Consumption and sales of domesticated snails Archachatina marginata in rural southern Nigeria

摘要

This paper examines the consumption and sales of backyard domesticated snails (Archachatina marginata) in the Akamkpa area of Cross River State in the rain belt of southern Nigeria. The study was carried out in May-June and November-December 1998. Asurvey of ten households in each of ten villages indicated that 83% of women used domesticated snails (A. marginata) to supplement more costly sources of meat and 62% used them to augment family income. 38% of the men kept snails for commercial purposesand 63% were involved in roadside sales only. 8% and 97% of women were involved in hawking and market sales respectively.