HOW TO SET UP A SNAIL FARM
 Snails are derived from the wild life bank and are used as food, feed or source of revenue in given parts of the world.

SOME BENEFITS OF SNAIL MEAT
Snail meat is high in protein (37-51%) compared to that of guinea pig (20.3%), Poultry (18.3%), Fish (18%), Cattle (17.5%), Sheep (16.4%) and Swine (14.5%). Iron content (45-59mg/kg), low in fat (0.05-0.08%) and contains almost all the amino acids needed for human nutrition. In addition to the nutritional value of snail meat, recent studies indicated that the glandular substances from edible snails cause agglutination of certain bacteria, which could be of value against a variety of ailments including whooping cough. In folk medicine, the bluish liquid obtained when the meat has been removed from the shell is believed to be good for infant's development. It is believed in some quarters that snail meat contains pharmacological properties of value in counteracting high blood pressure.

TIPS TO GET STARTED
1.    Use containers, old tyres or buckets to grow your vegetables. Most vegetables will do well in a container
2.    Plant some vegetables on your rooftop, especially if your building is not roofed.
3.    Look for adjacent plots that are not utilized and do some plantings
4.    Start a community farm with your neighbours and friends.

TYPES OF SNAILS

There are 3 major types of lands snails in Africa.  These are known as
GIANT AFRICAN LAND SNAILS (GALS), namely:
1. Archachatina marginata.
2. Archatina archatina.
3. Archatina Fulica

REPRODUCTION
 Snails are hermaphrodite; they possess both the male and female genital parts together in one opening. Even though the snail is a hermaphrodite fertile eggs are only produced when two snails of the same species mate.
After mating, both may be capable of laying eggs.
Egg laying: Once fertilization has taken place, the snail would seek a suitable spot to lay its eggs. Naturally, the snail most times dig into the soil to a depth of about 4-9cm to lay its eggs. Therefore, the soil should be soft for burrowing. The best and most suitable soil is the humus soil (black soil).
It then deposits its eggs and leaves.
The eggs are spherical and translucent, yellowish in colour and have a diameter of between 3-4mm.
The Archachatina marginata lays between 4- 10 eggs.
The achatina archatina lays between 4-7eggs.
The Fulica species lays a large number of small eggs 30- 150 eggs in their growing year.
The eggs of achachatina marginata species hatch between 30 –35days, while fulica species hatch between 10 – 17 days
1. Snail digging a hole
2. Laying the eggs and closing the hole
Hatchability of eggs depends on :
•Soil temperature
•Soil humidity
•Soil composition.
Methods of hatching eggs:
1.    Natural method-  In this method, the eggs are left uncollected from where they are deposited by the snail and allowed to hatch without any human  supervision.
2.    Artificial method - This is involves the collection of the eggs from where they are deposited into an incubator. Eggs are carefully collected  from the snail pen and put in a prepared ‘incubator’ for them to hatch. The ‘incubator’ can be plastic or wooden container with a lid.


FEATURES OF A SNAIL FARM 
1.      All snail houses must be ventilated.
2.      Fill snail house with soil to depth of 10-15cm.
3.      House should be able to drain out excess water
4.      Soil type: loamy soil is the most idea for a snail farm

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN SETTING UP A SNAIL FARM
•What type of species to grow.
•Determine level of investment.
•Locate farm site.
•Choose suitable housing type.
•Purchase your initial stock.

Guide to Snail Farming and management, is an e-book which contains the needed guide you will  need to know about operating a profitable Snail farm. Tips and experiences gathered over the years are shared with you in this book. The bookmis written in a simple to understand manner.

TO HAVE THIS E-BOOK:

1. Pay N1500.00 at any branch of the following Banks for Soft-copy
• Main Street Bank
  Account Name: Imala Collins Onyeka
  Account Number: 5001369753
• Union Bank of Nig. PLC
  Account Name: Imala Collins Onyeka
  Account Number: 0036323567
2. After payment send a text message (SMS) to 08030887942 with the following information.
   1. Your name
   2. Bank and the branch of the Bank where payment was made
   3. Teller Slip No.
   4. email address(with which to receive the e-book).
Your payment will be confirmed and the e-book sent to your e-mail box.

 OR CALL 08030887942