Achatina fulica is a terrestrial snail, belonging to phylum Mollusca, having a status of “serious agricultural pest” in India.
The Giant African Snails came to India during British times by hitching rides on trade ships from Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, etc.
These molluscs eat all kinds of crops and plants and even construction materials such as paint and stucco.
They are seen spreading in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and in certain parts of Karnataka and by 2022 in Maharashtra . Also seen in West Bengal , Bihar , Jharkhand , Assam .
With no natural predators the snails have become highly invasive and an agricultural pest that destroy whole farms. They are hermaphrodites, live for 3-5 years and begin laying eggs within a year – each snail can lay over 500-900 eggs twice a year.
So till date most common advisory issued by our agricultural experts “ Kill the Gaint African snails “ !
Recent research in biotechnology and nanotechnology suggests land snails secretes a sticky, complex, viscous secretion through specialized goblet cells in the columnar epithelium.
The mucus serves various functions such as lubrication for the passage of objects, maintains hydrated layer on the epithelium, blocks the pathogens etc.
Snail mucus is containing 2 types Polysaccharides (Glycosaminoglycan, Dextran) 7 types of Glycoproteins (Mucin, Lectin) various Antibacterial peptides, Allantoin, Glycolic acid .
So existing agriculture experts advisory “ Kill the Gaint African Snail “ is outdated , expired !
Snail mucin is becoming increasingly popular for its wide range of ingredients and potential benefits. The therapeutic use of snail mucin in medical fields has been studied as antimicrobial agents, drug delivery vehicles, antitumor agents, wound healing agents, and biomaterial coatings among others. Additionally, the use in cosmetic fields includes antiaging, hydrating, anti-acne, scarring, and hyperpigmentation treatments
It’s time to start Heliculture ( snail farming )
Our controlled free range model heliculture farm is under development at Jhargram ( West Bengal )
Snail slime collection and mucin extraction lab will be started next month.
Interested agro entrepreneurs , marginal farmers , investors are most welcome to join our new generation agro forestry venture