Nature’s Wonders! From Pest To Farmers’ Hope: Other Side Of ‘Golden Kuhol’

The “Golden Kuhol,” a gastropod which belongs to an animal species that had existed for 500-million years, had long been considered by farmers, especially those planting rice, as a pest.

It was known as such when first introduced to the Philippines between 1982 to 1984 as an additional source of food and protein for Filipinos.

In fact, the golden apple snail, popularly known as “Golden Kuhol” [Pomacea canaliculata Lamarck], was considered a treasure that had to kept.

It was the more prolific version of the local snail, called “Ige” or “Susu” which when cooked with Coconut Milk or “gata”, young Bamboo shoots or “labong” and Saluyot was considered a gourmet food for Filipino families.

That was until it was let loose in the open fields where it proved to be a pest which nibbled farmers’ plants, especially rice.

Rocky French, Filipino-American farmer-scientist, however, conducted a 36-year study on the characteristics and benefits of the Golden Kuhol, aside from it being a source of food.

That study may change the “Golden Kuhol’s” image from farm pest to farmers’ friend after French, who had kept a colony of the gastropod in his farm in Coachella Valley, Southern California, discovered that it could produce nitrates, a natural form of the commercial “urea.”

Now, Rocky has perfected the process of producing natural nitrates from the excrements of the Golden Kuhol kept in a tub with water and fed with Malunggay leaves.

Rocky describes the “Golden Kuhol” as beautiful animals which could now be used in producing natural nitrates needed by farmers in the face of skyrocketing prices of commercial fertilizer.

Muling napatunayan ngayon na lahat ng nilalang ng Panginoon ay merong gamit at pakinabang.

It all depends on us humans to discover the blessings and benefits of God’s creations.

#AllThingsGoodBeautiful!

#FarmersPracticalScience!

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