HELICULTURE IN NIGERIA: THE POTENTIALITIES, OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES (A Review)

Abstract

Heliculture, the science and occupation of growing snails for food, can be regarded as a new bride of animal husbandry in Nigeria, with its potentialities, opportunities and challenges. The potentialities of snail rearing are that the meat is highly nutritious - containing 37-51% protein, has high iron content (45-59mg/kg) and low sodium (2.32g/100g) and fat content (0.05-0.08%) - making it the ideal meat for hypertensive patients. Also, heliculture requires a comparatively low level of capital to set up; it requires a little space and is well-adapted to domestic rearing. Snail meat is a valuable export commodity, with a flourishing international trade in Europe and North America. Despite the challenges of availability of quality feed at reduced cost; problem of numerous enemies and predators; problem of obtaining species of fast growth rate and the problem of maintaining optimum humidity and eliminating excess heat in the snail pen; snail has the potential of serving as food, livestock feedstuff or as a source of revenue in Nigeria. Snail meat should no longer be regarded as bush meat or game meat to be eaten occasionally, but rather as a nutritious meat to be relished on a daily basis, just like the meat of conventional livestock.