For starting snail farming, you have to go through some processes. I have described some steps here for starting a commercial snail farming business anywhere.

Suitable Environment for Snail Farming

Generally, snails are easily dehydrated. Dryness occurs in snails due to loss of moisture. As wind increases the rate of moisture loss, select a suitable location for establishing a snail farm.

To prevent the snails from losing water from their body quickly, you have to place the snail houses (snaileries) in wind protected environment. An area with many trees can make the perfect environment for snail farming in Nigeria.

Suitable Soil for Snail Farm

Soil is the main habitat of snails. For successful snail farming, the selected land for this business must have to contain some of the components and chemical substances which are necessary for surviving the snails. For this reason, all types of soil are not suitable for commercial snail farming. The shell of the snail is mainly calcium and they derive most of the calcium from the soil. They drink water from the soil and also lay eggs on the soil.

For successful farming, you must select a suitable place with the availability of all types of necessary facilities for the snails. The selected soil must contain all the above elements. But be very careful. Keep proper balance. Never let the soil become waterlogged, or too dry.

Also, the soil should not be acidic. Always avoid clayey and acidic soil. Sandy-loamy soil with low water holding capacity is perfect for snail farming.

Buy Some Fresh Snails

After making a suitable environment and selecting suitable land for snail farming in Nigeria, it’s time to buy some fresh quality snails from the market or any farm. But some snail farming experts say that getting some snails directly from the forest instead of purchasing from the market leads to good results in production. Because the collected snails from the forest can more easily adapt themselves to the new environment than the farm snails.

If you are not able to collect snails from the forest, you can collect some from the bush through a very simple technique. During the rainy season, clear a little portion of land and sprinkle spicy fruits there like banana, pawpaw, plantain or pineapple.

Suppose you have done this process at 5 pm in the evening. Go back there after 2 or 3 hours. Collect all the snails gathered in the place. Repeat the process until you get a sufficient amount of snails for your farm.

There is also another way of getting some fresh snails. Try to get some snail eggs littered in the market where it is sold. While collecting, check the fertility of the eggs. Some eggs lose fertility because of exposure to sunlight.

Put the eggs inside a container containing wet sand and cover with cocoyam leaves. Within 21-28 days those eggs would hatch into baby snails. Start feeding the baby snails. Gradually they will grow up and then you can start snail farming.

Snailery (Snail House)

Snailery is very essential for snail farming in Nigeria. A good snailery keeps the snails safe and productive.

In the case of breeding on a small scale, snaileries can vary from a patch of fence-protected ground, sheltered from the wind to a covered box. Make a concrete pen with soil deep of about 10 inches or dug a trench, and cover it with a screen or wire all around to prevent the snails from escaping for larger and commercial production.

Generally, snails love to stay in cold and dark places. But keep the snails free from harmful humidity levels. For regulating the temperature, fresh leaves and cloth that is regularly wet can be used.

Prevent the entrance of harmful animals like snakes, rats and some other harmful predators. A wire is a great solution for keeping those animals away. You also have to prevent some harmful smaller ones like termites and ants.

Feeding

Snails generally eat fruits, green leaves etc. Food ensures the proper growth of snails. Provided food help the snails grow their tissues and they also need calcium for growing shells. You can feed your snails some leaves like cassava leaves, cabbage, cocoyam, eggplant leaves, lettuce leaves, okra leaves or pawpaw leaves. Among the fruits, you can feed them bananas, cucumber, eggplant, mango, oil palm fruits, pears, pawpaw, tomatoes etc.

Snail Farming Marketing Techniques

If everything goes well then your snails will start growing very fast. Separate the big ones from the small ones.

Generally, within a year most of the snails reach marketing size. Some snails take more time for growing. However, snails have good market demand and prices. You can easily sell the snails in your local market. Snail meat consumption rate is also growing very fast throughout the globe, so exporting in the international market can make more money.

Snail farming is a very lucrative business idea. The initial investment is low, the required space or labor is equally low and you can do this business along with your current profession. Beginners have to visit some snail farms to gain practical experience, but they can also read lots of books written about snail farming.

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Source: Roys Farm