Location and Size
Gushegu District is located in the north eastern corridor of Northern Region. The district was carved out of the then Eastern Dagomba District in 1988. It is bordered by four other districts in the region, namely; Savelugu/Nanton and Karaga districts to the west, Saboba/Chereponi to the east, East Mamprusi to the north, and Yendi to the South. The total land area of the district is approximately 5,796 km2. It has a population density of 22 persons per km2. The district has 270 communities, with the capital located in Gushegu, which is about 114 km from the Northern Regional capital, Tamale
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Topography and Drainage
The topography of the land is generally undulating with elevations ranging from 140m at valley bottoms to 180m at highest plateaus. Being mostly watershed of main rivers, the district is endowed with many small valleys. Larger valleys can only be found towards the periphery of the district where the small streams merged into large ones. These large valleys can be found at Gaa, Katani, Sampemo and Sampebga areas. The size of all valleys in the district is estimated at 22,000 acres. Out of this, only about 13% are bunded.
Geology and Soil
The district lies entirely within the Voltaian sandstone basin dominated by sandstones, shales, siltstones and minor limestone. The northern tip of the district is underlain by lower Voltaian which consist of rocks, dominated by shales and sandstones. The soils are mainly savannah ochrosols, groundwater laterite formed over granite and Voltaian shales. Small areas of savannah ochrosols with some litho sols and Bruno sols are also very low. The laterite are similar in acidity and nutrient level to the ochrosols, but are poorer in physical properties, with substantial amounts of concretionary gravel layers near the top horizons and more suited for road and other constructional works than supporting plant root systems. Despite gentle slopes, the soils are highly vulnerable to sheet erosion, and in some areas, gully erosion also occurs. This condition occurs primarily because of the annual burning of the natural vegetation, leaving the soil exposed to the normally high intensity rains (up to 200mm per hour) at the beginning of the rainy season. The continuous erosion over many years has removed most or all of the topsoil and depleted or destroyed its organic matter content. Such a situation does not allow the soil fauna to thrive and keep the topsoil layers open and aerated for healthy plant roots to develop. It results in serious compaction, with considerable reduction in rainfall infiltration rate.
These soils, even when affected by erosion and reduced fertility, have some potential for agriculture if their available nutrients and water are managed sensibly, including appropriate organic matter supplementation. Measures to restore a better soil water infiltration rate, will depend on the extent to which it is possible to manage the recurring annual bush fires and extend the rainfall surface retention time to facilitate increase in the amount that gets to the plant rooting zones, to the level of the soil water holding capacity.
Climate
The Northern region, where is located Gushegu District is covered by a tropical climate marked by the alternation of dry and rainy season. However, when analysing rainfalls, we notice a decrease of rainy season duration from the South to the North. In fact, dry season is more intense in the Northern part of that region (particularly near Burkina Faso border) swept across by the harmattan. In dry season, an important part of the region (particularly near Burkina Faso border) is covered by the harmattan, a wind blowing from the Sahara with a fine fog like dust.
Gushegu District – due to its little bit outlying position in the North-East region – has a tropical climate which is typical of the Northern region. The unique rainy season, influenced by South-East winds lasts from May to October (rainfalls vary between 900 and 1,000mm); very strong rainfalls are recorded in July and August. As far as dry season is concerned, it lasts from November to March and is characterized by the predominance of North-East winds, where harmattan is hot and dry.
Temperatures are high throughout the year with a maximum of 36ºC recorded mainly in March and April. Low temperatures are recorded between November and February (the harmattan period).
In fact, temperatures are, generally very high throughout the year, sometimes close to 40oC in March and April; but lowest temperatures are recorded between November and February.
RAINFALL DATA FOR 2009/2010
| MONTHS
|
2009 | 2010 | ||
| Raindays | Amt. (mm) | Raindays | Amt. (mm) | |
| January | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| February | 0 | 0 | 1 | 51.6 |
| March | 3 | 13.3 | 1 | 17.2 |
| April | 3 | 93.5 | 4 | 92.8 |
| May | 3 | 45.4 | 3 | 70.6 |
| June | 9 | 186 | 7 | 108.8 |
| July | 7 | 218 | 8 | 119.1 |
| August | 7 | 134 | 8 | 206.9 |
| September | 13 | 216 | 12 | 279.5 |
| October | 9 | 80.2 | 7 | 134.7 |
| November | 1 | 9.2 | 0 | 0 |
| December | 1 | 6.8 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 56 | 1002 | 51 | 1081 |
Vegetation
Vegetation is typical of Guinea savannah, characterized by high and tall grasses interspersed with drought resistant trees like shea and dawadawa.
The Daka Forest reserve occupies 14,516 ha. of the land in the district.
Farming Systems:
The farming system prevailing is mixed farming. Besides crop production, the average farm family raises a wide variety of livestock and poultry. With regards to crop production, semi-permanent to shifting cultivation is practiced in the remote areas of the district where land availability is not a constraint and population density is low. Mixed cropping dominates the cropping pattern. Sole cropping activities in the district are practised on relatively large commercial rice and maize farms. Commercial rice farming is located in the valley basins of the tributaries of the Black Volta and Oti rivers.
Most farming practices involve the traditional labour-intensive type characterized by the use of the hoe and cutlass. However, the initial cultivation of the land (Ploughing) is highly dependent on mechanization. There are 68 tractors and 214 bullock services available to farmers. Approximately 70% of farmers use tractors in the district. The rest of the farming population use animal traction. To a greater
extent, agriculture in the district is predominantly small holder, subsistent and rain-fed. Although the annual rainfall ranges between 950-1300 (sufficient), the erratic nature of the pattern does not auger well for good yields.
Frequency of cropping (especially for annual crops):
There is one cropping cycle, which follows the single rainy season in the entire district
Land tenure systems:
There is communal ownership of land in the district and members of a family have a free and inalienable claim to family land. Acquisition of land for farming by non-family members is subject to respect for tradition and payment of homage to head of family or clan. No financial or in-kind charges are levied directly but it is often expected that a quantity of harvested produce is given to the landlord.
The land tenure arrangement has positive enabling environment for agricultural investment in the district. The fact that procedures for land acquisition are not cumbersome and the fact that it is more or less freehold makes investment in the agricultural sector in the district very attractive.
Environmental Situation
Environmental issues critical for the district’s consideration, is the operation of chain saw operators in the forest reserves of the district. The operators are from the south, who have identified the potentials of timber in the area, especially the Odum species and have, in connivance of some powerful chiefs, begun exploiting the reserves. The attention of the forestry commission needs to be drawn to this to save the area from deforestation.
Tourism
One of the main driving forces of economic growth in the developing economies is tourism.
Even though there are few tourism potentials in the district, the sector is yet to be developed to contribute meaningfully to the economic development of the district. The following have been identified as viable sites for tourism in the district:
a. The source of River Dakar near Nakunga.
b. The mysterious well in the Nabuli Area Council.