The main non-traditional agricultural crops cultivated in the district include banana, mango, pineapple and vegetables.

Notable among the farms involved in the production of these non-traditional export crops are listed in Table 9.

Cultivation of Non-Traditional Crops (2010)

Source: MOFA, Asuogyaman

LAND TENURE SYSTEM

Land tenure system in most parts of the district is by family/clan or individual ownership. A family/clan land is held in trust for and on behalf of the family/clan by the family/clan head. Such land passes from one generation to another. Members of the family/clan have title to portions of the land for agricultural production (and for building) as of right. Individuals or groups of individuals of the family/clan may not however dispose of such portions of the land without the consent and concurrence of the family head and other members of the family/clan.

Family/clan lands may be rented, leased or sold to strangers for agricultural purposes by negotiations with the family/clan head and other members of the family/clan.

Individuals may own land through inheritance, as gift or by outright purchases from an individual or family/clan. Individual lands may be rented, leased or sold to strangers for agricultural or other purposes through negotiations with the individual owners.

SERVICES TO AGRICULTURE

The District Food and Agricultural Directorate is headed by the District Director, who is assisted by officers in charge of the following schedules:

• Extension
• Animal Production
• Agricultural Engineering
• Post-Harvest
• Plant Protection and Regulatory Services
• Veterinary
• Crops
• Management Information Systems (Statistics, Research and Information)

Services to farmers in terms of technological development are rendered Agricultural Extension Agents. (Refer to organization organogram in Appendix 7 for details). These AEAs work in operational areas. Below are the names of operational areas which are manned by AEAs.

• Adjena
• Adjena Donor
• Akwamufie
• Apeguso
• Asikuma
• Frankadua
• Gyakiti
• Mpakadan
• Nkwakubew
• Old Akrade
• South Senchi
• Television
• Yeniama
• NNudu/Aboasa

Impact of Interventions on Agriculture in the District

Source: MOFA, Asuogyaman

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING

Agricultural products either in the raw form or semi processed are generally marketed directly by the producers or through intermediaries (middlemen/women).  The raw products are normally carried to local markets by women using head-portage. The mode of sales is generally by price bargaining. The products are sold not by weight but by size, quality and appearance. The grains are generally sold using unit measures such as ‘olonka’, margarine tins, and bowls. The tubers are sold by size and variety.

Market women / men go round to purchase commodities on wholesale basis. The mode of sales also is by price bargaining. A limited amount of pre-financing of production exists. By this arrangement, the intermediaries advance some amount of money to the farmers during the course of production of the crops. The recipients of such advances are bound to sell the produce to the intermediaries after harvesting.

MAJOR MARKETING CENTRES

The main marketing centres are Akosombo, Marine, Atimpoku, Frankadua and Labolabo. There is also a small market at Sapor. These towns have weekly market days except Akosombo and Atimpoku which have two market days in a week (Mondays and Thursdays). Below are the main marketing centres, schedule days and the main commodities they deal in.

Major Marketing Centres

Source: MOFA, Asuogyaman

Several towns and villages in and without the district serve as catchment areas to these markets.

Main Markets and Catchment Areas

Source: MOFA, Asuogyaman

Commodities brought to these markets find their way to bigger towns such as Accra, Tema and Koforidua.

Movement of Commodities

Source: MOFA, Asuogyaman

AGRO PROCESSING

Maize and cassava are the main agricultural produce which are processed. This is done by women on either individual or group basis. There is an oil processing plant at Aboasa, while Sapor has a cassava processing plant. The two plants are managed by women groups. Cassava processing is also carried out at Frankadua, South Senchi and Adjena.

AGRICULTURAL INPUTS AND IMPLEMENTS

Farm implements mostly used are cutlasses, hoes and axes. The use of tractors is on the increase in areas like Nkwakubew, Asikuma, Frankadua, South Senchi and Old Akrade. Tractor services are offered mostly from neighbouring districts, since the district has very few tractors.

FARM INPUT MARKETING

Farm input marketing is carried out by retailers who are located at Atimpoku, Akosombo and Sapor. The range of inputs sold includes seeds, machetes, hoes, field boots, agro-chemicals, plastic bags and veterinary drugs.

STANDARDS AND QUALITY CONTROL

Standards and quality control in the district have not yet been developed. No specific standards have been set. Quality control has to be systematic to make products more wholesome for consumption.

The absence of regular checks on materials in stock for pest and disease damage or microbial growth to achieve quality standards has resulted in food losses over the years and reduced market values. Efforts are underway to apply quality control on raw materials and finished goods.

LABOUR FORCE

About 51.29 % of the total population in the District falls within the labour force (380,247). Out of this figure 26.20 percent are female and the rest 25 .09 are males. This reveals the need for mainstreaming of women in the development programmes of the District.

IRRIGATION OPPORTUNITIES

There are a host of water bodies (lake and ground water) that could be tapped for food crop especially vegetable cultivation.

Gyakiti, Survey Line, and Konkordeka are areas that are suitable for irrigation in drip and sprinkler system.

Areas around Frankadua, Anyansu and Abomayaw have substantial ground water for irrigation. In this wise, wells could be constructed and simple irrigation machines can be used to tap the water.

INDUSTRIAL CROP PRODUCTION

The district has a lot of potential for the cultivation of sunflower and tobacco. Sunflower would thrive very well in Nkwakubew and Apeguso areas, whilst tobacco would do well in Gyakiti and Nkwakubew environs.

FISHERIES POTENTIALS

The Volta Lake can be used for cage culture at the following locations, Anum, Nkwakubew, Mpakadan, Asikuma, Labolabo and Oframase amomg others.

TRANSPORTATION

Transport facilities in the district include road, lorry parks and water transport.

Road transport is by far, the most important mode of transport in the district. The Tema-Akosombo portion of the road is asphalt. The road network from Atimpoku to Anum and Boso is bitumen surfaced. The rest of the road network in the district is basically feeder roads.

Akosombo has an inland water port at Marine managed by the Volta Lake Transport Company. The company has ferries which transport goods and people on the Lake to Afram Plains and Yeji in the North. The lake also provides opportunities for farmers who use canoes to the big market centre at Dzemeni in the South Dayi district of the Volta Region.

WATER AND SANITATION

There are three (3) water treatment plants serving the District. These are located at Kpong, Akosombo and Boso. Communities along the main corridor to Akosombo are served by either the Kpong or Akosombo distribution system.

Towns in Anum and Boso zones are served with water from the treatment plant at Boso.

Settlements with pipe–borne water still depend on wells, boreholes, streams and the Volta Lake as supplementary sources of water.

Sanitation facilities in the district consist of toilet facilities such as public WCs, public KVIPs, pit latrines and individual VIPs. Some homes also have private WCs. Solid waste disposal containers are also placed at vantage points in the larger communities for safe waste disposal.

ELECTRICTY/ENERGY

About 90% of the communities in the district are connected to the National Electricity Grid. The other sources of energy are wood fire and liquefied petroleum gas. The presence of hydro-electricity is an opportunity to boost the industrial sector.

POSTAL AND TELECOMMUNICATION

The District has a Post Office located at Akosmbo. However there are postal agencies in places like New Akrade, Apegusu, Frankadua and Anum.

BANKING SERVICES

The District is serviced by two Commercial Banks namely, Ghana Commercial Bank Limited and Agric Development Bank. There are also two Rural Banks namely Anum Rural Bank and Asuogyaman Rural Bank.

RESETTLEMENT TOWNS

The creation of the Volta Lake dislocated a host of people. However, these dislocated people were resettled in the following towns:

• Adjena
• Old Akrade
• Apeguso
• New Akrade
• Mpakadan
• Labolabo

NUTRITION AND DIET

Food crops grown in the district are closely linked with the eating habits of the various ethnic groups.  In recent times, there have been changes in dietary patterns as a result of urbanization and nutrition education.  The main staple crops which provide the basic local diets in the district are as follows:

Main carbohydrate sources

• These are cassava, maize, yam, cocoyam and rice.  The main diets from these crops are ‘akple’, ‘fufu’, ‘yakayake’, ‘abolo’, ‘nuko’ (ampesi), and boiled rice.

Protein Sources

• Plant protein sources are groundnuts and beans/cowpea.
• Animal protein sources are beef, chevon (goat meat), mutton, fish, poultry, eggs and bush meat (grasscutter).

Fats and Oils

• Oil sources are nuts, coconut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil and groundnut whilst sources of fats are animal fat.