The rate of under-nourishment in Cameroon has been about 16% household being underfed in the country as at 2017 (World Food Programme and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2017). In fact, one of the problems of malnutrition in humans is the low consumption of animal protein (Schönfeldt and Hall, 2012). FAO Statistics of 2013 indicate that protein consumption in Cameroon is currently 61.96 g/capita/day, that is, below FAO norm, estimated at  81.23 g/capita/day (FAO, 2013). Hence, the low consumption of protein could be due to the fact that breeding of conventional species in Cameroon (beef, chicken, etc.) is still in majority traditional and cannot satisfy the high demand of Cameroon population in terms of protein requirements per individual (Labonne et al., 2003). Besides, the prices of conventional species in the market are less affordable for the middle class of Cameroonian households (Labonne  et  al., 2003). Therefore, people have turned to the consumption of non-conventional species such as snails that were previously reserved for certain ethnic groups, particularly those from the south-west region (Ndah et al., 2017; Ngenwi et al., 2010). As in the south of Nigeria, the region nearby to Cameroon south west region, land snail meat consumption is common (Cobbinah and Vink, 2008). The major varieties of edible land snails found are Achatina achatina and Achatina fulica (Cobbinah and Vink, 2008). Besides, various studies have recommended snail meat to all ages (Malik et al., 2011; Adeyeye and Afolabi, 2004; Babalola and Akinsoyinu, 2009; Fagbuaro et al., 2006; Eneji et al., 2008). Since, snail meat was reported to be rich in proteins, low in fats and carbohydrates (Malik et al., 2011; Adeyeye and Afolabi, 2004; Babalola and Akinsoyinu, 2009; Fagbuaro et al., 2006; Eneji et al., 2008). Snail meat also contains several minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron and zinc (Engmann et al., 2013; Babalola and Akinsoyinu, 2009). In addition, it contains an additional source of essential amino acids such as Lysine and Arginine (Fagbuaro et al., 2006). Besides, its nutritional values, snail meat is more affordable than conventional livestock in Cameroon according to the prices in the market. Furthermore, the snail meat sector is a lucrative sector and source of income for several people in the south-west region that includes snail rearers, collectors, cleaners and vendors (Ndah et al., 2017; Ngenwi et al., 2010). With social crisis and increase of refugees ongoing in some region of the country, could snail meat be an alternative solution to food insecurity in Cameroon? There is a need to characterize the state of consumption of land snail consumption in Cameroon, particularly in the south-west region where it is very available. Therefore, objective of this study is firstly to identify the perception of snail meat consumption in the  Fako  division,  south-west  region  of Cameroon. Secondly, assess parameters that determine its consumption.

Description of the study area

This study was conducted in the Fako Division, South West Region of Cameroon (Figure 1). The division is located at Latitude 4.1667° and Longitude 9.1667°. It covers an area of 2,093 km² and in 2014 had a total population of 1, 515, 888 inhabitants (Institut National de la Statistique, 2015).  Of the six divisions in the South West region, Fako is a cosmopolitan area with numerous urban and semi-urban towns (Institut National de la Statistique, 2015). Besides, the division belongs to a humid forest with monomodal rainfall which offers favorable climatic conditions for the reproduction and development of land snails which is consumed as traditional meal.

Types and instrument of data collection and sample size process

Data used for the study were collected from 4 randomly selected areas in Fako division: Ekona, Buea, Limbe and Batoke as indicated in Figure 1, using a well-structured pre-tested questionnaire. Data were collected according to the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents (age, gender, household size, marital status, level of education, income, etc). Additional questions were related to snail consumption perception (quantity consumed, snail origin, determinants factors of consumption, eating form, and experience in snail consumption). A multistage random sampling method was used to select a total of 211 respondents that constituted the sample size. Descriptive statistics allowed the organization of the data (Table 1).

Data analysis

Data collected were statistically analyzed by using descriptive statistics and ordinary least squares multiple regression method of Stata 12.0  and  Excel  2013.  For regression calculation, snail meat

consumption model is tacitly specified as:

C = β₀ + β₁Age+ β₂Housesize+ β₃Edulevel + β₄Income +β₅Eating form +β₆Quantity +β₇ Frequency + β₈Price + ε

where C = Consumption of snail’s meat (decision to consume snail’s meat), β_i = econometrics coefficients of parameters with  i= 1,2,3….8, and ε = disturbance.

Socio-economic characteristics of respondents

Results showed that 52.13% of the studied sample were male while 47.87% were female (Table 2). Majority of respondents were between 0 and 30 years (49.76%) followed by the range of 30 to 40 (34.18%). The majority of respondents were married (50.24%) and single (45.50%). The majority had a study level which ranged between the secondary and tertiary level. Household size ranged from 3 to  4  persons  as  reported by  38.86%  of respondents. Concerning the main activity of the interviewed people, civil servants (31.75%) were more represented, followed by traders (25.59%), then students (19.91%). The level of income is ranged between 30.000 and 100.000 FCFA. Most of the respondents are Christian (95.26%) and their region of origin is mostly the south-west region (56.40%).

Snail meat consumption perception

Parameters of snail consumption are shown in Table 3. It was indicated that a large number of respondents 76.30% eat snail meat while 23.70% do not. Actually, 36.49% of the respondents presented good taste as main determinant of consuming snail meat. Other reasons of snail meat consumption as identified by the respondents include formation of blood cells, source of proteins and economic factor. Cultural taboo, not familiar to snail dislikes the taste, were the factors that prevent some of the respondents from snail consumption.

Furthermore, 66.82% of respondents acquired their snail meat  from   the   market,   9.48%   from  the  farm,  while 23.69% from both market and farm. Regarding the form of  consumption,  36.49%  of  respondents  eat snail meat

inside soup, while 24.64% eat it grilled. About the frequency of consumption, 30.33% of respondents consume snail meat weekly, 23.7% monthly, while 22.70% daily and 23.70% occasionally. When interrogated about snail meat price in the market, 72.99% of respondent said that it is expensive while 27.01% do not.

Results from Table 4 showed that the average of snail consumed by respondents is 3.08 kg. In addition, it was also shown that the amount in average disbursed by respondents to buy snail in the market is around to 3000 FCFA.

Statistical regression model

Table 5 shows the result of regression of decision to consume snail meat between  all  the  parameters  of  the study. These results showed that there is a significant correlation at 1% between the decision to consume snail meat and the following parameters: marital status, income, snail origin, quantity of snail and religion. Similarly, a significative correlation of 5% between snail consumption and household size.

Table 6 shows the regression results of snail meat quantity consumption between 4 parameters: house size, snail price, price changing period and eating form. The results showed that there is a significant correlation at 1% between the quantity of snail consumption and the price of snails, and at 5% with the price changing perio

Percentage of women and men interviewed were similar. In addition, the studied sample is composed of young people (0-40 years old). This result showed that the studied sample is representative of the Cameroonian population that comprised a young population and a similar percentage between women and men (Institut National de la Statistique, 2015). Most of the respondents are educated beyond primary school and have a job. This implies that the answers given  during  this  questionnaire could be considered and it is a guarantee of validity of this study.

Majority of people interviewed have for region of origin the south-west. Indeed, this result justifies the consumption of snails being important in the study population since south-west region where Fako division belongs is a humid forest with monomodal rainfall which offers favorable climatic conditions for the reproduction and development of land snails (Cobbinah and Vink, 2008; Chukwuka  et  al.,  2014).  In  addition, tribes of the area have integrated land snails consumption as their cultural meal (Ngenwi et al., 2010; Ndah et al., 2017).

Most of respondents of the study are Christians. It could be explained by the fact that south-west region is part of the “greater” south of Cameroon, that is, Christian (Institut National de la Statistique, 2015). Furthermore, correlation analyses have shown that religion influences the consumption of snails. However, there is no law that forbid christians to consume snails except those who are from ethnic groups that consider snails as a taboo and do not consume it. As of Muslim who said not to eat snail meat, there is also no religious law that prohibits them to eat snail. Besides, the majority of Muslims in Cameroon are from the Sudano-Sahelian area (Institut National de la Statistique, 2015) and the climatic conditions are not favorable to the reproduction and the survival of the terrestrial snails (Cobbinah and Vink, 2008; Chukwuka et al., 2014). As a result, they do not consume snails because they have not been in contact with it culturally as people origin from the South.

The present results showed that snail meat is consumed in a regular basis and the majority of respondents gets it from the market. Indeed, correlation analysis confirms this result that the origin of snails is a determining factor of its consumption. Besides, many of them think that the price is high.  This result could explain the fact marital status, household size and income were revealed as factors determining the consumption of snails. Indeed, when married, more important will be the size of the household, the quantity of snail meat to consume will be important and the price of snail meat will consequently influence its consumption. Furthermore, this study has revealed that there is a correlation between the main activity and the decision to consume snails.  Indeed,  if  somebody  has  an  income  he  could easily afford snail meat.

Moreover, it showed that there is a correlation between quantity of snails consumed and the price variation according to the season. Indeed, there are still very few snail farms and snails are still supplied by harvesting in the fields and around houses (Ngenwi et al., 2010; Ndah et al., 2017). In addition, snails hibernate during the dry season and become rare (Chukwuka et al., 2014). Consequently, snail meat price’s increases during dry season and less important will be their consumption because of the price increase.

Definitively, this study has highlighted that snail meat is very consumed in the Fako division. It has also been shown that consumption is dependent on marital status, household size, income, snail origins and religion. In addition, it has been pointed out that snail meat consumption quantity is influenced by its price and price variation according to season. Even though, the sample has some characteristics of Cameroon population, this result is specific to the study area. To have general recommendations, it will be interesting to extend the study to the other regions of Cameroon. According to results pointed out from this study, two recommendations can be made. Firstly, snail farming should be increased in order to reduce scarcity of snail during dry season as well as its price. Secondly, people coming from other regions of Cameroon than south-west should be educated on the nutritional benefits of snail meat. One of the limitations of the study was not to be able to apply the questionnaire in some town of Fako division because of social crisis in the south-west region. Next step of this study will be firstly, to extend the survey in other division of the region as well as other regions of Cameroon with the same climatic conditions. Secondly, interview land snail collectors in order  to  evaluate  the  methods of supplying land snails.

The authors have not declared any conflict of interests.

The authors acknowledge those who have taken their time to answer questions from the survey.