Ghanaians urged to tap into $2bn global snail value chain business
Ghanaians have been urged to tap into the global snail value chain business worth US$2 billion.
Consequently, they have been urged to adopt environmentally friendly practices when farming in order not to harm the habitats of the snails.
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The Special Advisor at the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Oliver Boakye, made the call when he delivered a speech on behalf of the sector minister at the maiden edition of the snail festival organised by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (CSIR-FORIG).
It was on the theme: “Farm Snails, Eat Snails, and Market Snails.”
The event was to help increase awareness of the health benefits of consuming snails as well as the economic opportunities available in farming them.
It brought together about 15 exhibitors to showcase dishes made with snail meat as well as other products made from snails.
Mr Boakye said the decline in snail population as a result of some irresponsible human activities posed major threat to biodiversity and environmental sustainability.
He said when care was not taken, the snails in the country’s wild might be extinct and people might lose their traditional delicacy.
“Adequate environmental protection is the bedrock of sustainable development. We have no option but to take a good look at the years of collecting snails.
Snail farming in the development and promotion of industries should take the centre stage. Ghana must make every effort to enter this business and earn a deal,” Mr Boakye said.
Snail festival
He said research had shown that snail meat was highly nutritious with high protein compared to other major sources of animal protein that were consumed in the country.
“Besides its nutritional value, we also know clearly that fluid found in snails have significant benefits. For example, snails are important in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries for the manufacture of skin products.
“Therefore, the promotion of snail farming within the snail value chain in the country has very good prospects for improving livelihoods, creating employment and generating revenue,” Mr Boakye said.
Employment
The Director-General of CSIR, Prof. Paul P Bosu, said the country would soon import snails, if the forests and land areas were not protected.
He encouraged the youth to engage in snail farming as a source of income and help preserve the snail population as well.
Prof. Bosu added that the CSIR-FORIG had trained over 3,000 farmers in snail farming.