Giant African snails are an integral part of the African culinary tradition. In West Africa, a major snail consumption region, wild stocks have been endangered by over gathering for some years now. Production systems must be developed in Africa if this resource is not to vanish. The major objective of the small-scale snail-farming sector is to replace wild snail gathering gradually with rational production techniques. This article reviews the major guidelines, the demand and the market for snails and snail farming. Although certain species of giant African snails do represent a threat to agriculture, snail farming integrated with crop rotation can improve soil quality by increasing crop yields. The authors stress the importance of training at all levels to promote snail farming.
