A NEW INTEREST IN DOMESTICATION OF SNAILS IN NIGERIA: PROSPECTS

There is no gainsaying that the protein intake of Nigerians is generally low. This is despite the fact that a myriad of livestock abound in the area. Before now the impression is that few livestock products were available but the recent happening shows that this impression is wrong. Nigerians have now been exposed to a variety of livestock to such a level that they are left with many choices to make. The reawakening among Agriculturists is also laudable.

            Recently, the minilivestock industry has gained the attention and interest of agricultural scientists and some other individuals in Nigeria. Snail farming is one of such recent technologies in the minilivestock industry. Snail meat is commonly known as Congo meat especially in traditional rural setting. Children are the major collectors of snail from the wild and they sell to women who sell them at the markets or at roadsides for high prices. A lot of hazards are experienced in collecting snails from the wild and this is one of the reasons adduced to the high price it commands in the market. Information on the farming and domestication of snails has scanty and this is the major inhibition to full-scale snail farming. However, Agricultural scientists have made useful contributions on the methods of snail farming for home consumption and commercial purposes.

            In Nigeria and many parts of West Africa, the Giant African snail is common. Two species that prevail include Achatina achatina and Archarchatina marginata. By all ramifications, A. marginata is the best for its large size when fully matured and shell length, which affect its meat mass. It also lays more eggs within the breeding season. This snail is preferred in Nigeria, while A. achatina is preferred in Ghana.

            Snail meat is highly nutritious and contains a high level of protein. Apart from this its medicinal importance in the treatment of cough, hypertension and some other ailments are known. There are therefore great potentials in snail farming but for lack of information on its management techniques. Export potentials exist in snail farming because Giant African snails are consumed in many parts of West Africa and some parts of Europe and America. For an investor this is very important information, for instance A. achatina is preferred in Ghana as against A. marginata. To export to Ghana, a Nigerian investor then needs this information to enable him breed Achatina achatina on a large scale. However, in the west and southern part of Nigeria Archachatina marginata is the best for breeding purposes. Livestock extension therefore needs to intensify efforts to bring this vital information to farmers so that they can be adequately equipped for production. Agricultural agencies that are into rural development should bear this in mind. Capacity building in this regard cannot be overlooked. In view of this, the formation of Cooperatives that will take snail farming as a venture is being encouraged. Technical assistance has been provided to a few Non-Governmental Organizations and they have started operating in this regard. Community Snail Farming (CSF) is another potential area that can be exploited. This will ensure that snails are readily available either for export purposes or large scale supplies to interested individuals and groups. The author is an advocate of this practice. It is presumed that if a great representation of the community goes into the CSF project, diffusion will be more effective and this has great implications for adoption of snail domestication.

Olufemi Martins Adesope, PhD is a Senior Lecturer in Agricultural Extension and a consultant Agro-Rural livelihood development. He can be contacted at Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Email: omadesope@yahoo.co.uk