Farming in Nigeria is one of the most profitable business ideas for young entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Snail farming is a profitable and effective business activity that has not been fully explored in Nigeria and other countries.
Snail
farming may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a
profitable business to start in Nigeria. This article will open your eyes to
the huge hidden wealth that can be gained by starting snail farming in Nigeria.
Why You Should Invest in Snail Farming in Nigeria
The opportunity to trade snails in Nigeria and Africa is huge but it
should not be underestimated. Snails form an important part of the diet in many
parts of Africa, although they are not always cheap and available all year
round. If you buy snails from many businesses, restaurants and fast food
restaurants will always be your customers.
In Nigeria, the price of raw and mature snails ranges from N800 to N1000
depending on the size. However, the annual demand for snails in Nigeria is
about 10 million kilograms per year. The international snail trade is thriving
in Europe and North America.
The United States of America imports more than $5
million worth of snails annually from around the world, including Nigeria.
For many years, hand-picked snails on farms or in the wild were the only
way to get snails in the market and on the table. At the moment, the demand for
snails is greater than the supply, indicating that the market for snails is
endless, both locally and internationally. Starting small and large businesses
is the only way to close the gap between demand and supply in Africa.
Important Factors to Consider Before Starting a Snail Farm in Nigeria
There are important factors to consider before starting a snail farm in
Nigeria. These points are very important, so make sure that you understand them
properly before setting out to start your farming.
• Housing
For a successful farming operation, you will need a suitable housing arrangement to house snails. Snail pens are what many farmers use to keep their snails. A snail bar is easier to make than it looks.
It simply means creating
an enclosure where your snails will be safe from the weather, insects, rodents
and other threats. If you want to profit from your snail farming, you cannot
live without a snail shelter.
• Feeding System
Snails have very weak teeth, so they obviously cannot eat solid things. They prefer to eat bland foods such as green vegetables, lean meats, and the likes. In addition, they find fruits like watermelon, papaya, citrus, and other fruits.
Additionally, you can feed snails, but this can be expensive in the
long run. Therefore, the best arrangement may be to have a combination of
greens and snails. If you want to start a profitable snail business in Nigeria,
you must have a good understanding of the best feeding methods for them.
• Environment
Snails do better in the rainy season and in humid areas than in dry
areas. So, if you want your snails to live at a high level, you need to create
a good environment for them to grow.
• Management
Snail farming requires you to understand how to properly handle snails.
As someone who wants to invest in snail farming, you need to understand their
life cycle, reproductive system, and how to manage both. In addition, you need
to understand the different types of snails, their benefits, monitoring the
number of eggs they lay, and what this will mean for your business.
Finally, you should understand that how you manage your snail farm is
almost exactly what the farm will get you. Deliver clean and quality control
for maximum results. Now that you understand the important factors when
starting a snail farm in Nigeria, let's look at the steps to start a profitable
farming business in Nigeria.
5 Successful Steps to Start a Snail Farm in Nigeria
Below are five important steps you must follow to start a profitable
farming business in Nigeria;
1. Choose Species of Snail to Farm
When creating a snail farm, you will want to use only one type of snail.
Studies have shown that snail species such as Achatina, achatina are best
suited for tropical climates such as Africa.
2. Prepare your Garden for Housing
Your snail cage should have enough space for your snails to graze freely.
Overcrowding your garden limits snail development, so it should be avoided.
Properly spaced snail habitats reduce the risk of outbreaks caused by
overpopulation.
Snails are good at escaping their enclosures, so you should try to build
an escape-free habitat. You can use a pen that will be wide and get it to ten
centimeters of the soil and the surrounding trees.
3. Buy your Snails
If you want to start a snail farm, you will need to get snails. After you
have installed a suitable house and garden for snails, it is time to buy good
new snails from any market or farm. It is always best to inspect the snails
before you buy them to make sure they are healthy.
When you first start your snail farm, you will want healthy, mature
snails that will lay eggs and help out on your farm. Look at the snail shell.
If there are lips, it means it is a snail.
4. Feeding and Rearing of the Snails
Snails are vegetarian and can be fed with various foods such as cabbage,
cucumber, mango, banana, eggplant, plum, tomato and papaya, cassava, okra leaf
or lettuce. However, you can also feed snails pineapple, banana or papaya.
Mating and laying eggs are an important part of snail farming. As a rule,
mating takes place in the spring and summer. As hermaphrodites, snails can
fertilize themselves once they are mature. In order for the eggs to be
successful, you need to use high soil with high temperature and humidity.
5. Harvesting and Selling of the Snails
It is not wise to harvest your snails before they grow, they must grow
before harvest. Do not collect all the ripe snails at once to sell them in the
market. It is important to keep a few for reproduction and as a basis for your
snail farming.
Snails have good demand and good prices in the market. You can easily
sell snails in the local market. Snail consumption is increasing rapidly
worldwide. Therefore, exporting to international markets can earn more money.
The Cost of Starting A Snail Farming Business in Nigeria
Expenses you will want to consider if you are thinking about starting a
snail farm include: housing, purchasing new equipment, food, management and
administration, marketing, and transportation. You can start a business with
N60,000 or N100,000 depending on the size you want for your snail farm.
Apart from your investment, it is possible to produce 1,000,000 snails
worth more than 5 million naira twice a year. This is made possible by having a
large variety of Achatina, achatina, which produces 200 to 400 in one batch two
to three times a year. If you produce 100,000 snails that sell for N250 each,
or N250 X 100,000, you will earn N2,500,000. You will earn N25,000,000 per year
or more if you produce 1,000,000 snails.
For beginners, creating a massage business plan is a very important thing
that must be completed before starting. This will give you a clear
understanding of everything that needs to be done.
Frequently Asked Questions About Snail Farming in Nigeria
How Does Snail Farming Make Money in Nigeria?
Snail farming in Nigeria is very profitable. You can start your business
with as little as 50,000 naira and earn up to 5 million naira in one year. To
be successful, follow the steps in this complete guide.
How Can I find Snail Farmers in Nigeria?
There are different ways to get snail farmers in Nigeria. You can go to
local markets, connect with business partners, network with high-value
networks, and sell at grocery stores.
How to Start a Snail Business in Nigeria
You can start a snail business in Nigeria by setting up a snail farm.
Follow the instructions in this article to start your journey. Alternatively,
you can buy snails from trusted buyers and resell them to affiliate businesses.
Final Thought
Snail farming in Nigeria is a good way to earn money that can be started
with little money. If you follow the steps outlined in this guide, you will be
well on your way to making a big profit from your small farm.
In terms of cost and time, snail farming is less risky.
Unlike many other agricultural businesses, farming requires little
startup and labor costs. You can also set up a snail farm in your backyard to
reduce the cost of buying land.
The best time to start a snail farm is during the rainy season,
especially from July to October, because this is when snails usually start
breeding. It should also be remembered that the price of snails increases
during the shortage period between March and December, which is the dry season.
If have you have questions about snail farming? Ask me in the comments section and I will answer.
0 Comments