CEO of Derch Farms, Cosmos, Shares His Journey on Daily Hustle GH with DJ Nyaami
Cosmos, the CEO of Derch Farms, was a guest on the Daily Hustle GH show with DJ Nyaami, where he shared his inspiring journey into poultry farming.
He started his poultry farming business five years ago, initially with local breeds before expanding into commercial poultry farming. After completing senior high school, Cosmos worked as a house painter. However, his passion for livestock farming led him to poultry.
Cosmos had the opportunity to train in painting and later traveled to Dubai, where he stayed for two and a half years. However, things did not go as planned, and he decided to return to Ghana. Upon his return, he focused fully on poultry farming, and today, things are moving in the right direction.
Over the years, he has managed several farms in Ghana and abroad. Currently, he oversees eight farms and is now working on starting his own. He emphasized that poultry farming is capital-intensive, especially with feeding costs ranging from GHC 370 to GHC 420 per bag. Despite the challenges, he enjoys helping others grow their farms.
Cosmos noted that within four months of returning from Dubai, he had made more money than he did while traveling. His experience working with veterinary officers before traveling helped him diagnose poultry diseases, as he can perform post-mortem examinations and detect issues through urine analysis.
At the moment, he has 1,400 birds, producing around 17 crates of eggs per day—a drop from the previous 19 crates due to some bird losses. He explained that in poultry farming, replacing dead birds is essential to maintain production levels. Layers can lay eggs for up to two years, after which they are sold as “spent birds.”
Cosmos advised new farmers not to worry about finding buyers, as egg demand is always high. He encouraged young people to embrace poultry farming instead of dismissing it as a “dirty job.” He also highlighted how some professionals, including teachers and doctors, have left their careers to venture into poultry farming because of its profitability.
For instance, he shared a story about a doctor who started with 180 birds and now has 1,200. The doctor eventually left his medical practice because he realized that hiring others to manage the farm would not yield the best results. Now, he produces around 17 crates of eggs daily.
Starting a poultry farm requires a significant investment. A beginner should budget GHC 26,000 to GHC 30,000 for medications and housing, while a full setup can cost up to GHC 65,000, depending on feed prices and location. Some local feed producers include Sakora, ABS, and Boris B’s.
Cosmos also warned about dishonesty in the industry, which is why many farms install CCTV cameras to monitor workers and prevent theft. He advised potential farmers to be committed, dedicated, and respectful towards their workers, as mistreatment could lead to intentional harm, such as giving the birds bad water to make them sick.
In the next five years, Cosmos aims to expand his farm to 10,000 birds. He emphasized that if someone were to send him money for travel, he would rather invest it in his poultry business.
His father, who lives in the UK, is planning to send him funds to expand the farm further. He advised young people to think carefully before traveling abroad, as gathering money just to hustle overseas is not always the best decision.
Cosmos takes pride in learning poultry farming, and he believes agriculture offers many opportunities, including animal farming and crop production, ensuring a stable future for the next generation.
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