Alert issued over Giant African Snail infestation in Alappuzha

Under the Ministry of Agriculture, the Kerala Pest Management Center (KCPM) Alappuzha issued a warning on the giant African snail invasion in Alappuzha.

Authorities said that the widespread presence of African snails in various parts of the region at the beginning of the monsoon on Wednesday. KCPM called both farmers and the people to remain vigilant against the pest that damages the crops. Since the secretions of African snails may contain parasites that may cause diseases in humans, it is important to handle and control them very carefully. KCPM said in a statement, “Effective destruction is possible only with coordinated, community -based control measures,” he said.

Considering that nematodes in the secretions of African snails have the potential to cause encephality in humans, KCPM emphasized that large-scale awareness campaigns and control measures should be initiated under local self-management institutions, agriculture and health departments and other related agencies.

African snails attack various agricultural plants, including bananas, lump crops, ginger, turmeric, papaya, citrus and leafy vegetables and cause significant product damage. They cause the most destruction to banana leaves. According to the authorities, snails have a very high reproductive capacity.

“Both male and female reproductive organs are available in a single individual. On average, approximately 90% of a snail will come out of the egg. They can live for seven to ten years under positive conditions, while their population increases rapidly.”