Rising demand for healthy proteins, snail-based cosmetics, and export opportunities have driven a surge in Nigeria’s snail farming industry, far outpacing local production and opening a significant gap for investors to fill.
Snail farming, or heliciculture, is rapidly emerging as a profitable agribusiness in Nigeria, offering sustainable solutions to food security, poverty reduction, and income generation.
Rich in protein and essential nutrients, snails are increasingly sought after, fuelled by a growing population, a rising interest in healthy diets, and their status as a prized delicacy in Nigerian cuisine. This expanding industry presents substantial economic opportunities for both farmers and investors.
The industry is estimated at over N12 billion and the business can be started with small capital.
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Ezekiel Olajumoke, founder of NGsnails, told BusinessDay that the business is a long-term profitable venture.
“There’s a huge and growing global demand for snails, which are regarded as a luxury cuisine, thanks to their nutritional benefits,” he noted.
Similarly, Sangwa Florence, a snail farmer from Rwanda, highlighted the often-overlooked potential of snail farming. “Snail farming is one of the most sustainable and money-spinning agribusinesses that many people ignore. For salary earners and investors wanting to increase their income, it’s an excellent choice—it’s not time-consuming and highly profitable,” she added.
Ebeh Ogoenyi, president of the Federation of Snail Farmers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (FESMAN), emphasised the export potential and urged investors to seize the opportunity.
“Snail farming is a lucrative venture with strong export prospects due to high global demand. The market exists; what we need is increased production. We’ve been mobilising people to invest and scale up production,” he added.
These insights highlight that snail farming in Nigeria is a fast-growing industry full of potential for forward-thinking investors.
Economics of snail farming
Snail farming is emerging as one of the most accessible agribusiness opportunities in Nigeria, thanks to its low capital requirement and high profit potential.
“With an initial investment as modest as N50,000 to N100,000, the business offers the potential to grow to as high as N5 million annually,” noted Kate Chukwu, a snail farming advocate.
Setting up a snail farm is both affordable and straightforward. Basic materials like corrugated sheets, baskets, old tyres, or wood are sufficient to construct a functional snail pen. Feeding is also budget-friendly, making the overall startup cost even more appealing.
“A bag of snail feed is between N10,000 and N16,000 per 25kg, and you can use just two bags to feed 50 snails for three months,” Chukwu explained.
Nature itself provides most of what snails need to thrive. “Everything needed for snail feeding has been provided by nature,” said Mrs Florence, another snail farming expert. “From vegetables to watermelons and even leftover foods,” she added.
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One crucial factor in successful snail farming is choosing the right species. Florence recommended going for the giant African land snails, which come in three main species: Achatina marginata, Achatina achatina, and Achatina fulica.
Each of the species has its unique reproductive traits. Archachatina marginata lays between six and 14 eggs up to four times a year. Achatina achatina produces 80 to 350 eggs per clutch and lays one to three times annually. The most prolific of them all, Achatina fulica, can lay between 100 and 400 eggs as many as six times a year.
Despite Achatina fulica’s prolific breeding, experts tend to favor Achatina marginata. “It’s considered the largest land snail in the world, and its size and market appeal make it a favorite among both farmers and consumers,” Florence explained. Achatina achatina also remains a strong choice, particularly due to its adaptability to the African climate.
The cost of starting a small-scale commercial snail farm with around 200 snails is relatively affordable. Each snail seedling costs between N450 and N800, putting the total initial investment in the range of N150,000 to N200,000.
Global market
The global snail market reached $647.4 million in 2024 and is projected to grow from $706.7 million in 2025 to $1.4 billion by 2034, according to Global Market Insight, a market intelligence platform.
France leads global production with over 30,000 tons annually, followed by Italy and Spain, producing 20,000 and 15,000 tons respectively, solidifying Europe’s dominance in the snail farming industry.
Challenges
Snail farming faces several key challenges, including predators, soil type, light intensity, feed, climate, and disease. Due to their slow movement, snails are highly vulnerable to predators such as crabs, millipedes, birds, and the green snail. Experts recommend protective fencing and predator control to mitigate losses.
Snails thrive in low-light, humid environments—unlike poultry—and excessive light can hinder their growth, according to Nectar Green Snails, a snail advocacy group in Ogun State.
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Soil quality is crucial. Contaminated or unsuitable soil can spread disease and pests. Analysts emphasise using finely textured, loamy soil with low water retention and high calcium content to support shell strength. Acidic soils should be avoided, as they weaken snails and reduce productivity.
Analysts agree that with effective marketing and sound agronomic practices, snail farming holds strong potential as a highly profitable venture.
