Commercial Poultry Farming in Ghana: Business Plan and Revenues
The poultry business is one of the ventures that promises high returns within a short time if done correctly. Poultry products include eggs as well as meat. Special chicken known as layers and broilers produce the eggs and the meat respectively. Chicken mature quickly hence the short time required for anyone investing in the poultry industry in Ghana to break even.
There are many poultry farms in Ghana yet the demand for poultry products is ever increasing. Another benefit of poultry farming is that it does not require special skills or academic qualifications. All a prospective farmer needs is the right guidance and they can take care of what lies ahead with the initial knowledge they get.
What are the Requirements to Start a Poultry Farm?
The most important requirements for any prospective poultry farmer are space, starting capital, and tools. The equipment needed in poultry farming varies depending on whether the farm is for the egg business in Ghana or meat production. Some of the tools that should be in place first include water equipment, feeding equipment, heaters/brooders, cages, incubator, and a laying nest among others.
How to Start a Poultry Farm in Ghana
Starting a chicken farm and making a business out of it are two different things. Any individual getting into the poultry not only becomes a chicken farmer but also a businessperson too. This fact depends on the intended target market and sector within the chicken industry (broilers or layers). The first thing that a prospective farmer needs to do is draw up a comprehensive business plan. This write-up should detail how the farmer intends to operate from the point of view of all stakeholders (lawyers, bankers, etc.) that may participate in the business. After doing so, he/she should set aside adequate capital to maintain the intended number of chicken and purchase all the necessary equipment.
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The farmer may then decide on the rearing strategy, whether to keep the chicken in a barn where he/she controls all the parameters or allow them to roam and behave naturally. The chicken may be for either poultry meat production in Ghana or egg consumption depending on what the farmer wants. Identifying a particular target market should then be the next step to ensure maximum profitability through regular demand. After getting a niche market, the farmer should then work on marketing, keep all business records and most importantly abide by all the required local laws on poultry farming.
Broilers or Layers which is More Profitable?
Both broilers and layers are quite profitable considering the fact that egg consumption in Ghana is high just as poultry meat’s is. There are also challenges of poultry production in Ghana that are unique to both broilers and layers. Therefore, one cannot easily point out how one of the two farming purposes may be more profitable than the other one. The cost of poultry feed in Ghana is also almost similar thus leveling the playing field too. The choice of enterprise that a farmer undertakes should be guided by their ability to overcome the challenges that are unique to the particular business of interest.
How Much Does it Cost to Start a Poultry Farm?
The cost of starting a poultry farm varies with the number of chicken that a farmer intends to rear. For example, the first cycle for 500 broiler chickens will cost an average of 10,000 GHS with the figure expected to go down in the subsequent cycles. For layers, it costs around 55,000 GHS.
Poultry Farming Profitability
Poultry farming in Ghana and in many other parts of the world is quite profitable. Demand for poultry products is always high and the population of consumers is increasing. However, farmers should not expect to break even after the first cycle not unless they are working with thousands of birds. With patience and dedication, profits and poultry will always increase as the cost of production decreases over time.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
