SNAIL FARMING (Heliculture)

                              LET ME EDUCATE US ABOUT SNAIL FARMING

Snail farming otherwise called Heliculture describes the process of raising snails for consumption. Snail is a cold blooded invertebrate belonging to the Mollusc  family. It is a source of protein to man. It has been discovered that snails have over 15% crude protein. They are also reared to avoid snail extinction as forests where snails inhabit are being depicted.

Below are points considered in snail production;

1)  Suitable pen(Soil, Vegetation and Climate) 
2)  Availability of space for rearing snails
3)  Hatchery/breeding
4)  Growth and fattening
5)  Reproduction and population control
6)  In-breeding
7)  Hibernation period
8)  Construction of snailery pen ( At least 2500 capacity snail pen)
9)  Supplementary feed
10) Feeding management regime
11) Selecting breeding snails
12) Production problems; diseases and pests, harvesting and marketing.

Snails are called micro livestock because they have small bodies inside a shell. They are cold blooded and nocturnal and also need a cold environment for their survival and growth. Snails feed on vegetables, fruits and roots which rasp with their radula. They could be found in forests under decayed leaves and wood debris. The entire outer body is made up of shell which is about 22 to 25 ft or the edible portion about 30 to 45% of its body.

                                                    USES OF SNAIL
1)  Source of income for farmers
2)  Provides 15% crude protein
3)  Its liquids fight against inflammatory skin diseases, cold, cough, bronchitis, catarrh,asthma
4)  Prevention of ventricular fibrillation and reduces platelet aggregation
5)  It has a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases due to the presence of Alpha-linoleic acid.

                               REASONS FOR SNAIL FARMING
1)  It requires less space and capital to start up when compared to other farm animals
2)  It has simple management practices
3)  It is not aggressive
4)  Helps in the elimination of organic waste
5)  It has ready market
6)  It can survive without food
7)  It has high fecundity

                                       BREEDS OF SNAIL
1)  Achatina marginata
2)  Achatina achatina
3)  Achatina zebra
4)  Achatina fulica

                    FACTORS AFFECTING SNAIL FARMING
1)  Inadequate improved species
2)  Availability of formulated snail feeds
3)  Its seasonality
4)  Inadequate farm skilled personnel
5)  Its high fecundity and mortality

WATCH OUT FOR THE NEXT EPISODE ON SNAIL FARMING!!!!!!!