Snail farming

Snails like insects are not a commonly recommended source of nutrition. But snail meat is high in protein and iron, low in fat and contains almost all the amino acids needed by humans. In Ghana, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire, where snail meat is particularly popular, snails are gathered from the forest during the wet season. However, wild snail populations are in decline, primarily because of deforestation, pesticide use and slash and burn cultivations. For this reason the authors – J.R. Cobbinah, Adri Vink and Ben Onwuka – stress the importance of encouraging snail farming (heliculture) in order to conserve this important source of nutrients. Snail farming requires limited inputs and this handbook describes how snail farming can be set up and integrated into other farm activities. The authors point out that the type of snail farming they describe is only suitable for smallholders who live in humid tropical forest zones where there is a constant temperature and preferably no dry season. They also warn that snails are slow growing creatures so quick results should not be expected and that careful management is required to ensure that snails do not escape and become a serious pest.

Sample PDF: Snail farming
No. of pages: 78
Published: 2008