PROFITABILITY OF SNAIL FARMING IN NDOKWA WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA
The study is aimed at examining the profitability of snail farming in Ndokwa West Local Government Area, Delta State. Relevant data collected includes; socio economic characteristics of snail farmers, management practices/ breeds of snail, costs and returns of snailery (quantities and prices of both input and output) and constraints of snailery production. Estimated gross margin of N 18,000 and a net profit of N13, 933 were obtained from the study. Snail enterprise is profitable. The result also indicates that snail farmers were mostly male, literate, self financed and took snail farming as part time. Lack of fund, lack of good breeding stock, pest infestation among others were some of the problems encountered by the respondents. Based on the findings, the study recommends that snail farmers and prospective farmers should ensure high level sanitary measures and medication to reduce pest attack, credit accessibility from formal and informal sources and setting up demonstration centers that will serve as source of improved foundation stocks.