28 year old IT graduate who left computers for not-so-famous snail farming in Kenya

Since 2007 when snail farming made its debut in Kenya, farmers are slowly considering the venture which is not yet that popular in the country due to lack of native consumers.

However, the fact that there is an influx of West African and Asian nationals in the country from countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, and China who find the slimy creatures a common delicacy has been motivating factor to some few pioneers.

In addition, the initiative by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) to research and develop skincare products from snails’ slimy mucin secretion is giving abundant hope to the farmers of market opportunities in the near future.

Roussoss Demisse Odhiambo, a 28-year-old year IT graduate from Mount Kenya University is one such farmer who has recently decided to commercially rear snails.

To him, the journey of rearing the creatures started in 2018 when he once visited a friend in Italy. The friend took him out for a meal in a restaurant where he ordered snails for dinner.

While Odhiambo wondered how one could eat snails, he thought bow this could be a source of income in Kenya.

Back in the country, he conducted some online research on snails farming and marketing in Kenya and landed at many ideas including that of agritourism farming of snails just to attract tourists.

“My first idea was to capitalise on the shells which I could sell to those who were to visit my farm,” said Odhiambo.

Though driven by passion in the unique farming, making profit was also key. He therefore in May 2019 set up a small structure at his farm in Nairobi’s Karen Estate.

Starter snails

Odhiambo then travelled to Wundanyi in Voi and to Kiembeni in Mombasa to find starter snails.

“It is easy to find the African giant land snails in the coast region since they survive well in warm areas,” he said.

With the help of some people, he collected 15 snails and took them to his farm where he started raising then by feeding them on just simple diet like vegetable and fruit wastes.

Since snails are hermaphrodites and can mate and procreate by themselves, he was surprised that the snails started multiplying fast.

By September the same year, he decided to go large scale targeting restaurants where West African and Asian nationals frequent to make sales.

He travelled back to Voi and bought extra 1800 snails to increase his production after getting his farming permit from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) at Sh1,500, renewal on a yearly basis at the same amount.

The new stock of snails matured in 6 months giving birth to more others.

Selling snails

Today, he has a big farm in Karen and he has started selling the creatures to hotels and restaurants which order their supplies.

For the African giant snail, he sells between Sh1,500 and Sh3,000. He uses social media and networks to market the creatures.

Besides hotels and restaurants, most of his customers are Nigerians, Ghanaians, Italians, Chinese, and Spanish in the country. Other customers are usually referrals by other customers something which really encourages him.

He has since realised that the snails are very nutritious for those who used them for food.

“They are good source of protein with low calories and essential for building and repair of muscles and iron which is essential for building red blood cells and carrying energy around the body,” he said.

Snails’ delicacy is also rich in Vitamin B12, Magnesium, Selenium, Omega 3 which is good for a healthy heart.

Apart from being a delicacy, snails are also used for cosmetic purposes.

The mucus they produce is considered good for the skin.

Odhiambo plans to get business with cosmetic companies in the near future.

The shells from the snails are also profitable. They can be used as ornaments or a form of art and he has started selling his shells to the curio shop owners.