Ojo, V.A. and Zira, B.D.

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This study analyzed the economics of snail production in Jos, Plateau state. A multistage random sampling procedure was used to select sixty snail farmers from Jos North local Government Area of Plateau State. Data were collected through structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency counts, means percentages, etc) as well as budgetary technique and stepwise regression analysis. The findings showed that most of the snail farms were owned by individuals who were part-time snail farmers (87.4%), who financed their snail production (94.3%) through personal savings. Financial analyses showed that snail production is profitable with farmers earning average profit of ₦24,978.02 per year. The results of regression analyses revealed that years of education, years of experience in snail farming and farm size were statistically significant and explained 73.8% of the total variation in the profit made by the snail farmers. Due to its profitability and low capital investment nature, snail rearing is recommended for farmers who do not have substantial capital, for the unemployed and those aspiring to augment their income. Key words: Snail production, gross margin, profitability ratio, stepwise regression, Plateau State