GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
The district lies within longitudes 0° 10 East and latitudes 6° 15’ North and 6° 40’ North.
BOUNDARIES
The district is located exactly in the middle of the Eastern Region. It is bordered to the North by the Volta Lake, North – West by Kwahu South District, South – West by East Akim District, East by Manya Krobo and South East by Yilo Krobo Districts.
LAND AREA
Total land area – 1,150sq km.
Cultivable area – 76,133 ha.
POPULATION
Total population – 86,154 (2000 census)
No. of males – 42,625
No. of females – 43,529
Rate of increase – 2.5% per annum
Farm family size – 5.7
Density – 74.9 / sq km (2000 census)
Settlements – 107
ETHNIC DISTRIBUTION
The indigenous tribe is Akims but the Krobo dominate the district, other tribes are Hausas and ewes.
GEOLOGY AND SOILS
Principal soil type is the forest ochrosol. The major rock types are the Birimian and Voltarian formations.
TOPOGRAPHY AND DRAINAGE
The district is generally hilly and has an undulating landform. Average height of the land is about 8,762 metres above sea level.
- 1. VEGETATION
The vegetation consists basically of the wet-semi deciduous rain forest and the savanna scrub which is found to the North of the district on the hills close to the Volta Lake.
FOREST RESERVE
The district has a total of 291.42 sq. km of forest reserve. These are Bisaa / Dede Forest Reserves, Worobong Forest Reserve and the Southern Scarp Reserve.
RAINFALL DISTRIBUTION
Rainfall is bimodal
- Major rains – March to early August with maximum in June.
- Minor rains – late August to November with maximum in October
Mean annual rainfall – 1500 – 2000 mm.
Mean Annual Rainfall and Wet days
| Year | Actual Rainfall | Mean Rainfall | Mean Wet Days | Mean Wet Days |
| 2005 | 1,134.0 mm | 94.5 mm | 77 | 6 |
| 2006 | *2,938.8 mm | *244.9 mm | *81 | *7 |
| 2007 | 495.6 mm | 82.6 mm | 32 | 5 |
| 2008 | 1,286.9 mm | 109 mm | 107 | 9 |
| 2009 | 875.1 mm | 72.9 mm | 116 | 9.7 |
| 2010 | *1,426.4 mm | *118.9 mm | 126 | *10.5 |
| Av. 6 years | ||||
|
||||
HUMIDITY
Rainy season – 75 – 80%
Dry season – 56 – 70%
MAJOR REVERS
Akrum
Osubin
Amanfuesua
Dede
- 2. LAND TENURE SYSTEMS
Stool and family lands
Share cropping (ie Abunu & Abusa systems)
Leasehold
Rent system
FARMING SYSTEM
Bush fallow alongside slash and burn
CROP FARMING PATTERN
Mixed cropping
Mono cropping
Inter cropping
ANIMAL FARMING
Livestock and poultry are the main animals kept. These include cattle, sheep, goats and poultry. The cattle is found in the northern fringes of the district along the lake where the grassland vegetation is mostly predominant.
AGRICULTURAL LAND USE
Average farm size is 1 hectare.
AVERAGE FARM SIZE OF VARIOUS CROPS PER FARMER
| Crop | Average farm size (Ha) |
| Maize | 0.8 |
| Cassava | 0.8 |
| Plantain | 0.8 |
| Cocoyam | 0.25 |
| Yam | 0.25 |
| Vegetables | 025 |
IRRIGATION
An irrigation scheme operates along the Volta basin at Dedeso, Nakpanya, Adakofe and Petefour.
FISHERIES
This is carried out by the Dedeso, the main resettlement village in the District and other are Petefour, Dominase, Nakpanya, Boatkpanya and Adakofe.
MAJOR FOOD / TREE CROPS AND THEIR AREAS OF PRODUCTION
This is indicated in the Table below:
| C R O P | 2003 PRODUCTION
Hectarage: Mt / Hectare: Production: Major Area of Production (MT) |
|||
| Maize | 11,600 | 2.0 | 23,2000 | Dedeso, OSino, Begoro & Ehiamankyene |
| Cassava | 14,000 | 16.0 | 224,000 | Ahomahomasu, Ehiamankyene, Obooho, Begoro, Adjeikrom and Bosuso |
| Plantain | 10,700 | 9.0 | 96,300 | Apaah, Feyiase, Miaso, Ehiamankyene and Begoro |
| Cocoyam | 10,000 | 8.0 | 80,000 | Apaah, Feyiase, Ehiamankyene and Begoro |
| Yam | 1,800 | 14.4 | 25,920 | Dorminase, Begoro |
| Tomatoes | 3,650 | 14.8 | 54,020 | Ahomahomasu, Ehiamankyene, Obooho, Begoro Adjeikrom and Bosuso |
| Pepper | 1,636 | 9.9 | 16,191 | Dedeso, Miaso, Ahomahomasu, and Abuorso |
| Oil palm | 161 | 8.0 | 1,288 | Bosuso, Osino, Begoro |
| Citrus | 15 | 25.0 | 375 | Osino |
POULTRY AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION IN THE DISTRICT
| Animal | Areas of concentration | No. of stock |
| Cattle | Dedeso, Obooho, / all over the district | 4,900 |
| Sheep | All over the district | 18,760 |
| Goats | All over the district | 22,123 |
| Exotic Birds | Begoro and Osine areas | 50,472 |
| Local Birds | All over district | 31,700 |
MAJOR MARKETS AND COMMODITIES SOLD
| Market centre | Main food items | Market Days |
| Ehiamankyene | Maize. Plantain, Yam, Cocoyam, Cassava, Gari and Vegetable | Saturday and Tuesday |
| Obooho | Maize, Plantain, Yam, Cocoyam, Cassava Gari and Vegetable | Thursday |
| Ahomahomasu | Maize, Plantain, Yam, Cocoyam, Plantain, Banana, Gari and Vegetable | Wednesday |
| Begoro | Cassava, Yam, Cocoyam, Plantain, Banana, Gari and Vegetable |
Feriday |
| Miaso | Maize, Plantain, Yam, Cocoyam, Plantain, Banana, Gari and Vegetable | Thursday |
| Abuorso | Maize, Plantain, Yam, Cocoyam, Plantain, Banana, Gari and Vegetable | Saturday and Tuesday |
| Bosuso | Maize, Plantain, Yam, Cocoyam, Plantain, Banana, Coconut, Sugar cane, Gari and Vegetables | Friday |
OPERATIONAL AREA – AGRIC EXTENSION AGENT / FARMERS RATIO
Total number of operational area is 32 and the AEA / Farmer Ratio is 1:1,500 approximately.