Snail Farming In Ghana
Background​
Kayode Ige works in the construction industry as regional planning manager in the UK.I have also been involved in real estate projects and infrastructure projects in Nigerian and Ghana (Remotely with regards to Ghana) in the last 10 years.
My Partner Rachel Ghasson is a recent University graduate from Ghana. She gave a training talk on this Agro forum very early this year 2018, on poultry farming. Rachel’s dad own’s farm in northern Ghana and she has been brought up in a farming environment. That back ground and experience gave me some comfort. He is now retired so Rachel runs the farm
What we did
I had been thinking about getting involved in farming for the last few years. Following Rachel’s training talk, I made contact with her. We originally discussed poultry farming, and then I asked her about snail farming. She confirmed that the risks and capital investment with snail farming were much less than with poultry farming.
I then asked Rachel a million questions, lol (my engineering background). She was patient enough to answer all my questions. We now teamed and using my business and risk management experience and Rachel’s farming experience, we agreed to start a small snail farm starting with 250 snails. We developed a budget for the first one year, bye then the business should be able to pay for itself.
Small venture Capitalist
I am the venture capitalist and have invest 50% of the costs and also have the responsibility to advice on strategy. Rachel has invest the other 50% and is responsible for managing the snail farm. Rachel is paid for managing the farm out of our capital investment. This is very important, as she would be spending her time or paying someone to manage the snail farm. I drafted an agreement which Rachel’s Dad commented on and we signed in early February 2018
We opened a bank account and both deposited 70% of our 50% contribution. 18 pens were built and 250 snails were delivered by the end of February 2018.
Rachel presents a report at the end of each month which covers progress to date, any challenges cumulative costs to date and comparison with our budget and progress photos. She also confirms what the plans the next month. We then discuss how to resolve any challenges. We currently have about 1200 snails, and plan to start selling by Christmas 2019, which would be 22 months after starting the business
Lessons learnt
1. Be very conservative in your estimate of how many eggs the snails would lay in the year
2. Snails get stressed during transportation, so you need to settle them into the new environment, but spraying them with a water hose
3. Allow for good shading. Snail are affected by their surrounding temperature and affects rate of laying eggs
4. Change the soil every 3 months. We have been doing that. Very important
5. Separate eggs, small snails and large snails into their own pens
6. Separate newly laid eggs into a hatching pen, from the rest of the snails. Don't touch the eggs with your hands, use a plastic spoon. bury the eggs just below the surface of the soil, date and label the spot
6. Plan for cost and method of distribution in your budget
7. Do your market research from the onset as to who you would sell your snails to
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Agribusiness Value-Chain & Enterprebeurship Training for Youths* being the first agric Digital training platform in Nigeria. Within the last 6months we have trained over 500 people including youth, women, retirees and agric investors on various agribusiness enterprises. With the recent launch of our web platform (www.agrotrensinghub.com.ng) we have had more training requests. Thus, the training enterprises includes; Watermelon cultivation & management Tomato cultivation & management Cucumber cultivation & management Fish production & processing Animal feeds production Entrepreneurship training & business management Our dream is to encourage & support more youth to participate and be successful in agribusiness as we are ready to share our practical experiences and trainings.
Youth Involvement in Agribusiness:
Key to Sustainability of the Agricultural sector* By: *Ade-Daniel, my vision for Ogun state Youths* As at today, agriculture still employ over 60% of the Nigerian population with less than 20% youths. Although, the sector is fast growing and becoming more prosperous for its professionals cum govt diversification into the sector. Yet, its still unappealing to the teeming Nigerian youths. I have being in the sector since my eighteens with strong determination to be successful not only in monetary value but to impact, encourage, mentor and support millions of youths to join me in this field as its large enough to employ over 240 million citzens of the country. Breaking it down to Ogun state, within the last five years i have travelled length and breadth, established farms even to the farthest villages & boundaries like Oja odan, Iwopin, Odo Omi, Opeji, Ilugun, itori, mokoloki, ado odo, asagun, abule ojo, ofada, sagamu, and lots more. There is no part of the senatorial district i have not stepped in an attempt to establish, consult, or manage a farm.
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I have seen the riches bestowed to our state by nature, to the waterside where i have consulted with a govt agency for the establishment of 10 000 hectares rice farm, back to Ayetoro where over 200 000 acres of land is lying fallow or to yewa north with over 100 000 acres of land with generation trees standing tall with uncultivated rich soil. Yet, millions of youths are roaming on the street having nothing to do. My resolutions clearly state that if we must continue to have enough food in southwest, if we must be free from shackles of malnutrition and live in a secured community, then our youths must be engaged in agriculture.
My Vision
Therefore, i am aligning my vision with the diversification plan of this current government. I have painstakingly developed an 100years agricultural development plan that will make Nigeria the food basket of the world. Being a trained Agropreneur by World Bank under the fadama GUYS scheme; alongside with series of exposure in various agricultural organization i have not only been able to established my agribusiness company but i have also identify major problems affecting youth involvement in agriculture. I am not talking about theory here, but what i and over hundreds of youths have experienced in this agricultural journey of ours. I mean, we faced many hurdles. But only the determined minds are still involved. We have learnt by experience, self engagement, development and discipline. Thus, i am ready to mentor & guide as much as possible youths that want to pick a career in agribusiness. Alongside willing to work with the government agencies in recommending through solutions that could address our (youth) challenge in the agricultural sector. Finally, i encouraged every youth out there to get themselves involved in agribusiness as its their participation that can guarantee the sustainability of the agricultural sector. Ade Daniel is also the President of , Ogun State Fadama Guys (Graduate Unemployed Youths & Women)* Tel:
Ade Daniel & His Team
Ade Daniel & His Team