In recent years Kenyan farmers and ranchers, also complicit in the difficulty of being able to make a profit from traditional crops due to climate change and the lack of abundant rainfall that has persisted for at least 4 years, have been approaching new land products and are also finding fertile ground for distribution and export, thanks to the fact that Kenya offers greater opportunities (space and soil bounty) than much of the world.
One of the most recent approaches is commercial farming of land snails.
Farmers who have ventured into the snail business have benefited greatly: unlike many other activities, this trade requires little capital and few resources to start.
One farmer in the interior of Kenya, starting with an investment of 100 thousand shillings (just over 800 euros) after 3 years began earning between 600 thousand and 800 thousand shillings per month from the sale of edible snails, from the slime used in cosmetics and other products, such as nail polishes, soaps and organic gels, and from the shells, which are paid about 2 euros per kilo and are used for decorations, sculptures for use in flowerpots, ashtrays and other interior decorations.
Paul Kinoti, a lecturer at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), says he prefers snail farming because it is a labor-intensive, low-resource, low-capital and easy-to-manage activity.
"The activity is undemanding and requires little space. Snails feed on readily available and equally cheap feed, since they are mainly vegetarian, and the construction of their homes requires readily available and cheap building materials," Kinoti explains. "Due to their high nutritional value, snails have become a popular delicacy. Snail meat is rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, vitamin E and vitamin C. In addition, snail meat is rich in protein for both humans and livestock," experts say. The giant African land snail (achatina fulica) found in Kenya is highly valued by those involved in its marketing.
The countries where there is the greatest demand for snails from Kenya and their derivatives are Australia, France, the United Kingdom, Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana.