THE VARIED ROLES OF SNAILS - National Universities Commission

Snails are also pests of crops wherever they exist in the
wild. Further information can be obtained in the publication
slugs and snails in world agriculture edited by Henderson
(1989). The snails ravage crops, vegetables and flower in
gardens and farm lands especially during the rainy seasons.
Its activities had to the restriction and quarantine of the
snails especially the giant African land snails into many
developed countries most especially in U.S. This has led to
the US Department of Agriculture issuing warnings and
placing embargo on importation of live snails. The snails
are voracious plant feeders and can be very destructive to
landscape and homes. They are known to eat at least 500
different types of plants including pea nuts, beans, peas,
cucumbers and melons.
SNAIL FARMING
Snail farming is the keeping of snails in a confined
environment under human control and management.
Attempts at snail domestication have been documented
from Roman times (Elmslie,1982). In Africa, the feasibility
of farming snails has been demonstrated by a number of
researchers (eg.Ajayi,1971; Plummer,1975; Ajayi et
al.,1978; Hodasi, 1979; Okafor, 2000). The types of snails
slated for cultivation are Achatina, Archachatina, Helix,
Limicolaria, etc. Snail farming: is an activity that involves
production, management, harvest and sales of snails as well
as a means of supplementing household income and protein
supply. Snails are marketed fresh or smoke-dried, but their
supply is seasonal. Three discernible attitudes are known
concerning snail consumption i.e. in one group snails are
avidly consumed in large numbers; in another group,
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