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As a boy living in Umuahii with my grandmother. During that period we are constantly looking for ways to make extra cash to purchase some items. One of those ways for extra income was snail picking. It happens mostly during the rainy season and also when humidity is very high. I always join my seniors for such an activity. It was fun.
We set out for snail picking at about 10 pm and arrived home early morning around 4am with a bucket full of snails. The same morning my grandmother takes that to the local market and sells it. Back then as a youth growing up in the village, snail picking was a very lucrative business. Times have changed. Environmental conditions and climate changes have made snail picking a non viable venture anymore. Recently last year, one early morning I went inside the bush to see if I could pick some snails as I did in the past. Checking the likely habitat where they are most likely to be found. Though I found some and it was not really in the quantity I expected. I started thinking that there could be a way they can be domesticated and produced in a large quantity.
That was when snail farming hit me and further research I made confirmed that it is a very lucrative venture. Snail farming, also known as heliculture, is an increasingly attractive agricultural venture, especially in rural areas. It requires low capital, minimal space, and simple management, making it suitable for youths, men, women, and small-scale farmers seeking a reliable source of income and nutrition.
It can be started with almost zero capital and take only a very small space. Snails multiply very rapidly and grow quickly when placed in the right habitat. Market research I conducted confirmed that the retail price for 4 pieces of the biggest sized snail is between 8,000 – 10,000 naira. The medium size are sold at 5,000 – 6,000 naira. This price can go higher in some cities in Nigeria.
One of the major advantages of snail farming is its affordability. Snails can be reared in backyard pens, old drums, wooden boxes, or simple enclosures made from local materials. Iron wire mesh is used to cover the space so that they will not escape.They feed on readily available items such as pawpaw leaves, cocoyam leaves, cassava peels, fruits, and kitchen waste, reducing feeding costs significantly.
Snails need a warm, humid, and shaded environment, with optimal temperatures between 20–30°C (68–86°F) and humidity levels above 75–90% to prevent hibernation or death. They thrive in moist conditions, making the rainy season ideal, while requiring heavy shading, constant moisture, and shelter during hot, dry, or cold weather.
Snail meat is highly nutritious. It is rich in protein, low in fat and cholesterol, and contains essential minerals such as iron, calcium, and magnesium. Because of its health benefits, demand for snail meat remains high in both rural and urban markets, making snail farming a profitable venture throughout the year.
Environmentally, snail farming is sustainable and eco-friendly. Snails produce minimal waste, do not require chemical inputs, and can be integrated easily into other farming activities. Their quiet nature and small space requirement make them ideal for households without large farmland.
Snail farming also offers strong economic potential. With proper care, snails grow and reproduce quickly. A small number of breeding snails can multiply into hundreds within a short period (about a month), providing steady income through sales of live snails, processed as meat, or even snail slime for cosmetic and pharmaceutical uses.
Beyond income, snail farming promotes self-employment and youth empowerment. It encourages patience, responsibility, and basic business skills.
To succeed in snail farming, you must pay attention to proper housing, moisture control, hygiene, and protection from predators. Training and extension services can help farmers adopt best practices and avoid common mistakes.
Snail farming is a viable, low-risk agricultural enterprise with significant economic and nutritional benefits. With proper support, awareness, and encouragement, it can play a meaningful role in improving livelihoods, reducing poverty, and strengthening rural development
In summary, for youths in Obi Mbieri facing unemployment, snail farming provides a practical alternative to risky activities such as gambling, betting, drugs and migration in search of uncertain opportunities. I challenge Obi Mbieri youths, the elders both employed and unemployed to make further research about snail farming, start and learn in the process of doing it and grow.
If there is no work. Create work for yourself. If there is no start up capital. Look for zero or low start up businesses you can start such as snail farming as I have enumerated above. There is always something in you that God deposited that you can start with. There is no excuse for not doing anything. There is no excuse for engaging in illegal activities. Real wealth is created out of nothing.
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