Starlings Are Pecking, But We’re Holding On!
The entrepreneurial talent of Ihor Struk, the winner of the Business Ideas and Startups Competition, can surprise even the most experienced farmers. But this story is the best proof that bold and unconventional ideas can overcome any obstacles and lead to success, no matter how unbelievable it seems at the start!
The snail farm "Snail House" has great potential! It’s not just a business project but a promising direction for the economic development of the region. Snail farming is a highly profitable business with significant export potential. Ihor Struk’s farm can serve as an example for other entrepreneurs and contribute to creating new jobs. What did the winner share about his path to success?
I was born in the village of Zabolottia in Chervonohrad District. I earned a degree in Applied Ecology since my passion for the environment and its inhabitants has accompanied me throughout my life. After my studies, I worked in a construction company as a bulldozer operator, and now I am a loader operator.
The idea of starting a snail farm came after visiting a farm in the village of Synkovychi in Zhovkva community. Our family plot of 10 hectares in Zabolottia became the perfect place to realize this plan. In 2022, I learned all the intricacies of snail farming in agricultural enterprises and began implementing the business idea on our own land.
Our farm is an example of the harmonious combination of nature and human labor. We have equipped several special facilities where we prepare feed for the snails and conduct their breeding. There is even a dedicated space with barrels for water sedimentation. Creating optimal conditions for the growth and reproduction of mollusks is a crucial task, so the plot where the snails live is covered with wooden shields, sown with rapeseed, and resembles a fenced aviary.
The biggest risks in snail farming include drought, predatory birds, and animals. Our team sometimes jokingly says, "The starlings are pecking, but we’re holding on".
We have been engaged in this activity for three years, and during this time, we realized that we need our own energy source for the farm’s needs. The "Makership, innovation and entrepreneurship in the Chervonohrad coal microregion" project will allow us to implement this idea and ensure the stable operation of the farm.
Moreover, we are establishing partnerships with buyers. In the future, we plan to export snails to European countries and create a unique tourist attraction based on the farm that will draw visitors to our community
The world moves forward thanks to such unconventional ideas and brave people who aren’t afraid to bring them to life! Congratulations to Mr. Ihor on his victory, and we wish that in a few years, the Snail House farm will become a gem of Ukrainian agritourism!
