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| Atibie, overlooking Mpraeso. |
DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL PROFILE
NAME OF DISTRICT : Kwahu South
CAPITAL TOWN : Mpraeso
SIZE OF DISTRICT : 1,462 sq. km.
LOCATION : Latitude 60 310 S and 70 N
Longitude 00 E and 10 W
POPULATION : 82,000 (2000 population and Housing Census)
POPULATION BY GENDER : Male – 48.0%
Female – 52.0%
POPULATION DENSITY : 130 per sq. km.
GROWTH RATE : 4.0 %
RURAL-URBAN SPLIT OF POPULATION : Rural – 61.8 %
Urban – 38.2 %
TOPOGRAPHY : Gentle, undulating to steep slopes
RAINFALL : Bimodal, with an average annual rainfall of
1,580mm to 1,900mm
SOIL TYPE : Clay and loamy
MAIN RIVER : Afram, Pra and Asuboni
VEGETATION : Dense, semi-deciduous forest and savannah
RELIGION : Christian-89.5 %, Islam- 6.9% and Traditionalist-
3.6%
ETHNICITY : Kwahu -66.0%
Ashanti – 17.0%
Ewes -9.0%
Krobos-6.0 %
Northerners – 2.0 %
AGRICULTURAL LAND USE
Total land Area : 1,462sq km
TOTAL CULTIVABLE LAND AREA : 946 sq km
LAND TENURE SYSTEM : Ownership, share cropping (Abunu and Abasa), Leasehold and
Hiring
AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT-CROP SECTOR
PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE
Tree Crop : Cocoa, Oil Palm, Coffee and Citrus
Industrial Crops : Cocoa, Oil Palm, Coffee and Citrus
Root and Tubers : Yam, Cassava and Cocoyam
Fruits and Vegetables : Banana, Plantain, Pineapple, Tomato, Pepper and Onion.
Cereal and Legume : Maize, Groundnut and Cowpea
METHODS OF AGRICULTURE IN THE DISTRICT
(a) Mono cropping
(b) Mixed farming
(c) Use of slash and burn method in place of tractor services which is limited
(d) The semi-intensive and the free range systems are also used to keep farm animals
AGRICULTURAL POPULATION
Average household size : 4
| S/N | CROPPING SYSTEM | AVERAGE FARM SIZE (HA) |
| 1 | Maize-cassava | 0.8 |
| 2 | Cassava-groundnut | 0.4 |
| 3 | Vegetables | 0.4 |
| 4 | Oil palm | 0.8 |
| 5 | Plantain-cocoyam | 0.4 |
| 6 | Coffee-plantain | 0.5 |
| 7 | Cocoa | 0.8 |
PROJECTS/PROGRAMMES
The parent ministry (MOFA) determines projects and programmes in line with the METASIP which is currently the policy framework of the sector.
Projects and Programmes are also determined by the District Assembly and the District Agricultural Development Unit Unit and NGOs based on the needs of farmers.
INTERVENTIONS (PROJECTS AND PROGRAMMES) BEING UNDERTAKEN BY DADU
| INTERVENTION/ PROJECT/ PROGRAMME |
LOCATION | WHEN STARTED |
SOURCE OF FUNDING | PROJECT STATUS | NO.OF BENEFI- CIARIES |
REMARKS |
| 1.MCA Ghana Programme | District Wide |
2007 |
MCA (of the USA) |
Ended on 15th February, 2012 | 2,800 farmers benefited from the CDFO program | Certificates of beneficiary farmers are being issued out at the district directorate |
| 2.BLOCK FARM (MAIZE) | District Wide | April, 2011 | GOG | 2011 season has ended and awaiting the 2012 package | 75 farmers. 31 males and 12 females | Final recovery of the 2011 package |
| 3.CODAPEC Black pod Project | District Wide |
2002 |
GOG |
On-going |
1,783 farmers, with 1,991 farms are expected to benefit in 2011 |
The spraying period spans May – October,2012 About 2,000 Ha of farmlands are expected to be sprayed in 2010 |
| 4.CODAPEC Capsid Project |
District Wide |
2002 |
GOG |
On-going |
About 6,655 farmers, with 7,870 farms are expected to benefit in 2011 |
The spraying period spans Aug.-Dec. 2012 About 23,760 Ha of farmlands are expected to be sprayed in 2010. |
| 5.Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programme (RTIMP) |
District wide |
May 2009 |
IFAD |
On-going |
650 Farmers, 458 males and 192 females |
Cassava planting materials are freely supplied to farmers to establish both secondary and tertiary fields |
| 6.IFDC fertilizer demonstration | District wide | April, 2011 | AGRA | ended | 189 farmers comprising of 124 males and 65 females | The main objective of the project was to introduce NPK 23: 10: 05 to farmers |
| 7. West Africa Agricultural Productivity Program (WAAPP) | Osubengso-Ntomem | Aug,2011 | CIDA | Ongoing | 19 farmers comprising of 13 males and 6 females | The aim of the project is to introduce the GAPs in cassava cultivation to nucleus farmer groups |
PARTICIPATION OF THE DADU IN THE ASSEMBLY DECISION MAKING PROCESS
The District Agric Unit takes part in the deliberative and decision making process of the District Assembly in the following ways:
(A) Attending and contributing at Assembly Meetings.
(B)Serving on Agric related Committees.
(C) Provides data and makes inputs in the preparation of the Assembly’s Development Plans.
(D) The District Assembly Consults the department on all Agricultural issues in the district.
PRIORITY LIST OF THE NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT UNIT
A) Staffing – Professional and Technical staff.
(B) Early release of funds for MOFA activities.
(C) Logistics and Equipments – Vehicle, Motorbikes and Teaching Aids.
(D) Residential accommodation for staff
THE WAY FORWARD
PROJECTS AND PROGRAMMES THE DADU INTENDS TO UNDERTAKE IN THE NEXT THREE (3) YEARS
| PROJECT/PROGRAMMES | LOCATION | IMPLEMENTATION AGENCY | SOURCE OF FUNDING |
| Youth in Agriculture (a) Mango Production. (b) Grasscutter Production (c) Vegetable Production (d) Snail Farming |
District Wide |
District Assembly/MOFA |
GOG/DA |
Small Scale Irrigation |
Along the Afram River |
District Assembly/MOFA |
GOG/District assembly |
| Establish Agric information Centre | Nketepa | MOFA | GOG |
| Completion of Abandoned Guest House | Amate | MOFA | GOG |
| MAJOR FOOD/TREE CROP | MAJOR AREAS OF PRODUCTION |
| Maize | Kwahu Praso ,Sukwa, Asikam,Kwahu Amanfrom, Asakraka, Amate |
| Cassava | Asikam, Ntomem, Asakraka, Kwahu Praso Osubeng |
| Yam | Amate, Asakraka |
| Cocoyam | Ntomem, Mframa, Osubeng, Kwahu Praso,Sukwa |
| Groundnut | Amate, Kwahu Amanfrom, Asakraka |
| Vegetables | Amate, Kwahu Amanfrom, Besease, Osubeng |
| Plantain | Ntomem, Mframa, Osubeng, Kwahu Praso, Sukwa |
| Banana | Ntomem, Bepong, Kwahu Praso, Osubeng |
| Oil Palm | Mpraeso, Kwahu Praso, Ntomem, Osubeng |
| Citrus | Kwahu Praso, Atuobikrom, Bepong, Osubeng |
| Cocoa | Ntomem, Osubeng, Atuobikrom, Kwahu Praso, Mframa |
| Coffee | Ntomem, Bepong, |
| Kola | Osubeng, Kwahu Praso |
| Pineapple | Ntomem, Bepong, |
| CROP | ESTIMATED CROP AREA (HECTARES) | ESTIMATED PRODUCTION LEVEL/MT | YIELD (MT/HA) |
Maize Cassava Yam Plantain Cocoyam Groundnut |
6,120 12,265 1,150 6,920 1,120 2,032 |
12,852 183,975 20,700 65,740 8,736 2,642 |
2.1 15.0 18.0 9.5 7.8 1.3 |
AVERAGE CROP FARM SIZES
| CROPPING SYSTEM | AVERAGE FARM SIZE (HECTARES) |
| Maize – Cassava Cassava – Groundnut Vegetables Oil Palm Citrus Plantain – Cocoyam Coffee – Plantain Cocoa |
0.8 0.4 0.4 0.8 0.8 0.4 0.5 0.8 |
LIVESTOCK SUBSECTOR
| LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY SYSTEM | AVERAGE NUMBER OF ANIMALS/FARMER |
| Cattle Sheep Goats Pigs Local Fowls Improved Fowls |
200 12 15 5 12 200 |
MAJOR LIVESTOCK AND COMMERCIAL POULTRY AND AREAS OF PRODUCTION
| COMMODITY | MAJOR AREAS OF PRODUCTION |
| Cattle Sheep Goats Commercial Poultry Local Poultry |
Amate, Pitiku, Asuboni District Wide District Wide Mpraeso District Wide |
MAJOR MARKETS AND THEIR LOCATIONS
| MARKET TYPE | LOCATION | MAJOR FOOD ITEMS SOLD | MARKET DAYS |
| URBAN MARKET | Mpraeso | Maize, Cassava, Yam, Cocoyam, Plantain, Vegetables, Meat and Fish | Monday |
| RURAL MARKET | Bepong, |
Plantain, Cocoyam, Cassava, Pineapple, Vegetables, Meat and Fish | Tuesday and Friday |
| Ntomem | Plantain, Cocoyam, Cassava, Yam, Pineapple, Vegetables | Monday and Thursday | |
| Nketepa | Fish, Pepper, Sweet potatoes | Saturday | |
| Osubeng | Plantain, Cocoyam, Cassava, Maize | Wednesday and Sunday | |
| Asikam | Cassava, Maize, Plantain, Cocoyam | Wednesday | |
| Kwahu Praso | Maize, Cassava, Yam, Cocoyam, Plantain, Vegetables, Meat and Fish | Monday |
FISHERIES SUBSECTOR
| MAJOR FISHING AREAS | LANDING SITES |
| Adawso Pitiku Asuboni Okra Agyei Nketepa New Jerusalem |
Adawso Pitiku Asuboni Okra Agyei Nketepa New Jerusalem |
MOVEMENT OF COMMODITIES
| MARKET | COMMODITY | MOVEMENT |
| Nketepa | Yam, Fish, vegetables ,maize | Accra, Tema, Takoradi, Nkawkaw |
| Ntomem | Cassava, cocoyam, plantain | Accra, Kumasi and Nkawkaw |
| Osubeng | Maize, cassava, sheep, goats | Accra, Koforidua, Nkawkaw |
| Mframa | Maize, Cassava | Accra , Tema , Nkawkaw |
| INFLOWS | From |
MOVEMENT | Into |
MARKET | OUTFLOWS | Move to |
MOVEMENT | |
| Yam | Techiman | Kwahu South District |
Maize | Accra | ||||
| Mame krobo | Cassava | Tema | ||||||
| Sorghum | Tamale | Yam | Koforidua | |||||
| kade | Fish | Nkawkaw | ||||||
| Palm Oil | Vegetables |
OPPORTUNITIES FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
(a) Vast arable land
The district has large acreages of fertile land covering both the semi forest and the savannah vegetations that can support any form of agriculture and agribusiness.
(b) Perennial Source of Water
The Afram River covers the entire northern portion of the district. It can support any form of irrigation for year round crop and livestock production.
(c) Proximity of the District to major Cities/Industries
The Kwahu South District is not far from Accra, Kumasi and Tema. Farm produce can easily be transported to these cities for consumption, processing or export.
(d) Availability of Skilled Technical Personnel
MOFA has well trained staff that transfer technology to farmers. They are there to assist any investor when the need arises.
(e) Availability of Rural Banks and other financial institutions for Credit disbursement
The district has enough Rural Banks that can disburse any form of credit that may be made available for agriculture and agribusiness.
(f) Availability of formidable farmer groups
There are formidable farmer groups in the district. Most of these groups were developed under the MiDA CDFO programme, facilitating the transfer of technology and disbursement of credit to farmers.
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