Pig farming and other Business Opportunities in Ghana

Pig farming, farming and other business opportunity in Ghana

How to Sell and Buy Pigs, Mistakes to Avoid

Buying or selling pigs can be very challenging and frustrating when farmers and buyers overlook
some basic checks that must be conducted before their animals are sold or bought. I will look at
true stories to get farmers understand that if one ignore due diligence, it can lead to lock up of
capital and eventual collapse of the farm.

Case One

Mr Kwesi Agyeaman with a pig farm in Obuasi had 60 matured pigs to sell. He contacted Mr Ofori
in Kumasi who needed all the animals.Value of the animals was Gh48,000.0 . They agreed 0n the
payment plan, Mr Kwesi promised to pay 60% of the total cost of the animals with the balance
being paid in one month. He however asked Mr Ofori, the pig farmer to transport the animals to his
farm.

Believing the deal was sealed, Mr Ofori Carted the 60 matured pigs to Kumasi. Upon reaching
Kumasi after 2 hours, Mr. Kwesi Agyeaman told him that something came up so he should leave
the animals and come for all the money after one month. Considering all the stress he had gone
through, Mr. Ofori obliged and left the animals. After six months, he is still chasing his money. Less
than 20% of the total cost has been paid and all the animals had been sold.

Lesson: It is not too advisable to cart your animals in bulk to a buyer unless you have dealings with
the buyer already and he is trustworthy. Let the buyer come to your farm, weigh your animals,
collect your cash and collect a post dated checque on the balance. If you do not like the deal, at
least keep your animals.

And please, do not wait for your animals to mature before you look for market. The moment you
start your farm, invest in your market outlet.

Case 2

latest pig
“Skelewu Pig”

Mr Greenfield from Eyinam on the Kumasi road contacted Olumo that he had 10 pigs to sell. He
sent watsup pictures of the farm and the animals. Mr Olumo was pleased with what he saw. Part
payment was sent via mobile money. Mr Greenfield who is in the USA informed the farm manager
to send the pigs to Olumo in Winneba. After six hours journey, 4 sheep, 2 goats and 4 skelewu pigs
arrived at Olumo’s farm. After series of exchanges, the sheep and goats were sent back and
skelewu pigs maintained at the farm because money had been transferred already.

Lesson: Buy only what you see with your ‘kolokolo’ eyes. Unless you know the farm and the owner
and an idea of what the farmer feeds the animals, don’t even try. Drive to the farm, see the
conditions under which the animals is being reared before you decide to buy.

Case 3 & 4

Mr coffie, a pork joint operator needed some pork. He contacted a new supplier who supplied him
free range pigs probably due to the price. He loses some few customers when the pigs were
grilled and fried due to the change of taste.

The Army General, has he is usually called needs 500kg of pork every week. Mr Appia from Takwa
promised to send him some lean pigs. 30 pigs were transported to the Generals farm. After one
week when 2 were pigs were slaughtered, they were too fatty so the general could not supply
them. About GH30,000 had been locked up in cash on fatty pigs he cannot sell.

Lesson

Deal only with a trusted middle man. Buy from farmers who only deliver the best product. For those
who supply to other client, buy a few carcass weight to ascertain the quality of the pork and don’t
consider the farmer if his pigs does not meet your specification.

August 19, 20162 Replies

The New way to Start your Pig Farm
I get more than 20 request daily about prospective pig farmers who want to start a pig farm. Most
often i do my best in helping them get a land and other logistics. However, only a few really take
the step to obtain a land to start.

Surprisingly, over the past six months, i get calls of farmers having animals and they are not
getting market. It is disturbing for me most often when i get calls like that because of what i have
written previously on pig farming. Ideally if the industry was well structured, a farmer just have to
transport matured pigs to the abattoir who then slaughter and market and later transfer the farmers
money into his/her account within a week. Unfortunately, most farmers neglect the marketing end
and only focus on the production.

What is the best way to start?

In your neighborhood, how easy is it to get pork meat? I know you can get 1kg Chicken wings,
thighs and beef easily. What of the local markets, can you get a kilo of pork easily? That is our
number one problem. Pork is not readily available to the consumers and that is where i want
prospective farmers to start from. Start from the marketing end. Yes, it will cost you about
Gh3000.00 to start a pork joint. Locate a busy pub and start. Get a stand in the market to sell fresh
pork. Slaughter and package and supply to bank workers or company workers. Just be creative
and carve out your own market niche.

Success Stories

amax joint.jpg

Amax joint is one of latest pork joint in town. Located on the outskirt of Krokrobite in Accra, the joint
which is less than one month old is already enjoying a lot of patronage. Colonel Bediako, a retired
army officer has about six hundred pigs and is presently slaughtering 2-3 per day at his joint. He
sells fresh pork, grilled pork, fried pork and yam chips, banku with okro soup and pork meat and
pork light soup.

Yes, I know we all want to supply to the mall but a lot of farmers are already supplying. But trust
me, a lot of Ghanaians out there wish they could get pork meat. Only a few can afford the pork at
the mall where 100g is going for about GH8.40. Some few individuals have already started their
joints and i want to urge most farmers to take marketing seriously.

Pork Office

pork office.jpgInformation reaching me suggest the owner of the pork office does not have a farm
but he is doing a marvelous work. His pork stand is always stationed whenever there is an event.
Festivals, political gathering etc. Apart from his pork joint at Dansoman, Pork office is always on
the move.
So if you want to start a pig farm now, i would advice you start from the marketing end. If you do
not know how you will sell your pigs, please don’t start now. Wait and lets get the industry
structured before you put your cash into it.

A lot of farmers have entered into pig farming of late. I even heard the presidents’ brother has the
farm. Farmers from Ashanti Region, Central Region and Greater Accra all want to supply the mall.
Are we saying if the mall is removed from the equation we cannot sell our pigs. I will urge
prospective farmers to visit ‘pig farm’ in the evening and see what Aunt Julie is doing there. I
believe we can do far better.

Plans are underway to do a pork joint management and Processing training for pigs farmers who
will want to learn how to operate a joint and process their pigs. Please if you want to be part,
whatsup me only to book your seat on 0205828423

July 28, 20167 Replies

Partners Wanted to Invest in Pig Farming
west hill mall
West Hill Mall

I have got to a stage where i need a partner to operate a new farm. It has become necessary
because of my inability to invest more in the farming business due to other commitments that is
swallowing all my cash. Pig farming is still lucrative in Ghana and if one tackles it with the right
mindset, one is bound to make substantial profit. In this business also, numbers count.

So if you are a prospective pig farmer and you are just about to start, Let’s team up to do it well.
With the experience I have gathered over the past three years in rearing of pigs, marketing, i think
we stand a chance of reaching new height if we team up to do it well. I am already operating a 10
sow farm. But with what i am talking of now, we shall be operating a 20-30 sow farm. The structure
that can house about 250 pigs has already been taken care of.

An investor that can handle feeding and assist in marketing is what i need. I cannot put all the
details out here. So if you are interested, please send me a mail on olumomensah@gmail.com to
give you the full details.

May 21, 20162 Replies

The Pig Industry in Ghana
The potential of pig farming is yet to be fully realized and it will take a conscientious effort from all
pig farmers to make things work out fully. The pig industry in Ghana is not so organized with most
farmers practicing farrow to finish which leave little room for specialization. I believe in the near
future after some of us have laid a good foundation, pig farming would be very well structured.

Why is Pork relatively Expensive in Ghana

Pork meat fetches higher price in Ghana when compared with Nigeria despite the fact that prices
of maize and Soya beans cake is far higher in Nigeria than in Ghana. A kilo of Live weight pig is
going for $2.5 – $3.0 in Ghana whilst in Nigeria, it is $1.5 -$1.75
Difference in Prices is due to the fact that our Nigerian brothers operate on a different level.

Majority have above 50 sows in their farm. Economics of scale therefore favour them. In Ghana
however, the opposite exist. Only few farms can boast of over 40 sows. Inefficiency in the system
is quiet high and until we get the basics right and expand. It will be very difficult for us to push up
demand with lower price
Is Pig Farming Profitable?
I was asked this question by an upcoming pig farmer today. Is pig farming really profitable? I took a
deep breath before I could give him an answer. Pig farming is profitable depending on how you
handle the following
• Breeding
• Feeding
• Managements
• Markets
The breed you start with can make or unmake you. I know of two farmers who imported their
breeding stock from Australia and the United Kingdom respectively. Breeds from the University
farms and Nungua farms are also from a very good parent stock. Your breed should be able to
convert the food you give it into meat.

The Feed conversion ratio of pigs is 3-4: 1, meaning when a pig consume 3 – 4 kg of feed, it is
expected to gain 1kg of meat. If that does not happen, then you should know there is something
wrong.
Management is another factor that can prevent you from realizing your goals in Pig farming. Being
an absentee farmer is a big challenge. Yet still, your farm should not be too far from where you
reside. The kind of care you give your animals greatly determine your success.

Markets
Who will buy your pigs? That is another challenge facing some farmers presently. All of us cannot
supply the mall so it is imperative that we find alternate customer for our pigs. There seems to be a
disconnection between the pig farmers and the final consumers.We would have to solve this
problem head on just as the Tilapia Farmers solved their marketing problem.

Lets’ take our product right to the consumers. Let each region make it a point to have at least 50
pork joints and 10 point where only fresh pork is sold. I supply 200kg of pork to a fellow who has
only two pork joints, he sells all within the week. Imagine what volume would be consumed by 50
pork joints.
The Ghanaian consumer should be our biggest client. I call them the sleeping giant. Let’s wake
them up. It will take a lot of hype in the media, let them know the benefits of pork, make them
aware of the way pigs are being reared presently, let’s organize pork shows and I just pray that
when all these are done and demand shoots up, we shall be able to supply continuously else
trouble for all pig farmers
Profitability Calculation
In calculation of Profitability, some few assumptions will be made;
• Selling price of Pigs is GH10.00 per Kilo
• Amortized Capital cost is ignored
• Overheads is calculated based on 500 pigs on the farm
• Overhead cost include medication, vet charges, employee salary, transportation, fuel,
miscellaneous expenses.
• Piglets were obtained from the from sows on the farm
• Weaning Age is two months at 12kg
• A kilogram of feed is Gh1.00

Average weight gain of Pigs