In Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE Profitability of Snail ( Archachatina fulica ) in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria

Ahaotu E.O 1*, Ogu M2 and Lawal M 3

1*Department of Animal Production and Health Technology, 2Department of Agricultural Extension and Management Technology, Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwo, Nigeria. 3Department of Agricultural Education, Federal College of Education Katsina, Katsina State, Nigeria.

Abstract Nigeria’s main sources of animal protein are fish, livestock and bush

meat. However, livestock production is not sufficient to meet the national

meat requirement, and there is the need to develop other sources of acceptable meat in addition to conventional livestock. The snail (Archachatina fulica ) is an important source of meat and is acknowledged to be the preferred meat virtually throughout Nigeria and the West African *Corresponding Author: Sub-Region. The demand for snail meat in Nigeria is high with its accompanying price hikes, making the prospect of snail rearing very bright Ahaotu E.O and encouraging either as a full-time or part-time job. The study therefore recognized the following features of snail production in the Njikoka Local Email: [email protected] Government Area of Anambra State; average stock size of 42 snails, with

only 9% being from the wild. Also, three-tier cage made with wood and Received: 15/01/2019 mesh dominated types of cage used by as much as 80%, with concrete cage Accepted: 12/02/2019 and other making up for 18% and 2%, respectively. Ninety percent of the farmers used indoor housing system, and the remaining 10% used outdoor system. Again, 91% and 9% of the respondents utilized family labour and hired labour, respectively. Income generation served as the main motive for snail production by about 63% of the respondent, with about 21% and 9% declaring employment and environmental conservation respectively as the

main motive for undertaking the venture.

Keywords: Archachatina fulica , Profitability, Njikoka, Income Generation, Snail Production.

1. Introduction Snail meat (Smeat) has been consumed by Snails are bilaterally symmetrical invertebrates humans throughout the world (Ahaotu, 2016). The with soft-segmented exoskeleton in the form of interest in snail farming around the world comes from calcareous shells. In West Africa, snails dwell mostly snails’ high quality protein and medicinal value. in humid forest areas from where these are gathered by Protein from snail meat is said to be very rich in all villagers for consumption and other uses (Onuigbo, essential amino acids such as Lysine, Leucine, arginine 2015). The meat has traditionally been a major and tryptophan. Smeat has been found to be higher in ingredient in the diet of people living in high forest protein content (37 - 51%) compared to that of guinea zone. Agbogidi et al. (2008) also reported that snails pig (20.3%), poultry (18.3%), fish (18%), cattle are high in protein, iron and low in fat. Ahaotu et al. (17.5%), sheep (16.4%) and swine (14.5%). Iron (2015) noted that snails contain almost all the amino content (45 - 59 mg/kg), low in fat (0.05 - 0.08%), acids required by man. Snails belong to a division of sodium and cholesterol level (Bayode, 2009). The the animal kingdom called Mollusca. Mollusca liquid obtained from snail has high iron content and is constitute one of the major divisions of the animal used for treatment of anemia, hypertension and poor kingdom (Ademosun and Omidigi, 1999). There are sight. The formulations from this liquid can be used to probably over 100,000 living species and those animals treat burns, abscesses and other wounds, measles, small have adapted themselves to practically every available pox and some skin diseases (Bayode, 2009). Smeat is environmental condition. recommended in the past for treatment of ulcer and asthma.

International Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences | Year-2019 | Volume 06 | Pages 06-13 © 2019 Jakraya Ahaotu et al…Profitability of Snail (Archachatina fulica) in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria

Smeat being rich in calcium, potassium, Adeleke, 2006). Much of the snail marketed in Nigeria magnesium and iron is recommended for a is collected from the wild. hypertensive and pregnant women. It is important In spite of the potentials and advantages of snail source of protein to human diet, additional source of farming, widespread participation in its production by income to farmers. This study will serve as reference farmers is yet to be achieved in Nigeria (Baba and material for snail farmers and create awareness to Adeleke, 2006). Much of the snails marketed in Nigeria prospective snail farmers. Over 80% of Nigerian are collected from the wild. Few farms exist for populace is poor to whom protein products such as: commercial breeding and production of snails. This is Meat is a rare luxury. To avert danger of malnutrition, probably attributed to lack of awareness of the especially among children, the giant African land snail economic potentials of this micro livestock (Ahaotu et is a good substitute of source of protein (Bayobe, al ., 2014; Anyalebechi, 2015). This study therefore 2009). Asheye et al. (2001) reported that snail could be examines the profitability of snail production as an used to reduce of problem of malnutrition. Durunna et economic venture among farmers in Njikoka local al. (2015) reported that snail breeding can start at any government area of Anambra State, Nigeria. The time of the year under domestication, but the time to specific objectives are to describe the features of snail start breeding snail is at the beginning of the rainy farming in the Njikoka Local Government Area of season when feeds of snail are available. The Anambra State, to determine the costs and returns foundation stock may be from the following sources: associated with snail production, to ascertain the snail farmers, research institutes or direct collection profitability and viability of snail production, to from the forest or bush. Edible land snails, though identify and measure the socio-economic determinants hermaphrodite, reproduce by fertilization of two ova of profitability in snail production and to ascertain the when two snails mate and exchange their sperms problems and externalities of snail production. reciprocally. The eggs, about two weeks after fertilization are laid at night in holes dug 5 - 15 cm 2. Materials and Methods deep in the soil. The hatchlings remain in the soil for 3 The study area is Njikoka Local Government of - 5 days after in situ hatching method. Anambra State in Nigeria. Njikoka is a local The land snail of West Africa, which is the government area in Anambra State, with administrative edible snail bred in the study area, belongs to two headquarters in the town of Abagana. Njikoka local closely related general Achatina achatina and government area is in Anambra Central Senatorial Archachatina fulica . The major difference between A. District alongside Awka North, Awka South, Anaocha, achatina and A. marginata is in their shell pattern Idemili North, Idemili South and Dunukofia local shape of shell Apex colour and number of eggs laid per government areas. The map of the study area is shown clutch (Ahaotu et al., 2014). These land snails are in fig 1 below. It lays between latitude 6º10' 0" north of marginal but very successfully terrestrial. When equator and longitude 6 º35 1 and 7º4'0" east of the actively moving they continuously use water. During Greenwich median, in the tropical rain forest zone. The period when water is unavailable, they retreat into their area is characterized by annual rainfall level of more shells and remain inactive until conditions improve. than 2000 mm. The mean annual temperature over Snails feed on a wide variety of food mostly in most of the region is about 27 ºc. the night at dusk, snails are nocturnal and crepuscular. They may feed during the day when it rains or there is very dark cloud (Akintomide, 1997). The advantages of snail farming (heliculture) over most other livestock includes low capital requirements, for its establishment and operation, less demand for professional knowledge, very high fecundity and low mortality, less labour requirement, and availability of ready domestic and international markets among others (Akinbile, 2000). Some constraints that militate against good performance of snail includes genetic constituent, hormonal influence, environmental factors, rearing pattern and inefficient use of resources available to the farmers as was observed by Akinbile (2000). In spite of the potentials and advantages of snail farming Fig 1: Map of Njikoka Local Government Area of (heliculture), widespread participation in its production Anambra state, Nigeria. by farmers has not been achieved in Nigeria (Baba and

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2.1 Data Collection education. This shows that majority of the respondents Data were collected from primary and (89%) had obtained some level of formal education. secondary sources. Primary data was collected through the use of questionnaires designed to elicit information Table 2: Distribution of respondents by marital status from snail farmers. This is with regards to their socio- economic characteristics, production system, cost of Status No. of Proportion of input used in the production process and the value of Respondents Respondents (%) output among others. However, sixty-one (61) out the Married 94 94.00 seventy five (75) copies of the questionnaires Single 5 5.00 administered were retrieved. This gave questionnaire Widow 1 1.00 recovery percentages of more than eight one percent Field survey: 2015 (81.33%) and is considered an adequate response. Primary data was mainly used for the study, and these 3.4 Religious Affiliation of Respondents were obtained from owners of snail enterprises, drawn Religious affiliation of the respondents is from 7 out the 15 randomly selected towns in Njikoka displayed by Table 4. Though majority of the Local Government Area. In some cases, farm hands respondents (89%) are Christians, the fact that 7% and were also interviewed for specific information relating 4% of respondents are Muslims and to feeding and farm management. Primary qualitative Traditionalists/pagans, respectively, shows that snail data were collected via observation. production transcends beyond religious boundaries. This confirms findings from various studies. Vos 3. Results and Discussion (1978) all indicated that, unlike some animals which may not be killed or touched because of formal 3.1 Sex Distribution of Respondents religious dictates, traditional taboos or prejudices, the Table 1 shows that 84 out of the 100 snail snail transcends religious prohibitions. farmers interviewed, representing 84% were females. The reason for such a great disparity in gender 3.5 System of Snail Production distribution could be attributed to the fact that since It is evident from Table 5 that, the majority snail production requires carefulness, the female (72%) of the snail farmers are into the production of farmers are more careful than their male counter parts. both breeding and meat (table) animals. Twenty-eight out of the 100 farmers, corresponding to 28% claimed Table 1: Gender of respondents to produce solely for breeding purpose and not for table (meat) purpose. This is however not the case, as there Sex Frequency Percentage (%) is always excess male animals by virtue of the Female 84 84.00 recommended stocking rate. At the time of the study Male 16 16.00 none of the farmers is engaged in exclusive meat Total 100 100.00 production. Those who are into the production of meat Field survey: 2015 and breeding animals do not buy animals from the breeders to fatten them for sale. It can however, be said 3.2 Marital Status of Respondents that those who call themselves breeders are actually not From Table 2 below, 94% of the respondents breeders but rather out growers or multipliers since are married. These respondents assisted by their they do not have any selection criteria as would have children are able to minimize direct cost of production been for the production of breeding snails. Since there by performing most of the production activities by are only few farmers in snail production, all the snails means of readily available family labour, which is produced by the farmers are sold as breeding snails. employed in cutting vegetative materials, feeding and Only excess males and unproductive or over-aged cleaning the housing units. This explains why most females are sold as meat. It was gathered that the main respondents do not depend much on hired labour in motive of domestic snail production at the moment is their snail production. the sale of animals for breeding, with the production for meat being seen as a by-product. 3.3 Educational Background As evident from Table 3, people with education 3.6 Features of Snail Production in the Study up to the Middle/JSS, form the majority with a Area corresponding percentage of forty-five (45). Only 11% The distribution of snail farmers according to of the snail farmers interviewed had no formal stock sizes (number of snails reared) presented in the table, reveals that 22% of the farmers had animals -

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Table 3: Educational level of respondents

Level of education No. of Respondents Proportion of Respondents (%) Non-literate 11 11.00 Basic 1 1.00 Middle/JSS 45 45.00 Sec./Comm./Voc. 24 24.00 Post-Sec./Tertiary 19 19.00 Total 100 100.00 Field survey: 2015

Table 4: Distribution of respondents by religion

Religion No. of Respondents Proportion of Respondents (%) Christianity 89 89.00 Islam 7 7.00 Traditionalist/Pagan 4 4.00 Total 100 100.00 Field survey: 2015

Table 5: Systems of snail production

System of Snail Production No. of Respondents Proportion of Respondents (%) ‘Breeding’ 28 28.00 ‘Breeding’ and Meat Production 72 72.00 Meat Production - - Total 100 100.00 Field survey: 2015 between 51 and 100. However, majority (72%) had The dominant occupational group among the Smeat animals not exceeding 50 with only 6% having animals producers is livestock, poultry, and crop farmers more than 100. This revealed that majority of the constituting 65% of the total respondents. These view farmers operated with fewer breeding stock. Further snail production as a supplementary venture. analysis shows that all the respondents had other major occupations and snail production was an additional 3.7 Previous Experience in Animal Rearing venture. The distribution of the farmers based on Eighty-three percent (83%) of the farmers sources of foundation stock (start-up stock) also interviewed already had experience in animal rearing. presented in the table, showed that majority (90%) of Thus, explaining the reason why the number of years in them purchased their start up animals from research production did not have any effect on productivity. institutes for breeding. The major type of cage used by Again before farmers get the opportunity to get the farmers in snail production was wood and mesh breeders to start up production, they are taken through cage. This was practiced among 80% of the farmers, training in snail production by the sedentary farming with 18% using concrete cages. Only 2% used other systems project. Before the individual starts the snail forms of cages like only wood or bamboo. The type of production, there is already some amount of housing system common among the farmers was the knowledge. Indoor unit, constituting 90%. This unit consists of the Majority of the farmers (83%) testified that even cages either wood and mesh, concrete or wood being though they had knowledge about keeping other type of kept in a housing facility. This form of housing unit animals the training they received in snail production ensured that animals are protected from adverse was very relevant. This, they acknowledged, had gone weather conditions like cold, escape of animals during a long way in helping them reduce the incidence of accidental opening of individual cages and a better diseases in their production. According to the farmers, protection from theft. Outdoor housing system is the they initially perceived snails as wild animals that situation where cages are left in the open, and only could not be kept in cages. They however, conceded 10% of the farmers practiced this. that the training by research institutes helped them to –

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Table 6: Features of domestic snail production in the study area

Item Frequency Percentage (%) Stock size 1-50 72 72.00 51 -100 22 22.00 >100 6 6.00 Source of foundation stock** 100 90.09 Wild 11 9.91 Type cage used Wood and mesh 80 80.00 Concrete 18 18.00 Others 2 2.00 Housing systems Indoor 90 90.00 Outdoor 10 10.00 Type of labour employed Family 91 91.00 Hired 9 9.0 Primary occupation Farming 65 65.00 Civil Service 19 19.00 Trading 5 5.00 Artisanship/Others 11 11.00 Ecological zones Forest 21 21.00 Transitional 59 59.00 Guinea savanna 20 20.00 Major production motive** Income 80 62.50 Employment 27 21.09 Environmental conservation 12 9.38 Others 9 7.03 Field survey: 2015

Table 7: Previous experience in animal rearing

Response Frequency Percentage (%) Yes 83 83.00 No 17 17.00 Total 100 100.00 Field survey: 2015 broaden their understanding of husbandry aspects of are, three-tier cages and their housing units, starter the snails namely feeding, handling, general sanitation stock, labour for daily routine operations, and crossing. This is perhaps the reason why a greater supplementary feed, and miscellaneous items, percentage (73%) of the farmers in Table 8 had not yet comprising feeding bowls and cleaning materials. encountered any disease or health related problems among their animals. 3.9 Average Production Costs and Returns The annual production costs and returns streams 3.8 Basic Inputs of Domestic Snail Production for domestic snail production project of two (2) family Table 9 displays the basic inputs utilized in start-up stock, comprising eight females and two males domestic snail production and their respective sources. obtained at three months old from a recommended Among the basic inputs common to all 100 respondents breeding source was estimated for all 100 respondents.

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Table 8: Incidence of health related problems

Response Frequency Percentage (%) Yes 27 27.00 No 73 73.00 Total 100 100.00 Field survey: 2015

Table 9: Basic inputs of domestic snail production

Inputs of snail production and their sources Source Starter stock Snail Farmers’ co-operative Three-tier cage Research Institute Labour Family/Hired Supplementary feed Open market Miscellaneous items Open market Field survey: 2015

Table 10 shows the estimated average annual costs and resulting in long distance travels by farmers in search returns streams. of decent feed for the animals. This culminates in increased cost of production; supporting the findings of Table 10: Previous experience in animal rearing Bodmer et al . (1993) that dry season feeding still remains a major constraint to the snail industry. Response Frequency Percentage (%) It is therefore, not surprising that ranking scores Yes 83 83.00 of 469and 403, being lack of access to credit and dry No 17 17.00 season feeding placed second and third respectively on Total 100 100.00 the chart of critical problems. Small litter size, Field survey: 2015 morbidity, and marketing of animals (specifically “excess” males) were ranked fourth, fifth and sixth 3.10 Problems Faced By Domestic Snail respectively on the ranking chart. The dominant Farmers occupational group among the snail producers is Nearly all the farmers covered by the study livestock, poultry, and crop farmers constituting 65% admitted that the future of domestic snail production is of the total respondents. These view snail production as very promising. However, they were confronted with a supplementary venture. problems. The distribution of farmers according to problems encountered is presented in Table 11. High Table 11: Incidence of health-related problems cost of snail housing was ranked as the most critical problem, attracting a ranking score of 482. The major Response Frequency Percentage (%) types of housing adopted by most of the farmers were Yes 27 27.00 mainly wood and mesh or concrete cages but with both No 73 73.00 types, cages were further placed in bigger housing Total 100 100.00 units. This constitutes the Indoor system of housing, which attracts considerable capital input from the 3.11 Previous Experience in Animal Rearing farmers in confirming report by Afolabi (2013). Eighty-three percent (83%) of the farmers However, this ensures safety and security of their interviewed already had experience in animal rearing. stock. Again, as noted earlier the main feed of the Thus explaining the reason why the number of years in snails are the succulent stems and forages of some production did not have any effect on productivity. grasses with variable nutritional concentration and Again before farmers get the opportunity to get since during the dry season however, these grasses dry breeders to start up production, they are taken through up and are usually of low nutritive value, the provision training in snail production by the sedentary farming of sufficient feed for the animals during this period is systems project of research institute. So before the quite difficult. Also during this period, there is individual starts the snail production, there is already competition for grass with ruminants, especially cattle some amount of knowledge.

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Table 12: Classification of the major problems of snail production

Problem Frequency Score Rank High cost of housing facility 94 482 1 Access to Credit 96 469 2 Dry Season Feeding 99 403 3 Small Litter Size 88 308 4 Morbidity 58 159 5 Marketing of Animals 26 75 6

Majority of the farmers (83%) testified that even Unhealthy rivalry and sometimes disputes among though they had knowledge about keeping other type of producers as they compete for insufficient fresh grass animals the training they received in snail production as feed for their animals. was very relevant. This, they acknowledged, had gone a long way in helping them reduce the incidence of 4. Conclusion and Recommendations diseases. According to the farmers, they initially The return per naira invested, net income and perceived snails as wild animals that could not be kept gross margin indicated that the farmers made profit. in cages. They however, conceded that the training by Poor visit by extension agents, lack of space, and lack research institute has helped to broaden their of finance and problem of predators were adjudged understanding of husbandry aspects of the snails’ major constraints to snail production by farmers in the namely feeding, handling, general sanitation and study area. Based on the findings of this study, the crossing. This is perhaps the reason why a greater following recommendations made: percentage (73%) of the farmers in Table 11 had not a) The return per naira invested on snail production yet encountered any disease or health related problems is very high. Hence, it is recommended that among their animals. unemployed persons should be encouraged by government to go into snail production. 3.12 Externalities of Snail Production b) Government should provide incentives to snail In addition to employment and food, snail farmers to boost their production considering the production on a larger scale would contribute towards gross margin and net profit of snail farming. natural resource conservation, by reducing bush c) Considering the significance of labour cost in burning for game. Droppings from the animals and left- snail farming, efforts should be made to reduce overs of cut-grass provide a good material for rural-urban migration to ensure labour availability composting, which can be used as an alternative means in the rural areas to support snail farming. of soil fertility management by crop farmers.

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