SNAIL PRODUCTION IN BAYELSA STATE NIGERIA TECHNOLOGIES PRODUCTIVITY AND ENHANCEMENT MEASURES

Abstract

Snail production (heliciculture) is increasingly becoming popular in Bayelsa State, occasioned by the high demand for snail meat due to shortage of other sources of animal protein and the expected income from the increasing price of snail. However, there is dearth of documented empirical research record on the level of application of heliciculture technologies as well as the productivity of farmers’ which could form basis for improving this area of food production. The study was thus designed to determine the level of application of snail production technologies by the farmers, farmers’ productivity, constraints and measures for enhancing their productivity. The study was guided by ten research questions and seven null hypotheses. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. There was no sampling as the entire population of 153 registered snail farmers was used for the study. The instrument used for data collection was a

214 items questionnaire that was face validated by five experts. An internal consistency coefficient of 0.66 was obtained for the instrument through the Cronbach alpha procedure. Data collected were analyzed using the mean to answer research questions 1-5 and 9-10, while gross margin and profit analysis were employed to answer research questions 6-8. The null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using t-test. It was found that the following technologies were highly applied by the farmers in snail production: farm fencing, raised wooden snailery,  Archachatina marginata species, feeding with plant parts, de-shelling, gutting, de-sliming and treading live snails with ropes for sale; whereas substrate liming, moating and trapping with nets were moderately  applied.  Technologies such  as substrate  inoculation,  commercial feeding, egg candling, foot dipping and stocking Achatina achatina species, were seldomly adopted whereas purging snails, quarantine services, substrate sterilization, employing veterinary services, keeping farm records and stocking Achatina fulica species, were not applied by the snail farmers. Literacy, experience, location, gender and scale of production have no influence on the level of application of snail production technologies by the farmers. An average

production cost of N6,449/m2/yr was incurred while a yield of 317 adult snails/m2/yr was produced. On the average, farmers realized  a net profit of N13,162/m2/yr, as well as a proceed of N2.00/yr per naira outlay with a pay back period of 121/2 months. However, shortage of improved species, lack of heliciculture extension services, seasonal flooding of snail farms among others were identified as the major constraints of farmers. Thus, it was recommended among others that  modern heliciculture technologies that can improve snail production should be packaged and made available at affordable price to  agric. extension  agents  and  farmers,  regular  workshops  should  be  organized  for farmers by ADP, state government should establish snail breeding centers and that good drainages be constructed in the farms to improve this area of food

production in the study area.

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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Human population trends and related environmental factors exert fundamental  influences on  resources  of  the  earth.  High  rates  of population growth characterize almost every country in sub-Saharan Africa. This creates an urgent need for increased food production especially protein because of the vital role it (protein) plays in human diet. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) recommended 6.5 grammes and 2,600 calories of animal protein to be taken daily (FAO, 2002).  However, the present agricultural output is still unable to keep pace with population growth, despite attempts to apply improved agricultural practices and mechanization for boosting food production. Indeed, inadequacy in protein supply is felt more in the tropical regions of the world, including Nigeria (Okafor, 2001).

To satisfy this protein need, therefore, two main sources, viz: plants and animals, readily comes to mind. Plant protein, however, is deficient in certain essential amino  acids notably methionine, tryptophan and  lysine,  which are necessary for healthy growth (Welson, 2001). In contrast, animal protein, which is obtained from fish, livestock and wild animals (bush meat) is rich in these amino acids, and thus, is described as first class quality protein (Moses, 1992).

In Nigeria, particularly Bayelsa State, however, protein obtained from

livestock  (cattle,  poultry,  sheep,  goat,  pig)  and  bush  meat  are  generally

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expensive, probably due to low level of technology, poor management, pests infestation, high cost of inputs and the onerous and herculean task of hunting for wild animals. In congruence with this view, Welson (2001) affirmed that live adult goat, sheep and pig are sold at N9,000.00, N7,000.00 and N28,000.00 respectively; whereas broiler, rabbit and cow costs N1,500.00, N2,000.00 and N75,000.00 respectively. Abowei and sikoki (2005), lamented that domestic fish production in the state has tremendously fallen and consequently neither the capture fishery sub-sector nor the aquaculture sub-sector can satisfy the growing need for protein in Bayelsa State. Perhaps this is why the inhabitants of the state are beset with acute protein shortage.

It was the need for good quality but cheap source of animal protein, as a measure to bridge the gap between protein demand and supply in the state that led to increased consumption of snail meat. According to Wosu (2003), snail production is a highly untapped protein source in the Niger Delta particularly Bayelsa state. The population of snails in the wild is high and should not be wasted. The nutritional and therapeutic values of the meat are also high and should be harnessed for human benefits in the face of the acute shortages of protein food from other animal sources (Okafor, 2001).

Snails are soft-bodied animals consisting of shell and body which exists in many forests, but in Nigeria they exist more in the Southern forest belts and more so during the rainy season because of the favourable natural environment

therein. The Southern forest belts are characterized by prolonged wet season,

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high relative humidity, damp environment and thick vegetation, all providing suitable habitat for snail production (Joshua, Torunana & Chude, 1999).

Species of snail abound in Africa. However, the African giant land snails Achatina achatina, Achatina fulica and Archachatina marginata (see Appendix. A) predominate in the Southern forest zones because they are more hardy with high adaptability/survivability qualities. Besides, these three species are more fleshier and highly prolific (Akinyemi, Ojo & Akintomide, 2007).

Figue 1: Achatina achatina (Linneaus)          Figure 2: Achatina fulica (Bowdich)

Nevertheless, Achatina and fulica species (see fig. 1,2) are less preferred because of their changing flesh colour and textures during processing which affects taste. Besides, majority of the people of Bayelsa State do not consume Achatina fulica.  However Archachatina marginata is not beset with these short- falls and more so, the species is the most numerous of the edible land snails in the  southern  Nigeria;  hence,  Welson  (2001)  advised  farmers  to  produce  it.

Consequently, majority of snail farmers are rearing the Archachatina marginata

(see fig 3) in the study area.

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Figure 3: Archachatina marginata (Swainson).

The edible giant land snails are highly cherished by West Africans and hinterland  communities.  The  meat  has  a  good  market  value  and  table preference. It fetches the highest market price per kilogram (Paul, 2004). In agreement with this view, Omole,  Ayodeji and Raji (2004) maintained that these giant land snails are very important food in parts of West Africa and particularly Western and Southern Nigeria and that snails form an important source of animal protein served as delicacies. Snails are also considered as a natural and dietary therapy as evidenced by using Achatina achatina to treat hypertension, conjuctivities, habitual abortion, diabetes and iron deficiency anaemia. The orthocalcium phosphate and sliming mucus secretion from snails are used as therapy for kidney diseases, tuberculosis, anaemia, asthma, eczema, skin rashes, swells, burns, insect bites, heart palpitation and whooping cough. The  shells are  used  in  compounding  livestock feeds,  as well as in  making

earrings,  badges,  toys,  whistles,  necklaces,  bracelets  and  home  decorations.

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Besides,  sales  of  snail  shells,  and  greenish  liquid  contained  in  snail  earns income to farmers (Cobbinah, 1993; Adetunji, 1999; Joshua et al, 1999; Paul,

2000; Okafor, 2001; Chinwuko, 2003; Wosu, 2003 & Omole et al, 2004).

So far, snails eaten in Nigeria particularly Bayelsa state, are usually combed and picked  from  the wild forest.  According to  Abowei and Sikoki (2005), snails are however fast becoming an endangered species in the state, occasioned by the increasing encroachment of development projects such as roads, housing estates, towns, farms, bush burning, etc. and the indiscriminate combing and use of attractants and chemicals in trapping. Besides, the habitats of snails are also prone to crude oil pollution, such that soils contaminated with crude oil contains reduced  exchangeable calcium,  thereby  becoming acidic. Thus, snails consumed in this area could lead to calcium deficiency symptoms especially in rural children and pregnant women (Joshua & Keremah, 1996).

Consequently, the giant land snails are now becoming less available and therefore, more costly in the state. Currently, an adult snail head costs about N60.00 in the state (Welson, 2001). No wonder, Otobo (2004) lamented that snail meat was once popular and cheap animal protein source, but recently, the price has soared to unaffordable limit for low-income earners. Wosu (2003), thus, warned that if no special concern and interest are shown now on how to farm snails, they may be no longer available to the point of extinction very

probably before the end of next one or two decades.

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Perhaps motivated by the anticipated income from the rising prices of snail in the state and the increased rate of consumption of snail meat, Bayelsans are now rearing the giant land snails (heliciculture), to supplement the protein requirement and bridge the aggregate protein supply-demand deficit in the state food balance sheet. Thus, heliciculture, which is the rearing of snails in captivity for man’s use, has become a highly promising option (Murphy, 2001). The act of rearing snails in a confined but suitable enclosure is known as heliciculture (Akinyemi, Ojo & Akintomide, 2007). Tobias (2002) describes it as the science and art of breeding snails in an enclosure for man’s use while according to Chinwuko (2003), heliciculture involves the rearing and management of snails in confinement. Heliciculture in this context thus, refers to the rearing of edible land snails in a suitable confinement with good management of its (snail) requirements, for the promotion of human welfare.

Snail rearing is a feasible venture in Bayelsa state, due to the availability of abundant seeds and broodstock, their prolificacy, cheap and readily sourced local building materials for snailery construction (Welson, 2001). Farming snail doesn’t interrupt the normal schedule of service of working with government and  can  easily  be  combined  with other  farming activities as well  as being operated without fear of injury from the snails (Adeleke, 2006).

The snail farmers, like in other farming operations, systematically, apply several techniques; methods, systems and operations to combine varied level of

inputs and transform such inputs into desired level of output.   These inputs and

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the  different  techniques,  systems,  methods,  applied  by  farmers  in  snail production process is referred to as technology. Technology therefore is the systematic application of scientific knowledge, skills, devices, tools and implements in the process of production of materials needed by the society (Chinwe, 2000). Ayichi (1995), described technology as those machines, equipments and implements, processes, steps and techniques applied in agricultural production, storage, processing, marketing and management. However, in this context, technology means the systematic application of heliciculture management practices and processes and procedures in the conversion of inputs into snail products and the marketing of such products. It includes all the engineering/mechanical inputs (fence, snailery, feeders, wheelbarrow etc), chemical inputs (lime, fertilizer, disinfectant etc) and biological inputs (feeds, parent stocks, soil substrate etc) and processes and methods applied in snail production and marketing of the products.

However, there are literacy, experience, gender, location and husbandry disparities among  the  snail  farmers in  the study  area.  As  a  result of  these disparities,  there  is  need  to  determine  whether  or  not  literacy,  experience, gender,  location  and  husbandry  systems  have  influence  on  the  level  of application  of  the  snail  production  technologies  in  the  study  area.  This  is because  reports  abound  in  literature  that  the  levels of  adoption  of  modern agricultural technologies by literate, urban, male and commercial farmers are

higher  than  non-literate,  rural,  female  and  subsistence  counterparts.  Lipper

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(2001) corroboated the view that non-literate and subsistence producers with small  margins  of  profit,  seldomly  undertake  the  risk  of   adopting  new technologies unless it’s potential economic benefits are demonstrated beyond any doubt.

Eboh and Ogbazi (1990) lamented that the Nigerian farming population which is predominated with rural female farmers, are the hardest hit over the problems of non-availability of productivity enhancement inputs and services. However, efforts have been made in recent times to make modern agricultural inputs and services available to farmers in large quantities but the rate of diffusion  has  been  slow  and  adoption  level  by  non-literate  female  peasant farmers is sub-optimal. This is due largely to poor credit facilities, low level of literacy of farmers and poor agricultural extension services (Alu & Osinem,

2006). Hence, Okonjo (1991) unequivocally concluded that in most developing countries (Nigeria inclusive), non-literate, subsistence, rural female farmers seldom  benefit  from   the   use  of   extension  services  and   innovations  in agriculture. From the foregoing, therefore, it becomes imperative to determine whether or not literacy, location, gender, experience and sclae of proudtion have any influence on the level of appliation of heliciculture technologies by the farmers in the study area.

Snail   production,   like   in   other   fields   of   agriculture,   entails   the transformation of inputs (that are fed into the production process) into output.

Essentially, production involves the transformation of resources (inputs) into

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other goods and services called output. In production, the level of output is a function of the quantities of inputs or technologies and management applied (Nweze,  2002).  Kalu (2002) thus defined productivity as a  measure  of  the number  of  unit  inputs  that  are  fed  into  a  production  process  and  the corresponding units of output that emerges. Similarly, Arene (2002) opined that productivity is a measure of a project’s physical, technical and economic efficiency of the technologies applied and the overall viability of such project. Productivity here means a measure of the number of unit output obtained vis-a- vis the number of unit heliciculture input used in the production process. Therefore, a total output which outweighs the total inputs utilized in the process of snail production, was considered productive and vice versa. This implies that a harvest data was considered profitable if the total gross margin over the total overhead and depreciation costs were greater than one.

It is pertinent, however, to note that snail production has been on in Bayelsa state for quite some time now, with the snail farmers applying varied types of technologies. There is therefore, the need to critically examine the various types/number of technologies so far applied and the corresponding unit output obtained for possible introduction of enhancement measures, hence, this

study.

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Statement of the Problem

The inhabitants of Bayelsa state are beset with  acute food shortages, particularly protein. Suffice to say that the demand for protein has outstripped supply and consequently, the prices of sources of animal protein have soared beyond the reach of the low income earners (Steve & Nkasiobi, 2002). It was the  need  for  good  quality  but  cheap  source  of  animal  protein  that  led  to increased consumption of snail meat in the state.

Snails consumed in the state, so far, are mostly combed from the wild. Snails  are  however,  fast  becoming  an  endangered  species  in  the  state, occasioned by the increasing encroachment of development projects such as roads, housing, urban development, farms and the indiscriminate combing and trapping system using attractants, baits and chemicals (Steve & Nkasiobi, 2002). Thus, snails are becoming less available and consequently more costly in the state. Welson (2005) corroborated that a large head of snail costs N100.00. Therefore, if no special concern and interest are shown now on how to farm snail,  they  may  be  no  longer  available  for  consumption  due  to  possible extinction in the near future.

Perhaps motivated by the increased consumption rate of snail meat and the expected income from the increasing price of snail in the state, Bayelsa farmers are now rearing snails. Interestingly, snail farming is increasingly becoming popular in the state with the farmers applying varied types/ quantities

of  inputs in  their  snail farms.  Currently,  there  is  no  documented  empirical

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research record for use in helping the farmers to improve on their management practices in snail production. Such empirical research evidence will help  to influence the fasrmers in applying different technologies in the management and probdution of snails in the state thus leading to availability of snail products in the study area. With the growing interest of farmers in snail production in the state, there is the need to obtain data on technologies applied, costs and income of the enterprise as well as constraints. Such data will inform the content of farmer  education  and  consequently  improve  this  area  of  food  production through agricultural extension education activities. It becomes imperative, therefore, that this investigation be conducted.

Purpose of the Study

The overall purpose of the study is to ascertain the level of application of heliciculture   technologies   by   farmers,   thir   productivity,   constraints   and strategies for improvement.

Specifically, the study sought to:

1. determine the level of application of   technologies by snail farmers in site preparation;

2. access the level of application of  technologies in stocking snail;

3. examine the extent of application of technologies by the farmers in feed management;

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4. determine the extent of application of technologies in controlling pests and diseases;

5. ascertain the level of application of technologies by the farmers in marketing of snail products;

6. determine the respective rates of input application for snail farming;

7. detemrine the corresponding cost of the inputs;

8. evaluate the productivity of farmers in snail production;

9.  identify the constraints of farmers in snail production and

10. identify the measures for enhancing farmers’ productivity, as perceived  by the farmers and extension agents.

Significance of the Study

It is hoped that the findings of this study will be beneficial to snail farmers, agricultural extension agents, state government, non-governmental agencies, Curriculum   planners/Agric.   teachers,   policy   makers   in   the   Ministry   of Agriculture as well as researchers. Specifically, the findings of the study will provide useful information on the available snail production technologies as well  as  the  level  of  application  of  such  technologies  by  the  farmers.  The findings will also provide information on the rate of input application and the cost of the inputs. These results obtained from the study will be made available to  agricultural  extension  agents/farmer  education  personnel  through publications, seminars, conferences and workshops. This data will thus serve as

a guide to snail farmers including prospective ones in making sound investment

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decisions on the choice of technologies to apply, rate of input application and least cost inputs to procure.

Similarly, the findings of the study will provide information on the level of  the productivity of  farmers in  terms  of  yield  and  net profit.  While this information if made available to snail farmers will be useful to them for future investment decisions,  prospective farmers will need  such  data  to  decide on whether or not to engage in heliciculture.

Information on the level of productivity of the farmers will also be useful to the state government and non-governmental agencies in making decisions to provide funds for research, agric extension and subsidies to snail farmers for the development of snail production in the State.

The findings of the study will provide information on farmers’ constraints and improvement measures. This information will be a veritable tool to the state extension service to educate farmers using the identified measures in other to improve heliciculture programmes and projects. It will also assist State Government and NGOs to develop extension education programmes on snail production. Such intensification of the extension service, will apparently lead to successful establishment of more snail farms, enhance farmers’ productivity; and  ultimately  improve  farmers  socio-economic  status,  there-from. Consequently,  it  will  supplement  the  protein  requirement  and  bridge  the

aggregate protein supply-demand deficit in the state food balance sheet.

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The findings of the study will also be useful to curriculum planners to improve the content of the curriculum at various levels of educational system. Agric. teachers will then use the improved curriculum as a guide in establishing snail farms as school demonstration farms to arouse students’ interest as well as enable them acquire heliciculture competencies for entrepreneurship, on graduation.

The findings of the study will be useful to policy makers in Ministry of Agriculture to formulate good heliciculture policies in the state. The findings will also be a source of advisory tool to policy makers to guide government on heliciculture investment decisions.

The findings of the study will also be of immense benefit to researchers and subject matter specialists. The identified constraints of snail farmers that may seem intractable to be treated by the extension agents, will be conveyed via the agents to challenge the ingenuity of researchers/subject matter specialists. Possible solutions proffered there from, will inform measures for enhancing farmers’ productivity. The findings of the study will also form a good base for further studies for prospective researchers.

Research Questions

The study sought to answer the following questions:

(1). What is the level of application of technologies in site preparation by snail farmers in Bayelsa State?

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(2). What is the level of aplication of technologies in stocking by the farmers? (3). What is the extent of adoption of technologies in snail feed management by

the  farmers?

(4). What is the extent of application of technologies in the control of pests and diseases of snail?

(5). To what extent are technologies applied in harvesting and marketing of snail  products by snail farmers?

(6). What are the respective rates of input application for snail farming? (7). What are the corresponding cost of the inputs?

(8). What is the productivity of farmers in snail production? (9). What are the constraints of farmers in snail production?

(10).What are the measures, as perceived by farmers and agricultural extension agents, for enhancing farmers’ productivity in snail production?

Hypotheses

The following hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance.

Ho1:  There is no significant difference between the mean ratings of non-literate and literate snail farmers on the level of application of site preparation technologies.

Ho2: There is no significant difference between the mean ratings of female and male snail farmers on the level of application of stocking technologies.

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Ho3:   There   is   no   significant   difference   between   the   mean   ratings   of inexperienced and experienced snail farmers on the level of application of feed management technologies.

Ho4: There is no significant difference between the mean scores of rural and urban snail farmers on the level of  application of pests, and diseases control technologies.

Ho5: There is no significant difference between the mean scores of non-literate and literate snail farmers on the level of application of marketing technologies.

Ho6: There is no significant difference between the mean scores of subsistence and commercial snail farmers on the constraints of farmers in snail production.

Ho7:  There is no significant difference between the mean scores of farmers and extension agents on the measures for enhancing farmers’ productivity.

Scope of the Study

The study was delimited to determining the level of application of snail production technologies by the farmers, rate of input application/corresponding cost of the inputs, farmers’ productivity and the factors that affects productivity

in Bayelsa State.

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Limitations of the Study

The study primarily focussed on stragegies for enhancing the productivity of snail farmers at the expense of teacher education since the study was housed in education (Agricultural Education unit). Indeed, emphases were laid on farmer education, in a bid to improve this area of food production with little concern on agricultural education. It was on this premise, the researcher suggested that

‘snail  production  competency  needs  of  teachers  of  agricultural  science  in schools” be conducted, as further research.

The study was also faced with a choice between the various methods of depreciation for its different types of fixed assests. Although, the study finally adopted the straight-line method because the asset provided equal benefits to each accounting period under investigation nevertheless, a combination of methods (reducing balance, straight-line and machine hour method) would have been more fair in allocating the changes between different accounting periods.

It is interesting to note, however, that the limitations does not affect the

fidelity and generalisability of the findings of the study.

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