES AND MARKETING
Snails can be sold in different form and in different areas or ways. Snails are usually sold in the ways listed below:
1. Snails are usually sold alive in markets.
2. Snails can also be sold in processed form.
3. Snails can be sold in fried form.
4. Snails can be sold in barbecue form.
5. Snails can be sold roasted or boiled mixed with pepper.
6. Snails can be exported out of the country alive, processed or in any of the forms above.
However, we intend to sell our snails alive in our local markets and to restaurants at the usual price of #200 per snail.
PROBLEMS, PROSPECTS & CHALLENGES OF THE PROJECT
CHALLENGES: the challenges of this project are:
1. They are slow growing animal
2. It is not a project in which one will expect quick return due to their slow growing nature
3. Also, they are animals that have their own market, that is, they are not just consumed by everybody of different status because they are usually expensive.
4. They can not be exported to United States of America alive due to their fast rate of reproduction because they can become pest to farmlands if they escape from heliciculturist.
PROBLEMS:
Snails are harmless animals, but they have a lot of problems or factors that may affect them.
Some of theses factor are under two categories which are:
1. Biotic factor
2. A biotic factor
BIOTIC FACTORS:
These are living things that affect snails such as humans, soldier ants, termites, snakes, birds. All these mentioned above can kill the snails. They are explained below:
a. Humans: snails can be stolen by humans if their cage are not properly secured.
b. Soldier ants: these are their common enemies. They usually sting the snails to death in masses.
c. Termites: they do the same thing as soldier ants too.
d. Snakes: snakes usually swallow up the snails in their shell.
e. Birds: birds usually pick up snails, break their shell and swallow them. Some examples of such birds are owl, eagle, hawk etc.
f. Crab: crab usually kill snails just to take over their shells as their new home.
ABIOTIC FACTORS:
There are so many a biotic factors that affect snails. Some extreme factors can kill the snails, while other may cause the snail to hibernate or reduce its rate of growth and development:
a. Salt: snails should not come in contact with salt or neither should their feed contain salt as it will kill the snails. Salt is acidic and snails should not come in contact with it.
b. Extreme weather condition: snails love a temperature between 200c and 250c. Anything beyond this can make the snail to hibernate. Weather condition that is -00c or > 370c an kill the snails.
c. Accidents: snails often get killed or sustain broken shells through accidents such as falling from a great height, mis-handling, etc.
d. Bush burning: this is the most common danger that snails are prone to.
e. Excess carbohydrates: snails should not be fed with foods that have excess carbohydrates as they will swell up and burst.
f. Flood: snails should be kept in a cage that allows easy outflow of water. Snails such as G.A.L.S or Molluscs are not aquatic snails; hence, they can’t survive in a flooded cage as they will be filled with water, swell up and die.
PROBLEMS, AND CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED IN THE FIELD TRIP.
Some of the problems encountered during the field trip are below:
1. Unwillingness of the snail farmer to release his information to us. According to the snails farmer, the information we requested from him usually fetch him a minimum of #10000 per head during for seminar and much more for personal consultation services he renders.
2. There was iota of doubt and skepticism about our genuineness as undergraduate student or maybe a spy who have come to spy at his little gold mine ”snail farm” at his backyard that is fetching him amazing streams of income. According to the farmer, no one should or can be trusted in the Nigeria of nowadays as corruption is everywhere and no one knows who is who.
3. Difficulty in locating a snail farm as most people were surprised that snails are being farmed which is contrary to their ancient belief that they can only be gotten in the wild.
4. Difficulty in accessing Obasanjo Farms of Nigeria at Ota in Ogun state who are currently the largest producers and farmers of snails in Nigeria as at now. The snail farm which started 11 months ago with an initial brood stock of 10,000 pieces of snails have multiplied geometrically after 6 months to more than 80,000 as at may 2008.The restriction was due to the fact that the farm is not yet open for people to access as the former president was waiting for the snails to reach 500,000 pieces before he allows people to come for purchases.
5. The financial assessment of the project has never been done by the farmer. However, the figures we got proved that the business is indeed a viable one via the PAYBACK PERIOD METHOD, AVERAGE RATE OF RETURN METHOD, NPV AND IRR VALUE.
6. Due to their geometric rate of production, it was difficult for us to access the viability of the project through the yearly cash inflow but rather we used monthly cash inflow.
Written by ERINLE OLUWADAMILARE JOSEPH B.Sc/Edu ECONOMICS
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED,NO PART OR PORTION OF THIS MATERIAL MUST BE PUBLICIZED WITHOUT THE FULL CONSENT OF THE AUTHOR.OFFENDERS WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW !
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