Characteristics of snail farming in Edo South Agricultural Zone of Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the characteristics of snail farming in Edo South Agricultural Zone of Edo State Nigeria. The interview schedule was used to collect data from 60 snail farmers randomly selected from six cells in the study area. Information on the socioeconomic status of the farmers, production system, management practices and production constraints in the snail farms were elicited. The constraints were determined using a four-point Likert-type scale; a mean score of ≥ 2.5 was considered as a production constraint. Majority (85.0 %) of the respondents were part-time snail farmers. The major species of snails reared were Achatina achatina and Archachatina marginata, reared by 43.3 and 26.7 % of the farmers, respectively. Semi-intensive system of production was practised by 40.0 % of the farmers. Majority (78.0 %) of the respondents used car tyres to house their snails. About 56 % of the respondents kept their snails for 1-2 years before sale. Up to 51.7 % of the respondents separated their snails into different pens according to their size/age. The most commonly used feeds were vegetables (71.2 %), plant leaves (67.8 %) and kitchen waste (59.3 %). Records of snail production activities were kept by 75.0 % of respondents. The major constraints identified were lack of capital (3.31), inability to get good laying stock (3.00), lack of formulated feed to buy (2.98) and slow growth rate of snails (2.52). The potentials of snail farming in the study area have not been fully exploited as farmers produced at subsistence level.

First report of the presence of enterotoxin gene in coagulase-negative staphylococci recovered from meat of snails (Achatina achatina)

“…Vascular plants may have been contaminated with antimicrobial-resistant bacteria following sewage discharges or the use of irrigation water contaminated with the faeces of humans and animals reared with antibiotic abuse ( 6 ). Plant leaves, vegetables and kitchen wastes have come into common use by snail breeders as feed because formulated feeds for snails are not available on the Nigerian market ( 12 ). Furthermore, scientific studies have shown that soil is a major reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes ( 29 ).…”

Occurrence and Enumeration of Multiple Bacterial Pathogens in Edible Snails from South East Nigeria

“…Formulated feeds for snails are not available in the market. Therefore, it has become common practice for snail rearers to use vegetables, plant leaves and kitchen wastes to feed snails (Chah and Inegbedion, 2013). Aeromonas species are widely distributed in the aquatic environment (Palumbo, 1996, Neyts et al, 2000 and their prevalence in various water and food sources represents a significant public health threat (Wu et al, 2007).…”

Economic analysis of snail production and its contribution to food security of farming households in Nigeria

“…The study posited that a pragmatic approach to building the capacity of existing and prospective farmers should be adopted to improve the snail supply chain. Chah and Inegbedion (2012) looked into the different production systems of snail farmers in Edo State, Nigeria. Archantina archantina and Archantina marginata were found to be the most commonly reared species by the farmers with the former being 43.3 % and the latter being 26.7 %.…”