Snail farming in Nigeria is a highly profitable venture, it contains a lot of health benefits for the human body and it is in high demand due to increased consumption. Starting a profitable snail farming business in Nigeria is very possible but only if you follow the right strategy and in this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to start a profitable snail farming business in Nigeria.
What is Snail Farming?
Snail farming also known as heliculture is a form of agriculture which involves the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of snails for commercial purposes and human food. Snails are hermaphrodites, which means that they possess both male and female reproductive organs. With their high nutritional value, they contain important health benefits including protein, calcium and iron and also has low fat and rich in sodium
Is Snail Farming in Nigeria Profitable?
Yes, snail farming is a highly profitable business in Nigeria due to the high demand for snails, though it is very popular due to the high consumption but the supply is low and this makes the farming highly lucrative. Venturing into snail farming in Nigeria right now is timely because very few people are involve in snail farming. Snails are popular delicacy in Nigeria, and are often consume in restaurants, hotels, events and homes. Snail farming requires low capital investment, and the return on investment (ROI) is high. You can make a profit of up to 300% within a year of starting your snail farming business.
Cost of Starting Snail Farming
This depends on few factors and most importantly how you want to start, if you want to start on a small scale the estimated cost will be around 100,000 naira but on a large scale, it will require close to 500,000 naira. Please note that these figures don’t represent actual cost.
Things You Need to Start Snail Farming in Nigeria
To start a profitable snail farming business in Nigeria, you need the following:
- Land: You need a piece of land that is suitable for snail farming. The land should be well-drained, free from pests and predators, and have access to water.
- Snailery: A snailery is a structure where snails are kept. You can either build a snail house or purchase a pre-made one.
- Snail stock: You need snails to start your snail farming business. You can either source them from the wild or purchase them from snail farmers.
- Feed: Snails feed on a variety of food, including fruits, vegetables, and leaves. You can also purchase snail feed from agricultural stores.
- Water: Snails need access to clean water for drinking and reproduction.
- Capital: You need money to start and the amount of money it requires will depend on the scale as we mentioned above.
Snail Farming in Nigeria: Step by Step Guide
Conduct Market Research:
Don’t make the costly mistake of starting your snail farming business without conducting adequate and due market research in order to determine the viability of the business. Though we talked about snails being in high demand due to the high consumption, yet it still does not take the place of a proper market study. Here are important reasons you must carry out a market research:
- Helps to understand the present market demand
- Have a clear idea about the challenges confronting snail farming business
- It helps you to know the actual cost that’s involve before starting and the available risk
- Including other essential details you need to know in order to be successful.
Get a Business Plan:
You need to compile all findings gathered during the market research into a document you can easily fall back on if you experience some issues during your business operation, a business plan is essential for all business because it helps to create a strategy for day to day running of a business. You can create a business plan yourself or if you lack the time and knowledge, then consider outsourcing to a business plan expert.
Click here to see our Standard Snail Farming Business Plan with 3 Years Financial Projections
Acquire a Land:
You have to acquire a piece of land in an environment that is suitable for snail farming, it should be well-drained, free from pests and predators with access to water.
Construct a Snailery and Purchase Snails:
You need to construct, buy or hire a snailery (a place to keep your snails) it should have enough space to accommodate your snails. and also should be well-ventilated to protect the snails from extreme temperatures, predators, and pests.
Once your snailery is ready, your next step is to purchase Snails and start the actual farming. Please note that this is a very critical stage and you should avoid mistakes, make sure you buy only from reputable sources.
Also don’t forget you will need to provide clean water and feed for the snails and snails eat a variety of food, including fruits, vegetables, leaves, carrot, cucumber and much more.
Harvest the Snails:
It usually takes about 6 months to a year for snails to fully mature and ready for harvesting and for consumption or sale. To harvest the snails, pick them up gently and clean them thoroughly.
The available market for snails include, households, restaurants, hotels, and supermarkets.
Recommended for you: How To Start Poultry Farming in Nigeria
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
- What is the best species of snail for snail farming in Nigeria?
The best species of snail for snail farming in Nigeria are the African giant snail (Achatina fulica) and the Archachatina marginata.
- How much does it cost to start a snail farming business in Nigeria?
The cost of starting a snail farming business in Nigeria depends on the scale of the business. However, you can start with as little as ₦50,000 ($125).
- What is the market demand for snails in Nigeria?
The market demand for snails in Nigeria is high, as snails are a delicacy in the country. Restaurants, hotels, and individuals are the major buyers of snails.
- What are the challenges of snail farming in Nigeria?
The challenges of snail farming in Nigeria include the lack of technical knowledge, the high cost of feed, pests and predators, and the difficulty in sourcing snail stock.
Conclusion
Snail farming in Nigeria is a highly profitable business that requires low startup capital and it’s known to have a high return on investment. To be successful as a snail farmer you need to adopt a proven strategy and by following every step outlined in this article, you can start a successful snail farming business in Nigeria.
