Bulgarian Pensioners Excited by Snail-Breeding Opportunities

An increasing number of retired Bulgarians are interested in starting snail farms, the National Snail-Breeding Cluster announced.

Over 100 pensions have submitted applications for project funding administered by the Cluster for the creation of snail farms free of charge, including an 89-year-old woman, according to Simona Mollova, a consultant of the not-for-profit organization.

The Cluster has attracted sponsorship from private companies, including a bank and an insurance company, and is going to fund the creation of at least 10 snail farms in 2010.

It has extended the deadline for submitting applications until March 31, 2010. The applicants must be able-bodied retirees owning appropriate plots of land, with a monthly pension of no more than BGN 250.

The expected snail yield from the pensioners’ farms is 4-6 tons per decare; depending of quality of the snails and the technology for their breeding, they could be sold for EUR 6-40 per kilogram, which means an income of at least EUR 30 000 per decare.

The profit will be distributed between the farmer, the bank, and the insurance company, which have provided the funding.

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