An agriculture lover since childhood, Hach Chhorn won a scholarship to pursue his studies at Prek Leap National Institute of Agriculture before entering the sector.

After seeing his contemporaries in neighbouring countries raising Japanese snails – which can be sold at high prices – Chhorn decided to try raising them. He now farms three varieties, cherry, butter and durian snails.

Butter snails, as the name suggests, feature a light yellow flesh, while durian snails have a bright yellow colour – much light a ripe example off their namesake fruit. Cherry snails are a dark, chocolate brown.

“I enjoy experimenting. I actually began by trialling more than ten species. Following my experiments, I determined that the three kinds I am currently raising had the most potential as cash crops. They are resistant to climate change, they are resistant to rain and we do not have to buy a water filter. They eat a 100 per cent natural diet,” he said.

He started his operation a little over a year ago with just 3kg of snails, but now has thousands of snails in varying stages of growth on his farm in O’Rona village, Sre Khtum commune, Keo Seima district, Mondulkiri province.

Chhorn was able to import his snails from Thailand, saving on the freight from Japan, and because they breed 30 to 40 times a year, he can produce several thousand bay snails a year.

“There are other varieties which I would like to try my hand at farming, but they cost up to $500 per kilo to buy, which is a lot to get a breeding programme going. In contrast, the ones I am currently developing cost me about $100/kg. Currently, I am able to sell one or two kilos per day, for $100 each, although most of my customers are also farmers rather than restaurants,” he said.

In just a short time, his three types of baby snails have attracted many customers.

Chhorn quit his job as head of an NGO in 2016 to farm full time, originally raising just frogs, but adding many other species to his farm.

He explained that the name of his farm, 400 Farm, came about because he has 400 separate species there. In the future, this will increase to 700, he said.

“I have many breeds of pigeon. Some can reach up to ten million riel for a pair, while some are worth as little as 20,000 riel. There are places in Vietnam where people are earning several thousand dollars per month breeding pigeons, often on small blocks of land,” he said.

He also has many kinds of black chickens, with some breeding pairs worth up to 18 million riel. He also raises a wide variety of fish and snakes, as well as other species which are bred as food supplies for other inhabitants of the 400 Farm.

“I focus on the production of several breeds – even some which are already widely bred in Cambodia, such as Bocourt’s water snake,” he said.

As for the valuable snails, Chhorn claimed that they were among the simplest to care for of all of the species on his farm. He often posts videos to his social media channels which detail his experiences with them.

“I want to share my success without worrying that someone else could raise them cheaper than I can by doing less. I believe in sharing knowledge and experience. In fact, although the initial purchase price is expensive, I have had repeat customers who return to purchase snail stock from me just because they know they can learn so much from me. I am happy to share,” he said.

By sharing tips, he demonstrates how simple they are to raise, and this in turn encourages people who would like to start their own business but do not access to much capital.

Different kinds of Japanese snails raised at Chhorn’s farm in Mondulkiri. PHOTO SUPPLIED

“Some people can afford to risk buying rare breeds of livestock for millions of dollars, and that is up to them. On the other hand, I can sell a breeding pair of snails for just 20,000 riel. I am always happy to meet with people and discuss their budget,” he said.

He added that even though the snails were expensive, farmers didn’t need to spend money on feeding and caring for them.

He explained that he estimated that raising the Japanese varieties was 20 or 30 times easier than raising local snails. They did not need sunlight, and could eat leftover vegetables.

Currently, only about ten per cent of his sales were made up of restaurants or people who intended to consume the animals.

He admitted that some restaurants had contacted him, but he was not yet able to guarantee a regular enough supply. He was considering focusing on the snail aspect of his farm so that he could secure several long term contracts.

Hour, who promotes Chhorn’s agricultural products, described how the price of the snails was more than fair, because they were breeding animals, and because of their fantastic flavour.

“The taste of Japanese snails is different from the domestic snails which are commonly eaten here. They look beautiful, and their meat tastes like chicken or beef. They suit a variety of dishes and taste great when mixed with vegetables,” she told The Post.

“Another special thing about them is that we can make them taste like pumpkin or other vegetables. Before we cook them, we feed them a specific fruit or vegetable. They acquire the taste of what they ate,” she added.

Chhorn expected that Japanese snails would soon be more widely available in the country, which meant the price would also decrease.

“I think in the next two years, the meat of these types of snail will sell for about $10/kg. The meat is soft and delicious and is also high-energy and healthy,” he said.

Currently, butter and durian snails cost $100/kg per kg, with the darker cherry snails selling for about half that.

Besides locals, the 400 Farm also ships snails to Vietnam, along with training courses in how to raise them.

While snails may be among the simplest of species to farm, he also offers training in how to raise fish, frogs, lobsters, eels, chickens, pigeons, geese and ducks. He charges $50 for an online training session, or $100 for in-person instruction. All of his lessons include unlimited counselling via Telegram.

“I sometimes help the farmers who studied with me to find markets for their products – especially when I receive an order I cannot fill. I also try to teach them how to be confident selling. It is important to be aware of the value of your produce, especially one as sustainable as this one,” he said.

400 Farm is currently open to visitors, who pay $5 to tour the property and take pictures.

“We also offer meeting rooms and several kinds of accommodation. We have individual rooms, family options and tents, starting from just 10,000 riel per night,” he said.

“We add a surcharge of $5 for three meals per day. The dishes include ingredients from our farm, including pigeon or snail. Although these are expensive products, we don’t care about the cost – the important thing is to let guests understand their taste and quality so they spread the word about what we do here,” he added.

He has set himself the target of raising 700 species of animals by 2025, and is currently preparing to introduce edible crickets. He also intends to expand the farm to 15ha, which will include more accommodation and office space.