{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Exotic snails sold on roadside in West Champaran at Rs 200 per kg",
  "summary": "Snails, often served as an exotic non-veg dish globally, are sold openly on roadsides in Bihar's West Champaran district. Priced at Rs 200 per kg, these protein-rich aquatic creatures see massive daily sales.",
  "content": "A unique trade unfolds in West Champaran where a creature typically served as an expensive exotic non-veg dish in foreign countries is openly bought and sold on roadsides across Bihar. Visuals show vendors sitting in long rows along the street, displaying snails on leaves and jute sacks while eager buyers line up to purchase them. Interestingly, while the rest of the world classifies snails as high-end seafood, here in Bihar they are hand-picked directly from local ponds, tanks, and small rivers to cater to a dedicated consumer base.\n\nSeventy families run the snail farming and trading business\nHeera Lal Manjhi, a resident of Hardiya Panchayat in Bettiah, explains that around 70 families in his village depend entirely on the snail trade for their livelihood. What makes this enterprise unique is that these individuals are not just middlemen but active farmers. They either cultivate snails themselves or harvest them from nearby water bodies. Once gathered, the produce is brought to local markets where large-scale buying and selling takes place daily.\n\nLocal naming and traditional harvesting methods\nLocally known as ghongha in Hindi and aitha in the regional dialects of Bihar, these creatures prefer living in damp soil near freshwater sources. Vendors catch them using a specialized bamboo tool designed to trap them efficiently. Before putting them up for sale, traders remove the hard outer shell and thoroughly wash the edible inner flesh with clean water to make it ready for consumption.\n\nNutritional value and strong daily market demand\nAccording to Heera, the prevailing market price for these snails is 200 rupees per kg. Packed with vital nutrients including iron, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids, local residents consume them with great enthusiasm. This high demand drives an average daily sale of two quintals in the local market, which peaks significantly during the months of August to October, touching up to three quintals per day.\n\nWhat this means for you\nThis unconventional trade highlights a unique micro-economy centered around unconventional local food sources in rural regions.\n\n• Across India: It sheds light on lesser-known rural livelihoods and alternative protein sources harvested directly from local ecosystems.\n• In West Champaran: Around 70 families depend on harvesting, farming, and selling snails, generating steady daily income from local market sales.\n\nWhy this happened\nThe persistence and growth of this trade are driven by favorable natural habitats and steady nutritional demand.\n\n• Natural Abundance: Damp soil near local ponds, tanks, and small rivers serves as an ideal breeding ground for snails.\n• Nutritional Benefits: High concentrations of iron, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids make it a sought-after dietary item locally.\n• Traditional Expertise: Local villagers possess specialized knowledge in harvesting them using bamboo trapping tools and managing small-scale farming.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. What is the local name for snails in Bihar?\nSnails are locally referred to as aitha in the regional dialects of Bihar.\n\n2. What is the market price of snails?\nThe snails are priced at 200 rupees per kg in the local market.\n\n3. How many families are involved in this business in Bettiah?\nAround 70 families from Hardiya Panchayat are engaged in the snail business.\n\n4. What major nutrients are found in snails?\nSnails are packed with essential nutrients including iron, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids.\n\n5. During which months do sales reach their peak?\nSales reach up to three quintals daily during the peak period between August and October.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/business/bihar-ke-isa-jile-men-saraka-kinare-bikata-hai-videshi-jayaka-rs-200-kilo-hai-kimata-39568",
  "category": "Business",
  "publishedAt": "2026-09-27",
  "tags": [
    "West Champaran",
    "Snail Farming",
    "Bihar News",
    "Exotic Food",
    "Bettiah",
    "Seafood"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}