Uthai thani: Villagers in Lan Sak District have discovered a profitable venture in harvesting and selling freshwater snails, generating an income of up to a thousand baht per day.
According to Thai News Agency, residents of Ban Mai Samakkhi in Tambon Rabam are utilizing their free time from rice farming to collect freshwater snails from the Thap Sala Reservoir. The snails are boiled, the meat is extracted, and then sold, providing a valuable source of supplementary income. The bustling activity in the village is centered on processing these snails. After boiling, villagers use a sharp metal skewer to extract the meat from the shells. The meat is then soaked in alum water to remove impurities before being sold. The snails fetch a price of 75 baht per kilogram and are popular with restaurants, featuring in dishes like snail curry with betel leaves, stir-fried snails, and snail larb.
Ms. Manee, a local villager, explained that the snail harvesting takes place during the off-season from rice farming, which spans from June to November. During this period, the water level in the reservoir drops, making it easier to collect the snails in large quantities. Villagers typically harvest the snails from early morning until 1 PM, then process and sell them in the evening.
On average, each family can process 17-18 kilograms of snails daily, earning over 1,000 baht. For those unable to collect snails, there is the option to work as shucking laborers, earning 10 baht per kilogram. This initiative not only provides additional income during the farming off-season but also helps distribute wealth within the community.