Starting a profitable poultry farming business in Cameroon is an adventure that can yield good fruits if done correctly.
Chicken stew, fried chicken, fried eggs, and boiled eggs. What crosses your mind at the mention of such chicken products? Two words, yummy and delicious, right?
Why Invest In Poultry Farming In Cameroon?
Cameroonians love everything about chicken delicacies. And, need I mention that eggs have become part of every delicacy. During the festive periods in Cameroon, chicken is usually prepared in every household.
No wonder Cameroon's poultry farming business is one of the most lucrative ventures today.
If you begin keeping poultry for selling eggs or chicken for meat, you will have discovered a goldmine. It is indeed one of the most profitable businesses to do in Cameroon.
A poultry farming business proposal should include farm location, capital and profit projection, requirements, etc., all of which we will use in this article to discuss in detail.
Best Location For Poultry Farming Business in Cameroon.
It is difficult to get enough space and land to set up a poultry farm in urban areas such as Douala, Yaounde, Bamenda, Buea, Limbe, etc. However, if you can get a plot of about 100m by 50m, that would be enough for the task.
If you can't secure such a piece of land in town, resolve to get one in the rural areas of the same size or even bigger, depending on your practice scale.
A poultry farm in town will be so close to the market instead of one in a rural area. However, where you lack space in the city, you can still set up a farm in the reserve areas and market your business well by having some kind of online store or website, Instagram and Facebook pages, and other social media platforms.
How To Start A Poultry Farming Business In Cameroon
These are the steps you must follow to succeed and profit from a poultry farming business in Cameroon:
- Do Market research
- Pick A Niche
- Identify a hatchery
- Acquire space and land
- Set up a chicken Cage
- Bring in your day-old chicks.
- Provide Food and Shelter to the Chicks
- Market your poultry farming business thoroughly.
Let's discuss the above points.
1. Do Market research
You can not rely on rumors to invest in the poultry business. You must do your market research. Gauge how much demand there is, how crowded the industry might be, and capital and profit estimates, among other vital issues.
2. Pick A Niche
You may decide to focus on a specific poultry type or take some classes. The possible poultry types to choose from are:
- Pullets/Layers: These pullets are for egg production. Are the most lucrative but stressful.
- Broilers: These broilers are reared for meat. They grow faster and are ready for sale 12 weeks after hatching.
- Cockerels: These are also for meat production. They can survive bad weather and other harsh conditions than layers and broilers. It can take up to 24 weeks after hatching before they mature and become ready.
Also Read: – How to Start a Profitable Small Business in Cameroon with Little Capital
3. Identify a hatchery
You need to know where you will get a supply of your day-old chicks. You don't want to do everything else and lack the most essential thing – the chicks to raise into the chicken. Good quality day-old chicks are produced at the hatchery, and you get them at relatively low prices as opposed to other sources. So, according to the poultry types you want to rear, identify a hatchery where you can get those specific types.
4. Acquire space and land
The better you can get a 100m by 50m in town because towns will be so close to the market. If you don't get in town, get to your reserve home and prepare enough poultry farming land, 100m by 50m or more.
Hiring land in town will cost you about 50000 FCFA – 100000FCFA. Consider acquiring land in the rural area to cut hiring costs.
5. Set up a chicken Cage
Build a chicken cage according to experts' specifications. It should be spacious enough for the chicken to move freely, well ventilated, and safe from toppling. This may cost you about 100000 FCFA – 300000FCFA.
You will need a Council Single Business Permit if your farm is in town.
6. Bring in your day-old chicks
You will buy as many as you have planned, and your chicken cage can accommodate so that they are just enough for the cage. You do not want your fowls or birds to die of suffocation and disease transmission from others.
7. Provide Food and Shelter to the Chicks
Provide the following to the chicks:
- External heat and light source – chicks tend to be unable to maintain their body temperature.
- Food using plastic chick feeders.
- Water and any other thing they need.
- As chicks grow into young and mature chickens, you need to keep their food and water fresh and collect eggs regularly. Most layers begin to lay eggs after 17-22 weeks of hatching.
8. Market your poultry farming business thoroughly
- Build connections with restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, and other potential clients.
- Post everywhere – on your Facebook and Instagram pages and WhatsApp status.
- Build a website and get it optimized accordingly.
- Let the whole world know that you keep and sell poultry.
How much capital do you need for your poultry farming business in Cameroon?
How much should you set apart for a poultry farming business? Let us see:
- Chicks – 60000 FCFA
- Land – 50000 FCFA
- Cage – 100000FCFA
- Feeders and food – 60000 FCFA
- Marketing and other costs – 100000 FCFA
This means that starting with just about 100 chicks, 370000 FCFA is enough to kick off your poultry farming business in Cameroon.
How Profitable is Poultry Farming in Cameroon?
- A day-old chick costs 600 FCFA – 800 FCFA.
- You raise it into a grown chicken worth 5000 FCFA. Sell 75 chickens, and you already have your invested capital of 375000FCFA back. Repeat with other chicks and continue enjoying the profits.
- Alternatively, layers begin to lay at 18-22 weeks, and an egg goes at an average of 60 FCFA. Let's say each fowl lays 30 eggs a month, and you sell each egg at 60 Francs CFA; that makes a profit of 180000 FCFA.
- In two months, you have returned your invested amount.
Disclaimer/Risk Warning:
The information provided does not constitute a recommendation to carry out transactions. When using this information, you are solely responsible for your decisions and assume all risks associated with such transactions' financial results.