Pakistan’s Snail Farming Pioneer: How One Woman Is Turning an Untapped Business Into Opportunity

Written by Hassan, Date: 07/11/25

Ever scrolled through TikTok and paused on a glowing-skinned influencer raving about snail mucin serum, wondering if it’s the next big thing or just slime hype? In Pakistan, where the beauty market is projected to hit $3.5 billion by 2027, one woman’s unconventional bet on backyard snails is proving that opportunity can come from the most unexpected places.

Meet Sidra Sajjad, a biotechnologist from Mansehra who’s not just farming snails but leading a cruelty-free, halal-certified skincare revolution. Starting with a handful of snails in 2021, she built Prime Snail Mucus, Pakistan’s first dedicated snail farm, and launched Shivora Naturals, a brand powered by locally sourced, high-purity mucin now reaching from Lahore salons to Dubai spas.

As women-led startups rise across Pakistan’s post-pandemic economy, Sidra’s story highlights how sustainability and innovation can transform even the humblest corner of agriculture. In a country where 42% of the workforce depends on farming, could snail slime be the unlikely catalyst for rural innovation and beauty-tech growth?

Who Is Sidra Sajjad? From Biotechnologist to Snail Queen

Sidra isn't your typical farmer—she's a Master's graduate in Biotechnology from Hazara University, with a sharp eye for untapped potential. Hailing from the misty hills of Mansehra in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the air is crisp and opportunities scarce, she cut her teeth in the herbal products scene before stumbling upon snail farming. "I wanted to prove that Pakistan could create world-class skincare without relying on imports," she shares in a recent interview. Inspired by a casual article on the cosmetic goldmine of snail mucus—rich in antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, and glycoproteins that fight wrinkles and scars—Sidra dove into online research. What hooked her? The science: Himalayan snails, thriving at 1,200 meters altitude on pure spring water and organic feeds like cucumbers and pumpkins, produce mucin 20 percent richer than tropical varieties.

With her father's blessing—a retired school teacher who saw her spark as a family legacy—Sidra launched in 2021 on a modest three-kanal plot (about 16,335 square feet) in her hometown. Starting with just 20 snails in a makeshift greenhouse, she partnered with Hazara University for lab support. Fast-forward to 2025: Her farm now houses over 8,000 snails, managed by a team of 32 (mostly women), extracting premium slime that's 78 percent pure—dwarfing the 5-10 percent in many global brands. It's not just business; it's biotech meets empowerment, proving one woman's hunch can hatch an industry.

Watch: A short feature on Sidra Sajjad’s journey as Pakistan’s first sustainable snail farmer.

Watch on Youtube

The Birth of Prime Snail Mucus: From Backyard Experiment to Booming Farm

Turning snails into serum sounds quirky, but Sidra made it methodical. Her operation, Prime Snail Mucus, mimics nature: Wild Himalayan snails hibernate until March, then feast in controlled enclosures mimicking their habitat—cool nights, humid days, no pesticides. The cruelty-free twist? No harm to the snails. Early trials stressed the little guys during extraction, but Sidra iterated: Now, they glide over warm marble slabs, secreting mucin naturally. "If we take from nature, we must give back responsibly," she says. The slime—harvested at a ratio of 1 kg from 12-15 kg of snails—rests for 1-2 months before the cycle repeats.

By 2023, the farm scaled up, incorporating a solar-powered lab for lyophilization (freeze-drying) and UV filtration to zap bacteria. Waste? Zero: Snail shells become fertilizer, enriching the soil for organic veggies fed back to the herd. This closed-loop ethos aligns with Pakistan's green push, where sustainable ag startups grew 25 percent in 2024. Sidra's edge? Local sourcing slashes costs 40 percent versus imports, making her mucin a steal at Rs 1,500-3,000 per serum bottle.

Key Milestones in Sidra's Snail Saga

• 2021: Greenhouse launch with 20 snails; first extraction trials.
• 2022: Halal fatwa secured after scholar inspections; TikTok virality with 1M+ views.
• 2023: Farm hits 8,000 snails; clinical trials at Jinnah Hospital show 68% dark circle reduction.
• 2024: Shivora Naturals debuts DE LUM line; exports to UAE.
• 2025: 50+ rural women trained; partnerships with Lahore labs for R&D.

This timeline chart visualizes her growth:

From fledgling to flourishing—proof persistence pays.

Overcoming the Slimy Challenges: Skepticism, Science, and Stubbornness

Starting a snail empire in conservative Mansehra? Bold move. Sidra faced eye-rolls: "Snail mucin is haram?" whispers turned to outright doubt. She countered with a fatwa—inviting Islamic scholars for farm tours—and live-streamed the ethical process on TikTok, racking up 500,000 followers who dubbed her "Pakistan's Snail Whisperer." Extraction woes? Initial methods irritated snails, yielding low-quality slime. Through relentless R&D—partnering with university labs—she nailed a chemical-free technique, boosting purity to 78 percent and regeneration rates to 95 percent.

Logistics bit too: Mansehra's remoteness meant trucking slime to Lahore labs, but Sidra flipped it into a strength, training local women in harvesting and packing. "We are not just making skincare products; we are shaping a future where Pakistani women take the lead in biotech beauty," she reflects. By 2025, her grit paid off: Shivora's DE LUM serums, pH-balanced for humid Pakistani skin, boast 89 percent acne scar fading in six weeks per Jinnah trials. Challenges? They were her compost—fueling fertile growth.

The Glow-Up Products: Snail Slime That's Skin Deep

Shivora Naturals isn't slinging generic goo—it's premium, purpose-built beauty. The star? DE LUM serum, packing 78 percent snail mucin with aloe vera, glycol, and vitamin A for a non-sticky, fast-absorb formula. "Snail cream is highly sought after for its quick absorption, smooth application, and non-sticky finish," Sidra notes. The lineup targets Pakistan's woes: Pollution protection (72 percent efficacy), dark circles (68 percent reduction in four weeks), and scars. Gender-neutral too—guys use it for beard conditioning.

Zero-waste ethos shines: Recyclable glass jars, plant-based inks, solar labs. Priced Rs 1,800-4,000, they're accessible luxury, outselling imports 3:1 in local markets. Clinical backing? Jinnah Hospital trials validate claims, earning dermatologist nods. In a beauty scene dominated by Korean knockoffs, Sidra's local twist—Himalayan mucin for desi skin—carves a niche worth millions.

Snail Mucin's Superpowers: Backed by Science

• Hydration Hero: Hyaluronic acid holds 1,000x its weight in water—beats hyaluronics alone.
• Anti-Aging Ally: Glycoproteins repair UV damage, fading wrinkles 25 percent faster.
• Scar Smoother: Allantoin accelerates healing, ideal for acne-prone Pakistani youth.
• Pollution Shield: Antioxidants neutralize smog, crucial in Lahore's haze.
• Halal Harmony: Ethical extraction ensures faith-friendly appeal.

Empowering the Underdogs: Women, Rural Revitalization, and Economic Ripples

Sidra's slime isn't just skin-deep—it's community-deep. Her "Grow Your Glow" initiative trains 50+ rural women in sustainable farming, from snail husbandry to entrepreneurship, complete with microloans. "Together, we're not just buying skincare—we're investing in Pakistan's future," she says. In Mansehra, where female workforce participation hovers at 22 percent, this creates green jobs and STEM scholarships for girls, funded by sales.

Economically? Reduces $50 million annual mucin imports, boosts ag-biotech, and eyes Rs 100 crore market by 2030. Globally, snail farming's $1.2 billion industry (2025 stat) inspires; locally, Sidra's model could spawn 100 farms in KP alone. It's ripple-effect real: One woman's slime trailblazing tides of opportunity.

The Slimy Horizon: Expansion, Innovation, and a Sticky Legacy

By 2026, Sidra eyes smart skincare patches—pollution-detecting tech—and Middle East exports to Dubai's halal hubs. "Grow Your Glow" scales nationwide, with university tie-ups for biotech courses. Challenges like scaling ethically persist, but her vision? "Affordable skincare for all, rural thriving through jobs, and Pakistan leading global biotech beauty." In a world craving sustainable sparkle, Sidra's proving slime's no small feat.

FAQs: Your Snail Slime Curiosities Quenched

1. How did Sidra start with just 20 snails? A backyard greenhouse and university partnership; she sourced local Himalayan snails for premium mucin.

2. Is snail mucin really halal and cruelty-free? Yes—fatwa-approved, with natural secretion on warm slabs; no harm, full regeneration.

3. What makes Shivora's mucin better than imports? 78% purity (vs 5-10%), pH-tuned for Pakistani skin, plus organic add-ins like aloe.

4. Can anyone start snail farming in Pakistan? With Rs 50,000-1 lakh startup (enclosures, feed), yes—Sidra offers training via Grow Your Glow.

5. What's the biggest benefit for skin? Hydration and repair: 68% dark circle reduction, 89% scar fading in trials.

6. How does it empower women in Mansehra? Trains 50+ in farming/entrepreneurship, creates jobs, funds scholarships—boosting participation 30%.

7. Future products from Shivora? Smart patches for pollution detection by 2026, plus UAE expansions.

Slide Into Opportunity: Join the Snail Trail

Sidra Sajjad's story slimes through doubt to dazzle, showing untapped niches can nurture big dreams. Whether you're a skincare sleuth or aspiring entrepreneur, snag a DE LUM serum, support her TikTok lives, or pitch your wild idea—Pakistan's ready for more pioneers. What's your untapped biz brainstorm? Comment below; let's network and nurture the next boom. Your glow-up starts with one slimy step—take it.

References

1. Express Tribune: Woman Pioneers Snail Farming for Cosmetics (March 2025) - In-depth profile on Sidra's journey and challenges.
2. WOW360: Meet Sidra Sajjad - A Pioneer Snail Farmer (January 2025) - Background and business milestones.
3. Shivora Naturals: Sidra Sajjad - Pakistan’s Snail Mucin Pioneer (July 2025) - Product details and empowerment initiatives.
4. Centreline: Mansehra Woman Trailblazer in Snail Farming (January 2025) - Early startup story.
5. BBC Urdu: The Million-Dollar Idea - Snail Farming Journey (October 2024) - Video insights on economic potential.
6. Instagram: WOW360 on Sidra Sajjad (January 2025) - Visual farm updates and quotes.