The Nigerian Export Promotion Council has coached Exporters on Snail Farming for Exportation

By Abdul Rahman Bangura-

Photo Credit: Nasonga.com

NEW AFRICA BUSINESS NEWS (NABN) Freetown, Sierra Leone- Dr. Ezra Yakusak – Executive Director of the NEPC told that the apprenticeship was one of numerous endeavors by the Council to decrease reliance on oil and gas, while equally thriving the country’s economy.

On the theme “Producing Snail for Export,” Yakusak who was represented by the NEPC Coordinator in Imo, Anthony Ajuruchi, said that snail farming had proven to have the potential to feed the nation.

He said that with a total international calculation of about $2.1 billion, snail farming, if given necessary attention, could grow Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) particularly with the prevailing local conditions that aid the expansion of the practice such as suitable climate and availability of green vegetation.

“We are raising the capacity of entrepreneurs to equip them to join the global snail market and compete meaningfully so as to grow Nigeria’s GDP using non-oil exports.

“We are also looking forward to organizing the Imo Exporters Summit and plans are already in top gear.

“Entrepreneurs in Imo and Nigeria are making frantic efforts in the export industry, and we will keep offering our support and mentorship to keep them at par with their counterparts in other parts of the world,” he said.

Furthermore, one of the resource persons – the Chief Executive Officer of Suncious Farms Limited, Miss Chinonso Onwukwe, said that modern technology had been evolved to overwhelm the natural moistness of snails and be able to preserve them over long periods.

“With oven drying, snails can be preserved for some six months to one year. Snail farming is not capital intensive yet it is lucrative.

“It can be consumed by all especially as it is a healthy food with high protein and calcium contents. Everything in a snail including the shell is nutritious and lucrative.

“We market our products in the U.S., UK and other places and there is nothing to regret about snail farming. It’s not time consuming yet it’s super lucrative, I can confirm,” she declared.

Ozor – a Biologist, urged participants at the workshop to venture into large scale snail production for commercial purposes and to take advantage of mentorship prospects in the field.

For New Africa Business News (NABN) Abdul Rahman Bangura Reports, Africa Correspondent