You don’t know anything about snail farming if all you know about snails is how slowly they move.

Snail farming is a low-risk yet nonetheless profitable type of farming. It is popular all over the world and in Europe there are established markets, but it is still in its infancy in South Africa.

The farmed snails can be consumed, used in cosmetics, or fed to reptiles as food. Escargot shells can be bought and sold for home decor. Snail eggs are being produced as a delicious caviar.

Did you know? The terms heliciculture and heliculture both relate to the snail farming and have essentially the same meaning.

According to Agrimag.co.za, snail farming is a great opportunity to make extra money from unused land. It can boost your profits significantly. Snail farming can be practiced anywhere, as long as the temperature is carefully controlled.

According to a Farmers’ Weekly article, the ideal temperature for snail production is 18°C to 24°C. “Snails are sensitive to temperature changes, so the temperature is checked every two hours. The humidity is carefully controlled at around 85%.”

Learn more about snail farming in South Africa, contact the Heliculture Farmers Association of South Africa or the Snail Farmers South Africa Association.