Farmers of Prykarpattia: How snail cultivation is becoming Ukraine's export pride

Farmers of Prykarpattia: How snail cultivation is becoming Ukraine's export pride

In Ukraine, where agriculture is traditionally focused on the cultivation of grain and technical crops, the farmers of the Carpathian region have chosen an unconventional path - the cultivation of snails. This is a new industry for the region, which is rapidly gaining popularity and becoming a significant export destination for the country.

Snail farming in Prykarpattia has been actively developing for the past few years. Local farmers began to pay attention to this business, which is promising and profitable. There are significant advantages of growing snails: low maintenance costs, high market demand and the possibility of ecological management.

According to the data of the State Statistics Service, about 50 snail farms have already been registered in Ukraine. Most of them are located in the Carpathians, where the natural conditions are ideal for growing these molluscs. Farmers admit that the climate and fertile soils of the region create optimal conditions for the reproduction and development of snails.

The export of snails from Ukraine has increased by 20% over the past few years. This became possible thanks to the high quality of products offered by Ukrainian farmers. The main consumers are the countries of the European Union, where the consumption of snails has a long tradition. According to the data of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, in 2023 the export of snails to the EU amounted to about 5 million euros.

Farmers of Prikapattia have plans for further development. They are investing in new technology and expanding their farms to meet the growing demand for snails. Local farmers are also working on improving conditions for breeding and increasing production volumes, which opens up new prospects for the industry.

Thus, the cultivation of snails in the Carpathians becomes not only a profitable business, but also an important element of the agrarian policy of Ukraine. Taking into account the positive development trends, it can be expected that in the future this industry will become one of the key ones for the economy of the region and the country as a whole.