Kalf Rabbitry

Snail Rearing

By Our Reporter

How Mugisha turned snails into cash cow

The mere thought of a snail brings chills down one’s spine, with a look of disgust on their faces. Now, to think that one can keep snails as a business meant to yield food to some people is more mind-boggling. However, for Lucy Mugisha Shillingi, the feeling and idea about snails is far from that. She found a goldmine is rearing snails.

Mugisha says Ugandans need to discover and earn from this hidden treasure because they are easy to keep and easy to earn from. From one box with about 20 snails, Mugisha has grown her farm to over 60 boxes, each carrying over 250 to 700 snails. There are over 35,000 mature snails in these boxes. What is astonishing, however, is that a kilogram of snail meat goes for sh200,000. This continues to justify why Mugisha and a few others concentrated on what others deemed filthy. Mugisha says that while on a business trip in Ghana a couple of years ago, she witnessed how madly in love Ghanaians are with sea food. “This is why there is a lot of snail growing there,” she says When she returned to Uganda, she started doing research about growing snails in Uganda. “I, however, found out that most Ugandans did not realize the value in snails,” she says. Mugisha decided to tag her enterprise, ‘Hidden Treasures of Snails’ in order to entice Ugandans into appreciating the venture.

She started carrying out research in 2010. “I tried to start commercially in 2016, but went off beat. I made the final decision to start in 2019, after confirming that I will have the market for my produce”. She set up 10 concrete boxes of about 6ftx3ft and then half-filled them with black, fertile soils. The boxes are covered with translucent green nets, similar to those used in green houses. These boxes are kept moist all the time because those are the conditions that snails require to thrive. According to Peace Kyomukama, the caretaker, snails are kept damp or moist by spraying them with water. Shillingi got her first stock by picking wild snails in her compound. “These are the common giant African snails which can be found anywhere in the country,” she says. She knew that snails can easily multiply because they are hermaphrodites (have male and female reproductive organs). They soon started laying eggs and started multiplying and she set up more shelters. She started planning for an effective feeding programme.

Processing Mugisha set up two laboratories. In these labs, testing of raw materials harvested from snails includes checking the slime before it is processed into other products like creams and lotions. Shillingi says modern farming involves research and farmers must not only depend on research institutions to get scientific information.

This is why she invested in these labs. She says that the water snails drink must be pure and natural. “We test the water we give the snails,” she says. Desmond Okello, the laboratory assistant, explains that the laboratories ensure that every process is done the right way. “We examine every raw material”

Above: Snails for harvest Feeding “Snails feed on greens and drink a lot of water,” she says. Mugisha grows cabbage, yams, potatoes among others, in every small space at her hotel purposely to feed the snails. According to Kyomukama, a box with over 500 snails needs at least 10 yam leaves per day. Water is also very important, but it is not any kind of water. “We do not give them lake water, for example, the one which is treated by National Water and Sewerage Corporation,” Mugisha says. This is because it has chemicals that affect the snails’ metabolism. She, therefore, constructed a rainwater harvesting system on the roof of the hotel. A snail takes six months to mature, but can live for between six to 10 years. Shillings says that if the feeding is right, some weigh 1kg each.

Challenges This is a purely new enterprise in Uganda and many people have a negative attitude towards it,” she says. However, the negativity is gradually being reduced through sensitization. “I now exhibit at various farming expos around the country, purposely to show Ugandans that this is a good, money making activity that they can do,” she says.

Secretariat

AGM and Election of New Leadership

In November 2020, UNYFA witnessed a change of guard after the 3 years tenure of the inaugural board came to an end. Prior to the elections, following the UNYFA thematic area 1 of Professionalization, right form the district level, our District Young Farmers’ Associations elected their district board. Being a membership-based organization, having a strong foundation for UNYFA is a key component for sustainability.The building block of UNYFA is the young farmer and having their voice heard across all levels is pertinent to our vision of Shaping the Future of Farming.

After the election of the district leadership, at the AGM, the regional leaders representing the 6 regions of operation of UNYFA – Northern, Far East, Eastern, Central, Western and Westnile – were elected. All the 6 regions are represented on the national board and this is clearly reflected in the current UNYFA board which was sworn into office in December 2020.

Above: Chairperson(Left) Eastern region committee and his team swear in.

“The UNYFA board is grateful to all the members for entrusting us to

lead you.

We are ready to learn and build on the successes of the previous board to create a stronger young farmers’ body in Uganda’ Semwanga Richard, the newly elected UNYFA president in his first speech as the president elect of UNYFA had this reassuring message for the members.

Left: Newly Elected Male Committee Member, Chelimo Bashir swears in.

“Who we are; UNYFA Board”

President Semwanga RICHARD

General Secretary Ogolo BRIAN Vice President

Ariaka VINCENT Treasurer

Namaganda BETTY

Publicity Secretary Atukwasa Martin Board Member - Male Chelimo BASHIR Ex-Officio Akuonzi JOEL

Board Member - Female Awor SARAH Ex-Officio/CEO Kabiito DENIS

UNYFA Regional Executive Committee - 2020

Region Position Name DYFA

North

Chairperson Awor Sara Vice Chairperson Ogolo Brian General Secretary Koli Amy Dolly Treasurer Ayugi Sandra Publicity Secretary Odur Emmanuel

Member (Male) Okot Geoffrey Member (Female) Akello Mirriam Lira

Oyam Apac Oyam Anywalonino Earthworm Group - Lira Nwoya Gulu

West Nile

Chairperson Joel Akuonzi Vice Chairperson Asuma Geoffrey General Secretary Achora Godwin Treasurer Ayikoru Getrude Publicity Secretary Aweku Innocent Member (Male) Ariaka Vincent Zombo Maracha Nebbi Maracha Zombo Maracha

Member (Female) Opinia Peace Bridget Western Chairperson Agaba Stephen Vice Chairperson Agaba Kenneth

General Secretary Mugisha Rostic

Bunyangabu Kayonza Youth Innovation Hub - Kanungu Masindi Treasurer Arinda Christine Isingiro Publicity Secretary Katwere Florence Kabarole Member (Male) Atukwase Martin Kanungu Member (Female) Komuhendo Betty Bunyangabu

Region Position Name DYFA

Central Chairperson Vice Chairperson Segawa Henry Ssemwanga Richard Luweero Nakasongola General Secretary Tubihimaana Emmanuel Mubende Treasurer Nakawuka Maria Jacinta Sembabule Publicity Secretary Lukenge Matia Mityana Member (Male) Lugaaju Benjamin Rakai Member (Female) Nakyambadde Teddy Mityana Eastern Chairperson Ngolobe Dagluss Kwome Busia Vice Chairperson Kasadha Yasin Iganga General Secretary Mukwata John Bosco Budaka Treasurer Muteba Ibrahim Jinja Publicity Secretary Namaganda Betty Iganga Member (Male) Weleba Charles Bududa Member (Female) Nahuro Christine Jinja

Far East

Chairperson Chelimo Bashir

Sebei Farmers’ SACCO - Kapchorwa Vice Chairperson Zalwango Cissy Kumi General Secretary Ebaat Omor Tonny Soroti Treasurer Ayaro Christine Pallisa Publicity Secretary Ekwanait William Kumi Member (Male) Okiring Julius Pallisa Member (Female) Chelangat Domina Sebei Farmers’ SACCO - Kapchorwa