Snail farming project in Dormaa District

Dormaa-Ahenkro (B/A), Mar. 9, GNA - The Dormaa District Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has in collaboration with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology initiated a Snail Pilot Project at the Mpamso Forest Reserve in Brong-Ahafo.

A total of 960 young snails have so far been planted at three locations in the forest, which experts say is capable of hosting a minimum of 30 billion snails.

Dr A. A. Kontor, Dormaa District Director of the Ministry told the Ghana News Agency in an interview at the project site at Asikasu, near Dormaa- Ahenkro that, the project was to help in increasing the protein requirements of the people.

He explained that though poultry production had increased in the district, the people could not afford its high production cost, adding, the scheme would be extended to other forest reserves in the area. Dr. Kontor said a snail kept under favourable conditions was capable of laying a minimum of 400 eggs at a time and could multiply rapidly and trickle out into fringe farms.

He said the directorate had plans to educate the fringe communities on when, where and how to harvest the snails and appealed to the communities to protect the forest against bushfires and other negative activities to ensure the success of the project.