Grace Kyarimpa Turns Snails into Profitable Venture in Uganda

In Uganda, snails are often viewed as pests or symbols of bad luck, but Grace Kyarimpa is proving their worth as a lucrative agribusiness. The CEO of AgroDiverse Impacts Limited started her venture in 2019 after discovering snails’ value during a study exchange in South Korea.

With initial capital of just Shs50,000 and wild-collected snails from Mukono District, Kyarimpa overcame early setbacks like ant invasions by refining housing, feeding, and breeding techniques. Her farm now houses 5,000 snails, aiming for 50,000 by year-end.

She maximizes value from every part: shells become calcium-rich animal feed, meat is dried for protein supplements, and slime is transformed into popular soaps, lotions, and moisturizers. These skincare items sell out at exhibitions in Gulu and Soroti, contributing to her Shs4.8 million monthly gross and Shs2.5 million net income.

Cultural biases persist, with some associating snails with witchcraft, but Kyarimpa counters this through community education. Locals now supply snails to her farm, and she employs seven youths while training others.

Snail farming suits beginners with low startup costs, small spaces, and cheap feeds like sweet potato vines. Kyarimpa sees potential in youth, women, escargot for hotels, and exports, alongside her expanded operations in black soldier flies, vermiculture, and more for a circular agribusiness.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)