Did you know the total value of Snail Import in 2022 was US$61,801,000 (Ksh9,412,292,300) against exports of US$59,520,000 (Ksh9,064,896,000). With a shortage of US$2,281,000 (Ksh347,396,300), and I have been busy killing snails because they are eating away at my fruit seedlings. I have been using the self-watering plants technology to grow my fruit seedlings using my recycled kitchen water waste. When I noticed a lot of snails around the plastic bottles. It was peaceful co-existence at first, until they started eating at my seedlings, then it became personal.
Did you know snails can be used in making cosmetics? Yes, there is skin repairing and regeneration cream as well as anti-aging. Did you know a Kenyan a snail farmer is reported to have quoted 1 kilogram of snails was selling at Ksh1,500(US$9.85)? 1 Kilogram of Snail Shells was selling at Ksh1,443(US$9.48). 1 Kilogram of snail slime was selling at Ksh6,244(US$41).
Did you know Africa’s entire snail export in 2022 was US$14,006,000 (Ksh2,133,113,800)? The leading African exporters of snails in 2022 are Morocco US$8,756,000 (Ksh1,333,538,800), Tunisia US$2,550,000 (Ksh388,365,000), Senegal US$1,569,000(Ksh238,958,700), Algeria US$766,000(ksh116,661,800), Cote d’lvoire US$126,000 (Ksh19,189,800), Guinea US$114,000 (Ksh17,362,200), Sierra Leone US$60,000 (Ksh9,138,000), Cameroon US$33,000 (Ksh5,025,900), Zimbabwe US$16,000 (Ksh2,436,800), Benin and Ghana US$5,000 (Ksh761,500), Egypt US$3,000 (Ksh456,900).
My beloved Kenya, Ethiopia, Botswana, Congo, DRC, Madagascar, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania are absolutely not exporting any snails. Eswatini, Equatorial Guines, Mozambique, Cabo Verde, Seychelles, Zambia, Angola, Namibia, and South Africa are importing snails. With Namibia importing US$213,000 (Ksh32,439,900) and South Africa US$222,000 (Ksh33,810,600) in 2022. Clearly, there is a huge market and demand for snails. If a lot of the African countries will embrace snail farming as a simple business, then snail farming will open doors for youth business in Africa.
The world’s leading importers of snails in 2022 were France US$16,898,000 (Ksh2,573,565,400), Spain US$10,177,000 (Ksh1,549,957,100), Italy US$6,444,000 (Ksh981,421,200), Romania US$3,905,000 (Ksh594,731,500), Bosnia and Herzegovina US$3,518,000 (Ksh535,791,400), Portugal US$2,783,000 (Ksh423,850,900), United States of America US$2,615,000 (Ksh398,264,500), Czech Republic US$2,599,000 (Ksh395,827,700), Lithuania US$2,585,000 (Ksh393,695,500), Germany US$1,007,000 (Ksh153,366,100), Belgium US$970,000 (Ksh147,731,000), Canada US$867,000 (Ksh132,044,100), Hong Kong US$650,000 (Ksh98,995,000), Netherlands US$647,000 (Ksh98,538,100), Greece US$493,000 (Ksh75,083,900), China US$428,000 (Ksh65,184,400).
The data clearly shows there is a huge export market opportunity for many African countries especially those who do not consume snail. My advice to anyone considering snail farming is to take their time and do their research carefully. Google as well as do your own personal research. YouTube is always a good place to start.
