BACKGROUND

Hohoe Municipality, situated in the centre of the Volta Region, with Hohoe as its capital, was created in 1979. The republic of Togo borders the municipal to the east, while to the west is Kpando District. On to the north-west is Jasikan District and to the south is Ho Municipal. The Municipal houses part of the Akwapim-Togo ranges extending beyond the country’s eastern boundary all the way to Western Nigeria.

Within these ranges is the Mountain Afadzato, the highest elevation in Ghana (880.3m)
River Dayi (a perennial water source) which drains the whole municipality together with other smaller ones make it possible for small irrigation especially for dry season cultivation of vegetables.

The Municipality has vast suitable land for both upland and lowland rice cultivation and the bimodal rain pattern is an added potential for crop production. Out of the 117,200 ha of land area of the municipality, about 55,000ha (47%) are suitable for crop production and about 10,000 ha, (8.5%) as pasture land. Out of the available land for crop production, only about 22% are under effective cultivation. The first choice crop of importance to the indigenes is rice, maize and cassava.

The Hohoe Municipality has a very good road network within the municipal, which facilitates movement from the rural areas to the municipal capital.  There are 390km of road network in all, made up mainly of feeder roads.  The Municipal capital is however linked up to the regional capital, Ho and Accra, the National capital by first class roads.

The municipality is connected to the national electricity grid.  There are 3 commercial Banks, namely Ghana Commercial Bank, Barclays Bank Gh. Ltd and Agricultural Development Bank, all located in the municipal capital.  The regional office of Bank of Ghana is also located in the municipal capital.

PHYSICAL AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Location and Size
The Municipality is located within longitude 0o15’E and 0o45’E and Latitude 6o45‘N and
7o15’N at the heart of the Volta – Region. The Municipality covers an area of 1,172 square kilometers (117,200 ha), which is 5.6% of the regional size and represents 0.5% of the national land area. It shares common boarders with the Republic of Togo on the east, south by the Ho Municipal, on the west by the Kpando District and in the north-west with the Jasikan District.

Topography and Drainage
The Municipality houses part of the Akwapim-Togo ranges extending beyond the country’s eastern boundary all the way to Western Nigeria. These ranges are at the eastern part of the Voltaian Basin, aligning on the Southwest and Northeast axis. Within these ranges is the Afadjato, the highest elevation in Ghana (880.3m).  A number of highlands include Avegbadze (858.2m) Asoglo (745.5M), Agumasato (834.9m) Akpadafe (762) and Agumale (757.6m).
The Akpafu ranges, an outgrowth of the Akwapim-Togo ranges lies north of the district and rises to a peak at Akpafu Odomi area.  A notable peak in the Akpafu ranges named Mlabo is 773m above sea level.  The Akpafu range is believed to have iron deposits.  However, their commercial viability has not been explored to support the local iron founding industry which is now almost extinct.
River Dayi (a perennial water source) takes its source from the Akpafu ranges and drains the whole district covering the low-lying portion of the municipality between the Akwapin-Togo ranges and the bit bordering the Volta-Lake and extending to the Detu highland in the south of the municipality.  River Dayi enters the Volta-lake in the Kpando district.  Some other important rivers which drain into the Dayi river are Koloe, Agumatsa, Tsatsadu and Aflabo.  These rivers make it possible for small scale irrigation especially for dry season cultivation of vegetables.
Some of the low-lying areas have swamps that are used for rice cultivation. They include Akpafu Odomi, Akpafu Mempeasem, Santrokofi and Godenu areas.  There are however other low-lying areas for small scale rice cultivation scattered throughout the municipality.

Geology and Soils
The Soils generally tend to be sandy overlying iron pans. Bottom lands carry heavy silts and cracking clays.  As a consequence, drainage is very poor, subjecting the area to extreme variations in soil moisture.
The soils – ochrosols and oxysols – of the forest zone have the capacity for greater accumulation of organic matter in the surface horizon.  It also exhibits a greater depth and degree of weathering and acidity as compared to its savanna portions.
There are four (4) soil groups in the Municipality with the forest ochrosols and their interior savanna types – ground water laterite – ochrosols integrates being the major components.
The other components are forest zone types namely forest ochrosols – oxysol intergrades, interlacing the forest hiltosols strips along the eastern border with the Republic of Togo.
The advantage of the soil groups is that both savanna and forest crops do well in the municipality.  Some of these crops are Cocoa, Coffee, Oil palm, Banana, Plantains Rice, Cassava, Yams, Maize, Groundnut, Mango, Pineapple and Papaya.

Climate
The annual rainfall total ranges between 1100mm and 1500mm, averaging 1300mm.  The rainfall pattern is bimodal with two distinct rainy seasons.  The major rains start from April through to July while the minor season covers the period from September through November.  Occasionally the municipal bimodal pattern gives way to continuous rain from April through to November.
On the average, the major season receives about 43% of the total annual rainfall as compared to about 40% for the minor season.
Comparative figures however establish a greater reliability of the rain both in quantity and distribution during the minor season than the major season.
Generally, the northern and eastern portions of the municipal covering Akpafu, Likpe, Leklebi and all areas along the eastern highlands receive total rainfalls above the municipal average.  These areas support the growth of tree crops including cocoa and oil palm.  The south- western areas bordering the Kpando District are relatively drier with extensive savanna vegetation which is generally suitable for cultivation of vegetables and livestock production.

Vegetation
The municipality falls within the Forest-Savanna transitional ecological zone of Ghana, with the forest part at its southern and eastern sectors and tapering into the middle of the municipality.
The vegetation of the transitional zone is considered to have developed from the forest.  The eastern highlands are clothed with high forest.

DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS

Age and Sex Distribution of the Population

The 2000 Population and Housing Census (2000 PHC) put the population of the municipality at 144,502 with an annual growth rate of 1.9%. The breakdown is as follows; Male 70,674 (48.9%) and Female 73,545(50.9%). The municipality has 20 paramouncies with 12 area councils and 1 urban council. The municipal’s growth rate of 1.9% is higher than the regional growth rate of 2.2% and also higher than the national growth rate of 2.7%. With this trend in the municipal’s population growth, it is likely to double in 15 years should the other demographic characteristics and growth indicators fail to change significantly.

The population density was 123 persons/km2 in 2000 as compared to the national density of 79 persons/km2 and the rural-urban ratio of 80:20 gives indication of the large number of people in the municipality.

Sex and Rural-Urban Distribution of the Population
: The main traditional and urban councils in the Municipality with their estimated
populations and percentages.

Source: Hohoe Municipal Assembly

AGRICULTURE

The Climate and Soils support varieties of crops and livestock.  Crop production includes food and cash crops.  The livestock include small ruminants (sheep and goats) poultry, piggery and cattle on a small scale.  Fish farming or acqua-culture is carried out mostly in the central portions of the municipality around Logba, Ve, Hohoe and Santrokofi. The farming systems include mixed cropping, crop rotation and mixed farming.
Local vegetables namely okro, tomato and garden eggs are cultivated extensively mostly in the Ve, Logba and Nyagbo areas of the Municipality.

CROP SUB-SECTOR
Arable Crops

Food crops are produced mainly by peasant farmers using simple hand tools. The average land holding per farmer is about 0.5 ha.  However, few farmers are into medium scale farming using machinery. Apart from rice and cassava which to some extent are planted as sole crop, most farmers practice mixed crop farming.

The major food crops cultivated in the municipality are maize, cassava, rice, plantain, cocoyam and yams.  Vegetables (okro, tomato and garden eggs) are grown all over the Municipality.

Major Crops Produced in the Municipality*

*2009 SRID Estimates Major Crop Production Locations in the   Municipality

Plantation Crops

The main industrial or cash crops grown in the Municipality are cocoa and coffee.  These are mostly grown in the high rainfall areas of Akpafu, Santrokofi, Lolobi, Alavanyo, Logba, Nyagbo, Wli and Gbledi.  There has been significant increase in the production and yield of cocoa of late.  The increase is attributable to rehabilitation/replanting of old farms and pests and diseases control exercise.

Tree Crop Production
The relatively high annual rainfall coupled with deep soils of the forest areas gives the Municipality comparative advantage in the production of fruit tree crops.
The recommended tree crops to be invested in include mangoes, avocado pear, citrus, pineapple and coconut. The Nyagbo and Logba areas of the Municipality, which produce the best quality avocado pears, are very ideal for commercial production of these fruits.
Citrus production in the municipal is still at the infant stage.
Some commercial farms in the Municipality :

OTHER FRUITS
The vast savanna enclave bounded by Have, Logba, and Tafi-Atome and river Dayi are ideal for pineapple and cashew production. The perennial Dayi river is an additional resource in the area for all year round production of pawpaw.

Rain-fed Vegetable Production
The sandy loamy soils of Ve, Nyagbo and Tafi areas, which receive moderate to heavy amounts of rainfall per annum, support extensive vegetable production in the district.  Low levels of nematode incidence in these areas give comparative advantage for production of the common local vegetables namely tomato, garden egg, okro and pepper.
Annual dry seasons however limit all year round vegetable production.  The flood plains of the Koloe river, stretching from Teikrom through Koloenu to Andokope are potential areas for vegetable and rice production under irrigation.  Over 2500ha of land could be put under vegetables annually, if the areas are developed.
Intensive vegetable production using green house or plastic house production technique could be very fertile area for investment.

SCALE OF PRODUCTION:

The majority of farmers in the Municipality are small-holders with about 80% of them using simple tools such as hoes and cutlasses for cultivating their farms. Also about 70% of the farmers depend on family labour while about 30% undertake zero tillage practice (i.e. planting without soil tillage through the use of herbicides to kill the weeds) in land preparation or use weedicides for farm weed control. However, this phenomenon of chemical weed control in farms is steadily increasing year after year.

Cattle production is on relatively small scale and confined mostly to the southwestern tip of the municipality bordering the Volta Lake around Kpeve and part of Ve area.

Pig production is gradually increasing in the Municipality.  Most of the production is concentrated in the Hohoe township.  Some other producing areas are Akpafu Odomi and Ve Golokwati.

AGRO- PROCESSING

The agricultural produce which is processed includes oil palm, cassava and paddy rice.
Oil palm is processed into red palm oil and palm kernel oil. Cassava is processed into cassava dough and gari. Agro-Processing is mainly done by women on either individual or on group basis.  The main oil palm processing areas are Likpe, Fodome, Gbledi, Logba, Koloenu, Kledzo, Akpafu, Lolobi, Wudome, and Wegbe.
Cassava processing is mainly carried out at Koloenu, Fodome, Logba and Gari Kope (Hohoe).
Rice mills are located in the main rice producing areas of Lolobi, Akpafu and Hohoe Township.
The government under the Farmer Based Organization Development Fund has supplied a complete rice processing machine with destoner to two farmer groups in the municipality. These mills are located at Akpafu Odomi and Fodome Helu.
Also two farmer groups were supplied with cassava processing machines and the other two with complete irrigation equipment under the FBO Development Fund.

LIVESTOCK-SUB-SECTOR

Livestock farming is another prominent venture in the municipality. Cattle, small ruminants (sheep and goats) and poultry – both local and exotic – can be found throughout the municipality. Local pigs can be located within some specific communities in the municipality, largely kept on free-range.

Commercial Poultry Production:

There are a few farmers who keep between 200 – 1500 layers. They are mostly located in the municipal.

Livestock Figures

Source: Estimates based on Year 2010 Hohoe MoFA

Improved animal husbandry practices in the municipal are on the average. Most small ruminants and local poultry are kept on free-range. The average herd of small ruminants per household is twelve (12) and that of cattle is ten (10) per Kraal or a compound.

FISHERIES SUB-SECTOR

The Municipality is not drained by any large rivers.  Fishing is therefore confined to the southwest end of the municipal along the Volta River at Kpeve and Woadze Tornu.
Acqua-culture or fish farming was introduced into the Municipality in the early part of the eighties.  Currently 80 ponds have been constructed by 22 farmers totaling 105ha in size.
Various types of fresh-water fishes are harvested in the river and the ponds. Some of the species include:
a. Tilapia Nilotica
b. Clariass
c. Heterotis

MARKETS

Agricultural products either in their raw forms or semi processed are generally marketed directly by the producers or through intermediaries (middlemen/women).  Women normally carry the raw products to local markets by head loads.  The mode of sales is generally by price bargaining as the products are sold not by weight but by size, quality and or appearance.
The grains are generally sold using unit measures eg. Olonka, margrine tins or bowls etc the tubers and plantains are sold by size and variety/quality.
Market women/men go round to purchase commodities on wholesale basis. A limited amount of pre-financing of production exists.  By this arrangement, the intermediaries advance some amounts of money to the farmers during the course of production of the crops.  The recipients of such advances are bound over to sell the produce to the intermediaries immediately after harvesting. This normally results in the traders offering low prices for the commodities. However, horticultural crops like mango and pineapple are processed in the municipality or exported in the raw form to Britain and Germany.

MAJOR MARKETING CENTRES

The main marketing centers in the municipal include Hohoe central market, Ve-Koloenu, Logba Alakpeti, and Lolobi Kumasi. Below is a table of some prominent markets.
MAJOR LOCAL MARKETS

PROJECTS ON-GOING IN THE HOHOE MUNICIPAL

Development Partner Assisted Projects

The following projects are being carried out in the Municipality;
•    Koloe-Dayi Small Scale Irrigation Scheme
•    Agri-Business Information Point
•    NERICA (New rice for Africa) Project
•    Root & Tuber Improvement and Marketing Project
•    Millennium Challenge Account compact
•    Export Marketing and Quality Awareness Project
•    Livestock Development Project

Koloe- Dayi Small Scale Irrigation Scheme, Hove

The Government of Ghana with financial support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) has constructed an irrigation scheme at Hove on the Koloe river, a perennial water source in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta Region. The total land area developed under the scheme is 70 acres (28 hectares). The area has the potential for development. The scheme has three (3) pumps that supply water to the field and is powered by electricity from the national grid. The project was started in 2002 and became operational since 2005. Activities
The farmers cultivate vegetables (Okra, garden eggs and kpakpo shitor) in the dry
season i.e. between November to May (using irrigation) and  maize
and rice during June and October (rain fed).

Agri-Business Information Point Project

This is an Electronic Commerce Project being piloted in one district in each region.
Ministry of Food and Agriculture in partnership with and support from International
Institute for Communication and Development (IICD), MISTOWA/IFCD/USA is
sponsoring the project which aims at promoting trade through the use of the internet  and mobile phones among the stakeholders in the agricultural sector ( traders, farmers, processors and export) .

NERICA Project

This is an Africa Development Bank (AfDB) funded project. It was launch in 2005. Hohoe municipal is one of the 3 implementing Districts in Ghana.
Special characteristics of this rice are:
•    Toughness of African native rice and high productivity of the Asian varieties.
•    Matures within 30-50 days earlier than other rice varieties
•    Raise the yield from 1.0 to 1.5 of other upland rice varieties
•    Uses minimal application of fertilizer
Apart from the production aspect, the project is also involved in infrastructure development. Therefore the project has constructed a road network of 4.95km opening up about 5,000ha of farmlands. Officially, the project has ended last year, 2010 but it has been extended to the first half of 2011.

ROOT AND TUBER IMPROVEMENT AND MARKETING PROGRAMME (RTIMP)

The RTIMP national coordinating office is in Kumasi. The Hohoe Municipal is in the zone 3 which is coordinated from Koforidua in the Eastern Region of Ghana.  The project seeks to multiply and distribute improved high yielding cassava planting materials to farmers. However, the emphasis is to link up all actors in the value chain in order to establish an effective marketing system that would be beneficial to all the players. The RTIMP began in the Hohoe Municipal this year, 2010. Enough improved cassava planting materials have been produced and distributed to beneficiary individuals and groups.

MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE ACCOUNT COMPACT

This project is a grant from the people of America to Ghana. It aims at increasing the general livelihood of the people of Ghana. The Ghana MCA Programme goal is : “Promotion of growth and poverty reduction through private sector led agri business development”.The choice of Agri business as the local area for MCA assistance provide the opportunity to direct resources at a key sector of the economy with potential to significantly lift growth rates and impact poverty.
The opening of MCA programme strategy is the opening up Ghana for competition, through the combination of major road infrastructure, and modernizing Agriculture through increasing productivity and production of food staples and non- traditional export crops. In this, it is perfectly aligned with the expressed objectives and activities of the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy’ medium term priority area. Currently MCA has constructed a 9.8km road linking Tafi-Mador to Jordan opening up 10,000ha of farmlands.

Export Marketing and Quality Awareness Project (EMQAP)

It seeks to promote the production, processing and marketing (export and local) of horticultural crops i.e. mangoes, pineapple, and high value vegetables like pepper, garden eggs etc.

Livestock Development Project

The aim of the project was to reduce poverty, improve food security and reduce imports of livestock products in an environmentally sustainable manner.  The project also sought to increase the incomes of smallholder livestock and dairy farmers, processors and traders in the project area. The project has made strides in the provision of 1200 sheep in the form of credit in kind to 119 beneficiary livestock farmers to meet the objective of the project.
Additionally the project dealt with other cross-cutting issues such as HIV/AIDS and Malaria/Guinea Worm eradication.

PURELY GHANA FUNDED PROJECTS

Block Farm

The Municipal Agricultural Development Unit (MADU)-Hohoe is one of the implementing municipalities of the Block Farming under Youth in Agriculture Programme.
It was introduced into the municipality in 2010. A total of Four hundred and thirty-two (432) farmers comprising 248 males and 184 females were supported to crop 100ha each of maize and rice. More farmers will be supported under the programme this year, 2011.

Cocoa Pest & Disease Control Programme

It is a Ghana government sponsored project aimed at increasing cocoa production in the municipality. Cocoa farms are spayed to control pest and disease free for farmers.

Cocoa Hi-Tech

Under this project the fertilizers are the sold to farmers. The fertilizers are applied to the farms. It is directed at increasing cocoa production.

.
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS IN AGRICULTURE
Non-Governmental Organizations such as;
1. Concern for Humanity and Nature Center-Environmental activity
2. Pro-Link Organization-HIV/AIDs and Peer Education
3. Christian Rural Aid Network (CRAN) – Private Extension, Micro Financing and Capacity Building of farmers.

EXTENSION SERVICES

AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES DELIVERY

The Municipal Agricultural Development Unit-Hohoe has a well established extension system responsible for overseeing Agricultural technology diffusion. Other NGOs in the municipality also support in the extension delivery in the area of group formation, capacity building, micro financing and Health issues.

AGRICULTURAL POTENTIALS:

AVAILABLE FARMLAND:

Out of the 117,200 ha of land area of the municipality, about 55,000ha (47%) are suitable for crop production and about 10,000 ha, (8.5%) as pasture land.
Crop production lands are evenly distributed in the municipal.  It is made up of forest areas of Akpafu, Likpe, Lolobi, Gbledi, Leklebi, Nyagbo and Logba.  The savannah lands cover Ve, Tafi, Have and Kpeve areas.  The vast savanna plain stretching from Tafi Atome through Have to Kpeve Tornu are suitable for livestock production especially for cattle ranching.

FOOD CROPS PRODUCTION

The first choice crop of importance to the indigenes is rice, maize and cassava. However, the potential for the cultivation of cereals such as maize and rice is vast owing to the vast stretches of land under very suitable climatic conditions. Currently also, there is enormous potential for large scale production of the vegetables such as pepper, garden eggs, okra, tomato, and cabbage.

Rice Production

The municipality is endowed with numerous valley bottoms conservatively estimated over 10,000 hectares.  This gives the municipality comparative advantage over all the other districts in the Volta Region in rice production.  Indeed the municipality accounts for about 35 percent of rice produced in the region annually.
Extensive valley bottom areas include Godenu, Fodome, Ve, Santrokofi and Akpafu.

ANIMAL PRODUCTION
Cattle Ranching
The vast savanna areas at Kpeve along the Volta Lake are ideal for cattle ranching. The area is endowed with rich nutritious grasses and legumes.
Beekeeping and grass-cutter production are also potential targets if farmers are given the necessary support by MOFA, NGO’s and other investors. The required supports are basically the provision of technical know-how and suitable production and processing equipment.

Poultry    (Hatchery)
The Hohoe Municipal and other districts of the Volta – Region have numerous poultry farms of varying sizes. There is however, no hatchery in the region. All the poultry farmers have to procure their day old chicks from the Greater Accra region or elsewhere. A hatchery located at Hohoe will not only serve the region and but also surrounding  ones.

FISH PRODUCTION

Aquaculture

Fish culture in the municipality is on lower side even though there are potentials. Investment in cultured fisheries, especially, the dugout production systems hold the potentials for very profitable business.

POTENTIALS
HUMAN RESOURCES
Human resources are the second largest resource of the municipality. The high population density of the municipality i.e. about 123 per km2 which is far above the national average of 69 per km2 and the rural urban ratio of 80:20 gives indications of the large number of people in the municipality. There are also a large number of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour force in the municipal. The artisans account for a large proportion of skilled manpower while school leavers and dropouts account for the semi-skilled labour.

AGRO-PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

Hohoe Municipal has enormous potential for agro-processing industries, both in the animal and crops sectors.

CASSAVA PROCESSING FACTORY

The Municipal produces about 75,000 metric tons of cassava annually. It has the potential to increase the yield to over 100,000 metric tons within one year. Therefore, investment in the production and establishment of a Cassava Processing Factory or facility to process raw cassava into the following products should be a very profitable business:

i.   Starch for industrial use
ii. Gari
iii. Tapioca and biscuits
iv. Animal feed – for livestock and poultry.

Introduction
The Biakoye District is one of the 170 in the country and one of the 18 in the Volta region.
The district was carved out of the then Jasikan District in 2007. Government business commenced in the district on 20th December 2010. The district was officially inaugurated on 15th March 2011.
Nkonya Ahenkro is the district capital. It is about 100km from the Regional capital, Ho and about 200 kilometrs from Accra the National capital.
The district is endowed with about 42,000 hectares of arable land, perennial water source ( the Volta lake) for irrigation to produce annual crops and vegetable production and aquaculture and rich human resource for the establishment of agro industries.
Location
The district is located within longitude 0 150 E and 0 450 E and Latitude 6 450 N and 7 150 N at the heart of the Volta – Region.  It shares common boarders with the Hohoe and Jasikan Districts to the east, Kpando to the south, Kadjebi and Krachi East Districts to the North and the Volta Lake to the west
Population
The population of the District is estimated to be 63,645 comprising approximately 35,005 women and 28,640 men
(Source: provisional figures of the 2010 population and housing censors)
Major Traditional Areas
The major traditional areas in the district are:
•    Nkonya
•    Tapa
•    Worawora
•    Bowiri
•    Akposor
•    Major landforms and Drainage
•    The landform of the district is relatively flat  with a few mountains ranging from Bowiri to Nkonya and also part of the Akporsor area. There are no major perennial rivers in the district; however, the Volta Lake drains the whole length of the western part corridor of the district .
CLIMATE
•    The annual rainfall total ranges between 1100mm and 1500mm, averaging 1300mm.  The rainfall pattern is bimodal with two distinct rainy seasons.  The major rains start from April through to July while the minor season covers the period from August through November.  Occasionally the district bimodal pattern gives way to continuous rain from April through to December.
VEGETATION AND SOILS
Vegetation
•    The District falls within the Forest-Savanna transitional ecological zone of Ghana, with the forest part at its north -eastern sectors. The forest areas are the Bowiri, Akporsor and part of the Nkonya areas. The present Volta Lake has occupied most of the once cocoa growing areas.
•    The vegetation of the transitional zone is considered to have developed from the forest.  The eastern highlands are clothed with high forest.  Of course the activities of man have almost devastated most of the forest.
Soils
•    The Soils generally tend to be sandy overlying iron pans. Bottomlands carry heavy silts and cracking clays.
•    The advantage of the soil groups is that both savanna and forest crops do well in the district.  Some of these crops are maize, rice, cassava, vegetables, cocoa, oil palm and yams
•    The torrential nature of rains greatly leaches the soil nutrients.  This is compounded by the fact that the vegetation cover is removed before crops are cultivated.  Most of the organic matter (vegetation) is also burnt annually through bush fires.  This further exposes the soil to erosion and leaching.  Soil fertility has gradually become a serious problem and large doses of chemical fertilizers have to be applied to realize economic yields.
AVAILABLE LAND
•    Out of the about 60,000 ha of land area of the district, about 42,000ha (70%) are suitable for the production of various crops such as maize, rice, vegetables, yam and cocoa
•    Crop production lands are evenly distributed in the district.  It is made up of forest areas of Bowiri and Akporso and the savanna areas covers the Nkonya, Worawora and Tapa areas.
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 tittle 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.

AGRICULTURE IN THE DISTRICT
•    The Climate and Soils support varieties of crops and livestock.  Crop production includes cereals, root and tubers and vegetables.  The livestock include small ruminants, local poultry, piggery and cattle on a small scale.
•    The only cash crops cultivated in the district is cocoa.
•    Local vegetables namely okro, tomato, garden eggs and pepper are cultivated extensively along whole length of the Volta Lake.
•    Aquaculture is not practiced in the district although the potential exists.
FOOD CROP PRODUCTION
•    Food crops are produced mainly by peasant farmers using simple hand tools.  The average land holding per farmer is about 0.5 ha. Mixed cropping is gradually giving way to mono cropping especially for crops such as maize, yam, rice and cassava.
•    There is a decreasing level use of inorganic fertilizers. Crop productivity levels are dropping with each cropping season as poor soil fertility management practices.
•    Again yields are dropping as a result gradually decreasing use of inorganic fertilizers and seeds due to increasing costs of farm inputs and low soil fertility. Farmer’s incomes are low because of the low yields from their farms.
•    The major food crops cultivated in the district are maize, rice, vegetables, yam and cassava

Major Food crop growing areas in the  District

LIVESTOCK:

Common livestock found in the district include sheep, goats, cattle, pigs, local poultry, (domestic fowls) ducks and guinea fowls.
About 80% of all households in the district keep one or other type of livestock.    Common among them are domestic fowls and small ruminants.  The system practiced widely is free-range whereby the animals scavenge for food the whole day with little or no supplementary feeding.  These birds are generally hardy with slow growth and have poor weight gains.  The birds generally receive little or no medication and suffer from many preventable diseases.
Small ruminants (sheep and goats) are also kept by households. Most of them are not  confined. Those housed are confined during the day and let loose in the evenings for foraging with little or no supplementary feeding. Cattle production is on relatively small scale and confined mostly to the savanna areas of the district and along the Volta lake. The availability of  rice and maize  (residue) in the district can be used for small ruminant and cattle development in the district.
Fish Production
Aquaculture is not practiced in the district. Fishing is done in the Volta Lake.
MARKETING OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
Agricultural products either in their raw forms or semi processed are generally marketed directly by the producers or through intermediaries (middlemen/women).  Women normally carry the raw products to local markets by head loads.  The mode of sales is generally by price bargaining as the products are sold not by weight but by size, quality and or appearance.
The grains are generally sold using unit measures eg. Olonka, margarine tins or bowls etc the tubers and plantains are sold by size and variety/quality.
Market women/men go round to purchase commodities on wholesale basis.  The mode of sale is also by price bargaining.  A limited amount of pre-financing of production exists.  By this arrangement, the intermediaries advance some amounts of money to the farmers during the course of production of the crops.  The recipients of such advances are bound over to sell the produce to the intermediaries immediately after harvesting. This normally results in the traders offering low prices for the commodities.
Vegetables are sold by baskets and or boxes.
Marketing centers
The major marketing centers in the district are:
i.    Tapa Abotoase market
ii.    Kwamikrom market
iii.    Bumbula Market
AGRO- PROCESSING
The main agricultural produce which are processed are oil palm, cassava and paddy rice.
Oil palm is processed into red palm oil and palm kernel oil. Cassava is processed into cassava dough and gari. Agro-Processing is mainly done by women on either individual or on group’s basis.
There is a rice mill at Worawora that has the capacity to mill 10 tons of rice daily.
Farm input marketing
Agro input marketing is done by small retailers who get their supplies from either Hohoe or Kpando. There is the need to establish a bigger agro input shop in the district to serve the numerous farmers in the area.
AGRICULTURAL POTENTIALS AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES OF THE DISTRICT.
Availability of good basic Infrastructure is a pre-requisite for investment purposes.  The current infrastructure of the district is as follows:
INFRASTRUCTURE

ROADS

The Biakoye district has a very good road network within the district, which facilitates movement from the rural areas to the district capital.  The district capital is however linked up to the regional capital, Ho and Accra, the National capital by first class roads.  The district Capital is about 3 hours drive to the Tema Harbour and 3.5 hours drive to the Kotoka International Airport in Accra a condition suitable for the production and export of vegetables

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES
Agricultural Lands
The greatest resource of the district is agricultural land, This forms about 80% of the total land available in the district.
The Volta Lake
The Volta Lake drains the whole western part of the district. It therefore offers a great opportunity for irrigation for all year production of food crops and vegetables in the district. It also offers the opportunity for the development of aquaculture (cage culture) in the district
Human Resource
Human resource is the second largest resource of the district. The high population density of the district and a large number of skilled,semi-skilled and unskilled labors in the district. The artisans account for a large proportion of skilled manpower while school leavers and dropouts account for the semi-skilled labour.
INVESTING IN THE CROP SECTOR
The available land forms and water body makes investment in the district a great potential with  all year round production of the following crops;
i.    Maize
ii.    Rice
iii.    Vegetables
INVESTING IN THE LIVESTOCK SUB SECTOR
The availability of large tracks of land, water and maize, maize Stover rice straw  and a dedicated animal health and production officers in the district creates an enabling environment for the production of the following animals:
i.    Goats
ii.    Sheep
iii.    Cattle
iv.    Poultry
v.    Guinea fowls
FARM INPUTS MARKETING
Before the Economic Recovery Programme (ERP) in the early eighties, the Ministry of Food & Agriculture was involved in the importation, distribution and sale of agricultural inputs.  In the Volta –Region the Farmers Services Company (FASCOM) undertook this service on behalf of the Ministry. The service has been privatized but FASCOM has become functionally defunct. Input distribution in the region had been in the hands of private individuals. To date there is no importer and or distributor of farm inputs in the district.
Investing  in the Agric input sector
Investment in this service appears to be rewarding with a quick recovery on the investment made. At the same time farmers will be assured of farm inputs at the right time and at reasonable prices since the main economic activity in the district is farming and fishing
Projects
There are no projects in the district to enhance agricultural development.

INTRODUCTION:

This profile is to provide background information on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Akatsi District. It is also to serve as a guide to prospective and potential investors who want to engage in agro-business in the Akatsi District. The profile attempts to portray vividly the agricultural potentials of the district.

The district has a total land area of about 906,455km². Based on the 2000 Population and Housing Census has 93,477 people. The district experiences a bi-modal rainfall pattern which is suitable for crop production. The annual rainfall regime (1,084mm), with a relative humidity of 85%.

Agriculture is the main economic activities. About 80% of the population are engaged in agriculture.

The profile is also relevant to development planners, NGOs and other agencies interested in the development of agriculture in the district. Tourists who visit the region may find this profile very useful.

PHYSICAL AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

LOCATION AND AREA

The district is located in the South-Eastern part of the Volta Region and is located between latitude 6º S-7º N and 0º W- 1º E.

The district is bounded by the Keta District to the south, to the East by Ketu North, by the North and South Tongu Districts to the West and by the Adaklu-Anyigbe District and the Republic of Togo to the North complete the demarcation of the Akatsi District.

It has a total land area of about 906,445 km². The total land under cultivation is about 13,438.12 hectares.

RELIEF AND DRAINAGE

The district is a low lying coastal plain with flatland in the south and rolling plain to the north. The topography of the district is generally gentle and undulating land averaging 10-50metres above sea level.

About 60% of the total land area lies below 100 feet contour line and rising to over 200 feet in the northern part.

Rivers and creeks that drain in the district include Tordzi, Agblegboloe, Worwoe, Lotor, Kutor, Agortor, Asrama, Tetemale, Dzikoli and Agormor. The first three empty their waters into the Keta and Avu lagoons. Some of the rivers are dammed for irrigation during the dry season.

GEOLOGY

The district falls within these underlying geological formations:-

The acidic gneiss belt, forming 70% of the land area

Tertiary sands about 25% and

Basimorphic acidic gneiss about 5%

The acidic belt consists mainly of layered coarse to fine grained muscovite biotic, schist and containing numerous quartz-veins. There are outcrops of negivine, auqit and syeinte either as inselberg or shallow exposed surface all over this geological formation.

SOILS

Three main soil types characterised the district. The south-eastern portion is characterised by tertiary sands which are moderate to well drained deep red to brown loamy sand to sandy loam topsoil over coarse sandy loam to clay loam subsoil.

These soils are suitable for the cultivation of all arable crops.

Within these dominants soil can be found in the valley bottoms and depressions, poorly drained and plastic glacial clays, which are suitable for commercial sugar cane production as well as for ceramic and poultry industry.

The north-western to the northern part of the district is characterised by acidic gneiss which is moderately drained, deep, sandy soil which is either sandy or sandy clay subsoil suitable for root and tuber crops as well as cereals and legumes. The middle portion is characterised by acidic gneiss parent material found in convex and broad low-lying ridges with outcrops which are moderately drained, shallow to bedrock sandy top soil underlain with sandy clay subsoil and coarse clay. These areas are suitable rangeland for livestock production.

CLIMATE

The elements of importance in the climate of the district are temperature, humidity, rainfall and wind which are of significance mainly during the dry season when the inflow of harmattan winds accelerate the drying up of the savannah grasses.

The district falls within the coastal savannah equatorial climate regime characterised by high temperatures (min 21ºC and 34.5ºC max), high relative humidity (85%) and moderate to low regime of rainfall (1,084mm) with wet and dry seasons of about equal lengths.

VEGETATION AND FAUNA

The vegetation is made of coastal savannah in the south and savannah woodland to the north. Palm borasus ‘’agorti’’ is found in isolated places in the north-west parts of the district. Black berry tree (Velvet tamarind) locally called ‘’atitoe ti’’ is an important economic tree found in most parts of the areas surrounding Akatsi township. Around the Avu lagoon and its creeks are large tracks of reed locally called ‘’keti’’ which is used in weaving mats.

A physical potential of the district is the vast savannah grassland which is ideal for irrigated mechanised farming and livestock rearing.

The fauna comprises:

Rodents’ e.g. giant rat, grasscutter etc

Reptiles e.g. grass snake, cobra, etc

Birds e.g. store partridges, etc

The fauna in the district are good potentials for eco-tourism development.

WATER SUPPLY:

There are twenty-two (22) dams and dug-outs scattered throughout the district which have the potential for medium and small scale irrigation.

DEMOGRAPHIC AND CHARACTERISTICS:

POPULATION SIZE:

The population of the district according to the 2000 Population and Housing Census is 93,477 which are made up of 43,843 males representing about 46.9% of the total population and 49,634 females which contribute about 53.1% of the total population. About 96.3% of the total population is resident. The district population constitute about 5.7% of the regional population.

SEX COMPOSITION:

The sex ratio of male to female is 1:1.2; 73,847 of the population, i.e. about 79% lives in the rural areas whiles 19,617 about 21% of the population lives in the urban area.

3.3 POPULATION GROWTH RATE:

Between 1984 and 2000, the district recorded about 2.5% population growth rate which is higher than the regional growth rate of 1.8% but at par with the National growth- rate.

The table below shows the population of 19 major towns in the district.

Table:  POPULATION OF 19 MAJOR TOWNS IN 2000

SOURCE: 2000 Population and Housing Census.

 OCCUPATIONAL DISTRIBUTION:

Agriculture is the leading employer of the district’s workforce since the economy is a rural one. This accounts for about 75.5% of the labour force compared with the national figure of 49.2%

Next in importance to agriculture is commerce which employs about 18.35% followed by services 3.5% and industry 2.7%.

HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS:

The household total is 17,587 while the mean household size is 4.13.

Housing development in most parts of the district is structurally poor and inadequate in number. The most common building materials are laterite and straw used for roofing especially in the small towns and villages. The basic design is enclosed compound type common to most Ghanaian towns and villages.

Occasionally one comes across houses built with sandcrete blocks and roofed with corrugated iron sheet. There are also a few cases of mud houses roofed iron sheets. This tends to have a much longer life span. However, the situation appears to be changing in places such as Akatsi, Xavi, Avenorpeme, Ave-Dakpa, Gefia, Wute and a few other fast growing settlements. There are no physical development layouts for all the major towns since the layout prepared by the Town and Country Planning is yet to be implemented.

AGRICULTURE:

Agriculture in the district is mainly at the subsistence level. However, there are a few projects with improved subsistence and commercial production as well as Asian vegetables and pineapple production for export by PARAM FARM and TORNU FARMS respectively.

The district has a vast cultivatable land area but less than 40% are cultivated.

Therefore the district has a very good potential for the development of commercial agriculture.

FOOD CROPS:

Crop production is at the subsistence level with more intensity in the southern sector than the northern parts. Crops mainly grown include maize, cassava, sweet potato, cowpea, pepper, tomato, garden eggs, okra, groundnut and tobacco.

Land preparation is done manually with simple tools such as the cutlass and hoe. Some few farmers depend on tractor services depending on the financial position of the farmer. Many farmers do not have access to agricultural extension services due to the high extension-farmer ratio (1:3,277).

SEED GROWER

TREE CROPS:

In almost every village, there are farmers who cultivate between 0.5 hectares and 2 hectares of fuel wood. Also some Farmer Based Organisations (FBOs) have developed wood lots. These groups can be upgraded into co-operatives with the right approach.

Tree species cultivated include areas of land planted with cashew dotted all over the district and is a good sign that the production will have a base.

The black berry ‘’atitoe’’ which grows in the wild has much economic potential for accelerated development in the district. The market for the black berry extends to the neighbouring countries such as Togo, Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire.

Table:  LAND BANKS:

 SUGARCANE PRODUCTION:

Sugarcane is produced on all major geological formations. It is produced mainly for the production of alcohol in simple cottage distilleries. According to a 1978 feasibility report by Tate and Lyne Technical Services/ Taylor Woodrow International Ltd, the soil and climate in the Akatsi and Abor areas are favourable for the production of sugarcane.

Soil and topographical survey also defined a gross area of 12,500 hectares of land within which sugarcane estate could be established with the entire necessary infrastructure capable of producing up to 60,000tonnes of commercial sugar annually.

Among the findings are:-

Land area can be cultivated rapidly and has a potential for economic irrigation

Disruption and consequent resettlement would be minimal

Local farmers could be used as outgrowers to supplement the nucleus of estate organisation thus creating employment

APICULTURE

Through the initiatives of Heifer International Ghana (HPI) and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, beehives have been supplied to some communities such as Torve, Agorweme, Ave-Gborhome and Sesime.

This programme has made beekeeping to increase in the district.

The harvest for honey and bee wax is encouraging as such more farmers are showing interest in Apiculture.

ANIMAL PRODUCTION

Cattle production is scattered within the district but concentrated at Worwoe River drainage basin. There are no improved pastures as such animals have to go in search of pasture and water over long distances. However, there are some dug-outs and dams scattered over the area. These dug-outs have been dug specially for the cattle by cattle owners but eventually end up in serving both the community and the animals.

Sheep and goats are reared in almost every household within the district. Local breeds are the most common breeds used. But with the assistance of Heifer International Ghana (HPI) improved breeds of small ruminants have been introduced into some communities such as Wute and Adzikame to improve the local breeds.

On poultry, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and Heifer International Ghana have distributed the improved cockerel to some farmers to cross the local hen in order to improve upon the breed of the local fowls.

FISHING

Fishing is minor and secondary activity as a result of the district land locked geographical location. However, there is minimal activity of fishing in the few dams, dug-out and streams. Proceeds from it are unable to meet the local demands.

INDUSTRIAL SECTOR

The manufacturing sector is not well developed. On-going manufacturing activities are small-scale or cottage industries centred on blacksmithing, welding, fabrication of agro-processing equipment such as motorised cassava grater. 

MARKETING

The major commercial activity in the district include buying and selling of both primary and secondary goods. 40% of the population is engaged in this activity out of which 85% are female.

The district has a commercial bank i.e. Ghana Commercial Bank Ltd, Akatsi. There is also a Rural Bank namely Avenor Rural Bank Ltd, Akatsi and an agency of the Unity Bank located at Ave-Dakpa.

The main marketing centres are located in Akatsi and Ave-Dakpa. Other smaller market centres are springing up at Ave-Xevi, Ave-Afiadenyigba and Avenorpeme.

The occurrence of these markets are every five (5) days and important wares sold in these markets are mostly farm produce.

10.0 SPECIAL PROJECTS

ROOT AND TUBER IMPROVEMENT AND MARKETING PROGRAMME (RTIMP)

The RTIMP national coordinating office is in Kumasi. Akatsi District is in the Zone 3 which is coordinated from Koforidua in the Eastern Region of Ghana.  The project seeks to multiply and distribute improved high yielding cassava planting materials to farmers. However, the emphasis is to link up all actors in the value chain in other to establish an effective marketing system that would be beneficial to all the players. The RTIMP began in the Akatsi District this year, 2010.

CASAVA:

The project seeks to multiply and distribute improved high yielding cassava planting materials to farmers. However, the emphasis is to link up all actors in the value chain in other to establish an effective marketing system that would be beneficial to all the players.

EMQAP:

This is a project under the Crop Services Directorate which is to ensure that quality horticultural products for the export markets.

SUBSIDISED FERTILIZER PROGRAMME:

This a programme introduced by the government to boost agricultural production and productivity in the country.

COCKREL:

Some cockerels have been sold to the farmers to improve the local breed.

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS:

Heifer International Ghana (HPI):

Focuses on poverty reduction by assisting communities and household to own and improve their small ruminants.

Beehives have been supplied for beekeeping.

Also some communities are provided with improved cockerels to improve the breed of the local fowls.

SNV:

Activities are centred in the horticulture sector.   Promoting the cultivation of pineapples and mangoes as well as linking the various players to external markets.

EXTENSION SERVICES

Extension service in the district has expanded considerably with the posting of some number of Agricultural Extension Agents (AEA) to the district. The current AEA number is 9. However, the AEA/Farmer ratio remains very low (about 1:3,277).

For administrative and technical purposes and for the ease of supervision, monitoring and evaluation, the district has been divided into nine (9) Operational Areas. Each manned by an AEA.

STRENGTHS/POTENTIALS:

The land can support commercial agriculture and it is also good for mechanised farming.

Several crops are grown by farmers. Notable among them are maize, cassava, sweet potato, cowpea, groundnut and vegetables

Cattle production is on a large scale and can be found throughout the district. Sheep, goats and pigs are also reared. Farmers use improved stock to cross local female breed thus improving the variety of the local breeds.

There are several Farmer based Organisations (FBO) through which Agricultural Extension Agents disseminate their extension messages.

There are also large tracts of low lying arable land with man-made dams scattered all over the district. The major sources of water include rivers, dams, dugout, wells, boreholes and rain water harvest .However, permanent rivers such as Tordze, Agblegborloe and Worwoe could be dammed for small-scale and large-scale irrigation schemes.

Tree planting of cashew and wood lot also has the potential in the district.

The total land bank available in the district is 1,720 hectares.

The district is linked up with three main trunk roads namely Accra-Aflao, Akatsi-Dzodze-Akanu and Ho-Aflao trunk roads. There are however, a number of feeder roads. Among these feeder roads are Akatsi-Wute-Ziope, Akatsi-Agormor-Dakpa, Akatsi-Kove-Dakpa, Akatsi-Xavi-Avenorpeme, Akatsi-Tuime-Kpodzivi-Adzikame, Avenorpeme-Akeve-Bayive, Akatsi-Dagbamate-Avenorpeme, etc.

BACKGROUND
The Adaklu Anyigbe Administrative District with its capital at Kpetoe is one of the newly created districts in the Volt Region.  The district initially formed part of the Ho District but was carved out of Ho Municipal in 2005.

PHYSICAL AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Location and Size of Adaklu Anyigbe District
It lies between latitude 60 161 and 60 371 North of the Equator and longitude 00 241 and 00 501 East of the Greenwich Meridian. The district is bounded on the East by the Republic of Togo, on the South by the Akatsi and North Tongu District and on the West and North by the Ho Municipal.  The district occupies a total land area of about 1,060.61 square kilometers.

Topography and Drainage
The district is characterized by lowland gentle to nearly flat areas except the Adaklu scarp which rises to the height of 305 metres above sea level.  The general drainage system of the district is dominated by Rivers such as Tordze, Awator, Waya, Todzoko, Dawa, Kalakpa, and other streams like Kpoduekpodue, Anfoe and Kpetoe. Other rivers include Kplikpa, Fortihlui Dzokple at Ziope, Tsilale at Kpetoe and Wlowlo at Afegame. The rivers do not provide all year round dependable source of water supply to the communities they serve but some of them get dried in the dry season The low-lying lands are prone to seasonal flooding and has the potentials for rice cultivation.  There are some small dams and dugouts in most communities with water for domestic use and for watering of livestock. Out of the total land area, water bodies such as River Todzi, Awator and other streams and reservoirs cover less than 1% surface of area.

Geology and Soil
There are 2 major groups:-
A. Forest ochrosolls, lithosolls and intergrades found in the Adaklu Mountains and Kodzobi area of the district.
B. Sandy loam soils are found on most lands.  Lands bordering North Tongu and Akatsi are sandy loam in nature. The soils support perennial crops such as oil palm and mangoes. In general all soils are suitable for crop farming (vegetables, cereals, fruits and perennial crops)

The District is underlain by three main geological formations namely the Dahomenyan formation to the North made up of soils such as Tropical Grey and Black Earths, the Regosolic Groundwater Laterites, the Recent Deposits of the littoral consisting of marine sands and the Tertiary formation comprising Savannah Ochrosols for its soil type. These soil types are suitable for the cultivation of different types of crops.

Climate
Temperature
Mean monthly temperatures in the district range between 220C and 320C  Temperatures are generally high throughout the year.  However, average temperatures during the dry season are so high that food crop cultivation is reduced to the barest minimum.

Rainfall
The rainfall pattern is bimodal.  The major season is from March to June and minor season is from August to November.   A dry season period is experienced between December to February which normally records the lowest rainfall.  During this period, agricultural activities are limited to the very low lands with good soils.  The mean annual rainfall of the district is about 1250mm with the highest occurring in June while the lowest in December. The amount of rainfall promotes good agricultural performance in the district. There is enough fodder for livestock grazing throughout the year.
The District experiences the dry Equatorial type of climate.  The average monthly temperatures vary between 24℃ and 30℃, which are generally high for plant growth throughout the year. The mean annual rainfall for the District is 850mm at the coast increasing to 1,000mm inland.  The rainfall is of double maxima type occurring from April to July and September to October.  The dry season, which is dominated by the dry harmattan winds, extends from December to February. Generally, rainfall in the District is considered low and erratic particularly along the coastal strip between Agbozume and Aflao during the minor season.

Vegetation
The extensive felling of trees for charcoal production has reduced the natural vegetation of transitional forest to savannah woodland. However, few areas, mostly Adaklu and the river banks of Tordze, Kalakpa and Awator have semi-deciduous forest.  The vegetation is characterized by short and tall grasses and scattered thickets with few forest and savannah species such as thorny shrubs.
The several tree species provide for domestic fuel wood and extensive strand of Borassus aethiopiacum palm for economic use.   The degradation of vegetation through bush fire and charcoal burning (which are man made) had adversely affected rainfall and destroyed grasses and shrubs for livestock.    The perennial bush-fire problem and charcoal burning problem in the district need to be addressed as it affects soil fauna and flora and reduces the productivity of the land.

Environmental Situation

The environment has suffered  greatly from prolonged degradation through human activities resulting into extinct of some fauna and flora populations.

Condition of Natural Environment

The land suffers from many human activities thereby exposing it to environmental degradation. The land suffers from many human activities, which degrade the environment.

These activities include the following:
Deforestation: Degradation related problems are the result of consumption patterns that encourage over exploitation of primary resources through the use of non-sustainable and most often inappropriate technologies.  Consumption patterns which emanate from the desire for survival have led to serious impoverishment of the environment either in the form of degradation of virgin and transitional forest for purposes ranging from primitive farming practices, through usage as domestic fuel, felling for fuel wood to over hunting of wild games.
Interventions: There are different afforestation programmes put in place throughout the district to arrest the deforestation problem. There are woodlot establishments and alley cropping systems put in many of the areas to arrest to an extent the level of degradation.
Soil Erosion: The frequent rituals of bush fires that characterized the district have made many of the soils prone to soil erosion. This problem has been compounded by over-grazing and compaction of the soil by cattle belonging to the Fulani cattle herdsmen who usually pass through unapproved routes into the district.
Interventions: Drains are usually constructed to drive away excess water. Crops are planted across slopes, cover cropping and seeding of some grazing lands with fodder grasses
Soil Fertility Loss: Soil fertility loss is largely due to frequent bush fire and unsustainable  methods of  farming over the years. The trend is now being reversed through the increasing use of organic manure especially in areas that abound in livestock production
Interventions:  The use of organic manure, cover crops, alley cropping, compost.

Condition of Built Environment
The built environment also faces the major development challenges such as poor drainage system, haphazard buildings and poor environmental sanitation. Developments of physical structures are hazardous because of inadequate  plan layouts to guide construction particularly in the urban centres and adherence to plan layouts In relation to the built up environment, the main problem is with waste management. In this regard, two areas have been identified to be of interest to the environmental situation in the district. These are Liquid waste and solid waste management.

Water Supply
The major sources of water in the District are wells, pipe borne in the district capital, bore hole, rain water, streams and rivers. The rural communities depend on rainwater, wells and streams. The Volta Region Community Water and Sanitation Program had constructed over 40 boreholes which are serving some rural communities.

DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS
The population is about 59,000 and the inhabitants are made up of 80% ewes, 15% Ga-Dangbes, 3% of Northerners and 2% Akans.  Adaklu Anyigbe District continues to grow at the rate of 1.17 percent annually. They are composed of three traditional areas namely the Adaklus, the Agomtimes and Ziopes.  On gender basis, 54.2% female and 45.8% male constitute the population. The most densely populated areas are Kpetoe, Ziope, Adaklu Abuadi, Waya, Adaklu Ahunda, Helekpe, Torda and Akpokope. The average household size is about 4.8 people in the larger settlements such as Kpetoe, Ziope, Adaklu Waya, Torda and Ahunda.
Age and Sex Distribution of the Population
The population is about 59,000 and the inhabitants are made up of 80% ewes, 15% Ga-Dangbes, 3% of Northerners and 2% Akans.  Adaklu Anyigbe District continues to grow at the rate of 1.17 percent annually. They are composed of three traditional areas namely the Adaklus, the Agomtimes and Ziopes.  On gender basis, 54.2% female and 45.8% male constitute the population. The most densely populated areas are Kpetoe, Ziope, Adaklu Abuadi, Waya, Adaklu Ahunda, Helekpe, Torda and Akpokope. The average household size is about 4.8 people in the larger settlements such as Kpetoe, Ziope, Adaklu Waya, Torda and Ahunda.

Labour Force
People within the ages of 18 and 64 years make up the District labour force. According to the 2010 population and housing census, 52.3 percent of the population falls within this age cohort.
The district is an important producer of food crops, livestock and fish in the region and as a result a number of market settlements have developed where vigorous trading takes place. These markets offer producers locations to meet buyers and also give them opportunity to buy agricultural inputs.

Traditional Political System Kinship ties are patrilineal.  The district has about 120 towns and 11 electoral areas. Each of the traditional areas has established paramouncy with sub-chiefs of the communities under their jurisdiction.  Clan chiefs and family elders from within support the village chiefs.  The district assembly is made up of the administration head, the District Chief Executive, 14 assembly members from electoral areas (10 elected and 4 governments appointed) and 3 area councils at Kpetoe, Ziope, Adaklu Tsrefe.  There is one Member of Parliament from the district.   The district is predominantly a faming area and more than 85% of the population is in active farming business.

Ethnicity and Religion: The major ethnic groups are Ewe and Ga-adangbes.  Ga-adangbe is spoken at Agortime Afegame and Kpetoe.  The district is predominantly dominated by Christians (70%) belonging to many Churches both Orthodox and Protestants whilst the other religions like Muslims and Traditionalists constitute the remaining 30% of the population.

Ethnic Composition

Source: 2000 Population and Housing Census

Religious Composition of the District

Source: 2000 Population and Housing Census

As part of the culture of the people many traditional festivals are celebrated annually to remember the ancestors, as means of fund raising and fostering unity among the people in the district. The main festival celebrated by the people of Agortime is the Kente Festival locally called “Agbemevorza”

AGRICULTURE
The most essential economic sector in the district is agriculture, employing about 70% of the labour force. Agricultural production in the district is characterized by crop and animal production.  In the animal sector some farmers own cattle ranging from 10 to 30 herds per farmer while some own about 50 to 100 or more per person in the Adaklu communities. Small ruminants (sheep and goats) are abundant throughout the whole district with greater concentration in the Adaklu communities. Local poultry is reared on free range system and ranges between 10 and 40 per household. There are few commercial poultry farmers and they deal in the production of eggs, broilers and cockerels

Crop Sub-Sector
In the crop sub-sector, all major food crops and tree drops are produced. Major crops produced include maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, yam, cowpea, groundnuts exotic and local vegetables for example tomato pepper, garden eggs, okro, and the melons. Which are produced in large quantities. Maize and cassava are the main staples and therefore grown by majority of farmers across the district. These crops are grown as mono crops with concentration of maize production in the Ziope  Traditional area. Cassava production is concentrated in the areas around Kpeleho, Torda, Kpodzi Aziadukope, Ahunda, Adaklu and Keyime areas. The cassava is usually processed into gari to feed the local and Mafi Kumasi markets.

Vegetable Production
The district is noted for the production of tomatoes, garden eggs, okro and water melons. Large hectares of land are put seasonally under the cultivation of tomatoes in the Ziope and Akpokope areas of the district.  A season of tomatoes harvesting attracts traders from Kumasi, Accra and other major towns.  About 300 trucks full of tomato crates leave the area every 5 days.  Pepper is also produced in the Aziedukope and Ahlihave areas and usually sent to the local market at Mafi-Kumasi on market days.and to the regional and national capitals .  Okro, exotic vegetables such as sweet pepper are also produced at Sofa, Waya and Adaklu scarp areas.
There is the use of  organic fertilizers (poultry manure and cow dung)  in addition to the use of inorganic fertilizers plant growth regulators. . Pests and diseases control are mainly by use of inorganic pesticides with some few using organic methods.
Major Food Crop Production Areas

Plantation Crops
The good soil types coupled with moderate rainfall in the district especially the eastern end gives the comparative advantage in production of fruit tree crop such as mango and cashew.

Coconut
Coconut farms are uncommon but farmers grow coconut as backyard around their dwelling places.  The concentration the district is at Ziope and its environs.  The Ziope and Torda areas have a great potential for the production of coconut.  The soil types and climate are ideal for production and investors are encouraged to site coconut projects at Ziope.  Besides Ziope small patches of coconut grooves are scattered all over the district.  They are harvested fresh or dry and sold in the local and Ho markets.

Oil Palm Plantation Development
Oil palm production in the district is on the increase and well distributed due to the soil types and other climatic conditions.  At Wumenu, Wayanu and Kpogadzi private developers have established between 1- 10 hectares of oil palm on their lands.  Oil palm plantations are also concentrated at Keyime, Torda, Kpodzi and Waya areas.  As at now farmers depend on Jasikan Central nursery for the supply of oil palm seedlings.  This is possible because of the co-ordination between DADU of Adaklu Anyigbe and Jasikan.  It is hoped that a central oil palm nursery at Waya will be of help to oil palm farmers and any investor into the district.

Mango and Pineapple Production
The ecology and the climatic conditions of the district has a very great potential for mango production. The local market and the factories at Tema , Lome and the numerous hotel facilities in the district and the surrounding districts form a good market for this crop.
Pineapple production is being stepped up in the Helekpe operational area.  Reddecop Ministries, a Canadian NGO resident in the area has put many hectares under pineapple production.  Plans are afoot to assist local farmers to increase their production in pineapple crops to raise their standard of living.    Other tree crops such pawpaw, citrus and guava are being cultivatedound in small quantities in the eastern end.

Area under cultivation, yield totals and production of some major food crop in 2009.

Industrial Crops
Tomatoes serves as a potential crop for industrial development provided there could be an all year round production approach. This could be achieved through establishment of dug-outs for the cultivation of tomatoes to take place even in the dry season.  Upland rice cultivation also has great potentials in the Adaklu Anyigbe District. Thousands of acres of land which are low lying exist for investment into commercial rice production.
The district has great potential for honey production and grasscutter production.

Scale Of Production
The majority of farmers in the District are small-holders with about 75% of them using simple tools for cultivating their farms. About 65% of the farmers depend on family labour while about 35% undertake zero tillage practice (i.e. planting without soil tillage through the use of herbicides to kill the weeds) in land preparation or use weedicides for farm weed control  Many farmers are now turning to the use of agro-chemicals in land preparation and weed control in crops.

LIVESTOCK SUB-SECTOR
The livestock sector plays an important role in the lives of the people as the district is endowed with large livestock populations of cattle, sheep goats, pigs and poultry.  Out of the 1200 square kilometers of agricultural land available in the district about 30% of the land area is used by livestock farmers as pasture for animals High concentrations of these are found in the Adaklu communities.

Cattle
Cattle rearing abounds in the district.  Some farmers own cattle ranging from 10 -30 herds per farmer on the average while some own from 50 – 800 or more especially in the Adaklu communities. There is a free range system of animal husbandry. The breeds usually that abound in the district include West African Short Horn, Sokoto Gudali and some diary breeds. Dairy milk collection is very limited whilst meat sold by butchers is unprocessed. Any investor in the livestock industry especially in the cattle industry will be in good business as far as the husbandry and processing are concerned.

Sheep and Goats: Most small ruminants are kept on free-range. The average herd of small ruminants per household is about eight (8) while some households can boast of 40 to 60 animals.

Pigs: Exotic and local pigs can also be located within some specific communities in the district. The local breeds are largely kept on free-range while the exotic breeds are kept intensively.

Livestock Figures

Source: Estimates based on Year 2009 MRCLS

Genetic Potential:
The present livestock populations have a limited genetic potential due to lack of planned selection and or breeding programmes over the years.  Even under ideal nutritional and management regimes the production potential can be exploited only up to the genetic ceiling.  To increase production beyond this limit improvement in the germplasm is essentially required.  For this purpose, breeding programme geared at improving the indigenous germplasm as well as introduction of exotic superior germplasm need to be undertaken, backed by good nutrition regime, adequate feed resources (quality fodder crop production) and animal health care delivery interventions.

Poultry
Poultry farming offers the best prospects for rapid increase in the production of high quantity protein in the form of eggs and meat in the district.  Commercial Poultry Farming has some very attractive features:-
(a)    The broiler crop in ready to harvest within a short span of 6 – 8 weeks.
(b)    Layers start egg laying at the age of 20-22 weeks.
Poultry farming is with the each of the entrepreneur and he farmer and therefore offers a good employment opportunity for the youth and other investors with limited financial resources.

Systems of Poultry Production In The District
Presently poultry farming is in operation under two distinct systems of production in the district.
(a)    Small scale rural poultry farming using indigenous system of production.  This systems is practiced all over the district.
(b)    Large to medium scale commercial poultry farming using he intensive system of production.
Commercial poultry production is a new enterprise in the district which needs a boost.  It is currently a competitive business that is relatively free from government price and marketing restrictions.
The following are the commercial Poultry farms in the district, what they produce and their capacities as at May 1, 2009

Improvement in Rural Poultry
•    Rural poultry farming in the district consists of rural household poultry flocks that are primarily scavengers and consumers of household waste foods.  Most are the native breed that would produce about 50 eggs per year and reach an average body weight of about one kilogram in 5 – 6 months.  These birds are hardy and disease resistant.
•    A great improvement is possible in rural poultry farming under the indigenous system if the rural poultry farmer particularly if the women could be educated through trained extension workers to adopt improved technologies in husbandry and management as outlined below.

1.  Cross breeding programme using improved birds having higher potential for growth and egg production.  This can be achieved in a short time by introducing suitable new improved breeds of chicken having the desirable qualities or production and adaptability to the environment.   As an example improved cockerels or pullets produced by the hatcheries in the country are very well adapted to our local conditions, have good disease resistance and when crossed with the indigenous breed, the offspring can produce about three times more eggs per year than the indigenous birds.
2.  Improving the nutritional status of the bird by supply good quality feed including locally available crushed grains, some protein supplement, vitamins and minerals either as commercial premix or from natural sources to supplement scavenging.
3.  Following timely vaccination programme against the prevalent infections diseases particularly New Castle Disease through the help of veterinary extension staff to prevent disease outbreaks.  Here the numbers of veterinary extension staff, their mobility and availability of cold storage facilities for the vaccines and the vaccination equipments is paramount.
4.  Upgrading some of the rural poultry farming to a relatively large size flocks kept confined on a semi commercial scale where broilers and layers are properly fed and managed
Attention to improvement in rural farming will not only accelerate egg and poultry meat production in the district but will significantly enhance the income of the rural poor particularly the youth and the women in the rural areas.

Grass cutter Production: There is great potential for grass cutter rearing in the district. There exists in the district high amount of naturally occurring fodder for the feeding of the grass cutter and also cheap materials for the construction of the paddocks of the animals.

FISHERIES SUB-SECTOR
The water bodies in the district do not store enough water for fishing.   However, very small amount of fishing is done in the Tordzi, Kalakpa and Awator rivers during the raining season.  The district has a high potential for fish culture to be tapped.  The low lying lands and streams can be dammed to store water which can be stocked with desirable species of fish.  Some commercial farmers in the district have constructed dams and stock them with Tilapia.  Reasonable amount of fish are harvested from these dams every year.  eg.  Prana Farms at Kpetoe and Kwakume farms at Wumenu. . The underlying clay of the land can help store enough water for profitable investment into aquaculture.

PROJECTS ON-GOING IN THE ADAKLU ANYIGBE DISTRICT
Projects in partnership with donors/investors
Private investors have established agricultural projects in the district.  Over 200 acres have been put under mango and oil palm plantations at Wumenu and Akwetey areas.
Reddecop Ministries, an NGO has established 5 hectares of pineapple plantation at Helekpe in 2005 and stumped more land for expansion.
Other investors in the district include the Jaggee Brothers who have invested into production of maize at Kpogadzi some few kilometers from Kpetoe.
The community Based Rural Development Project (CBRDP) successor project to VIP has been introduced in the district to reduce rural poverty and improve upon income levels of the productive poor and the quality of life of beneficiaries.
Farmers have been sensitized and more than 300 FBOs and individual entrepreneurs have applied to the local rural banks for financial assistance in December 2005.  The VIP in the past year made little impart on the lives of the people, it was hoped that CBRDP will achieve its objective to improve on income levels of the rural people. This dream was not however achieved to the fullest.
Food and Agricultural Budgetary Support Fund (FABS) was introduced to the district in 2005.  Under the fund 206 million from CIDA was disbursed to 10 farmer groups and individuals to improve mainly the animal sector.  The farmers who benefitted from this loan felt reluctant to pay the loan back. .

PURELY GHANA GOVERNMENT FUNDED PROJECTS
Block Farm
The Block Farm is operational in the district  in 2010. Under the Block Farm, government provides ploughing services and supply inputs to the farmer who pays back at the end of the season. The farmer can also sell his produce to the government as payment in kind if he chooses. Presently there was 15 groups which have been registered for the 2011 programme in the cultivation of grain maize, rice  seed maize and a larger percentage in the production of tomatoes.

Services to Agriculture
Ministry, Departments and agencies related to Agricultures in the government and the private sectors provide services to the farmer to raise their standard of living through increased production.

Agricultural Input dealers
Agricultural input supply such as seeds, fertilizers and cutlasses etc. to farmers in the district is not very good.  There are very few retail stores (Ziope, Akpokofe, Wudzedeke and Kpetoe) and most farmers in the district have to travel to Ho or Mafi Kumasi to buy their needs.

Tractor Service
More than 60% of farmers in the district use services in order to enhance timely land preparation and also to increase their farm sizes.  However there are few tractors in the district and only one tractor for the District Assembly.  This situation creates high demand for tractor services as every farmer wanted to plough his or her field.  In times when the rains come early in the district, tractors migrate from neighboring Mafi Kumasi, Akatsi, Ho and other areas to serve farmers and leave when they have their urn of rainfall.  Investors are encouraged to buy tractors and send them to the district during the seasons to plough for farmers.

Extension Services
Agricultural Extension service is available for farmers in the district.  Agricultural Extension Agents are stationed at 9 Operational areas in the district.  Besides there are 2 seasoned Veterinary Technical Staff at Kpetoe and Ahunda who deliver animal health care services throughout the district.  These officers reach the breath and length of the district with Extension advice to farmers.  They organize farmers into FBOs and train them on animal production, traditional and non-traditional crop production.  Other services extended to farmers include field days and trips, production techniques, record keeping home management, good nutrition, HIV/AIDS awareness creation, gender mainstreaming, and at present, the bird flu awareness creation.  However AEA/farmer ratio is so large that not all farmers are reached with the desired attention.  The present AEA/farmer ration is 1:2.500 against 1:1500 which us the idea situation as quoted by the U.S Department of Agriculture.
Periodic training sessions and meetings are usually held for the technical staff of the District Agricultural Development Unit to equip them the modern and approved recommendations in production in all the sectors for onward dissemination to the farmers and any investor into agriculture into the district.

NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOs)
Rural development NGOs collaborate with MOFA and other developmental agencies to render agricultural services to farmer in the district.

Below are the major NGO’s operating in the district.

Non-Governmental Organizations in the District

COMMODITY PRICES
Prices of agricultural commodities fluctuate in line with the previous rainfall pattern.  Most agricultural commodities are available in moderate quantities in the local markets and beyond.  Prices of food commodities usually go up in May and June and become stable when crops are harvested in July and august.

Standardization and Quality Control
Crops and animals produced in the district are of high standard and quality.  Measures have been put in place to ensure that farmers produce standard produce of the required quality.  Farmers have been taught recommended production techniques, good storage and marketing.  The seed unit of PPRS ensures that seed growers produce high quality seed by keeping to seed production regulations.  The seed unit has a large store at Ho where seeds are kept in a cold store.  Before distribution to retail stores, the seeds are stored to remove the undersize, weighed, bagged and certified with seed grower’s Logo.
At the only Border post at Batume, MOFA staff inspects all agricultural commodities movement to ensure standardization and quality control.  At least 60 – 80 tons of pineapples are exported to France through Batume Junction and Tema port every month.

Agro Processing
Agro processing provide value addition to agricultural commodities increasing marketability.  Most agricultural commodities are soil in raw from especially the vegetable.  Cassava is processed into gari, kokonte (dried chips), starch and dough.  Maize being a staple food is milled into powder from or fermented dough. Pepper is parboiled and dried when harvested in the ripe form and sold whole whiled meat (especially grasscutter) is smoked.  The processed products are utilized locally or sold in markets near and beyond. There is enough energy and water in the rural areas to aid in processing by any investor.

NON-TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES
Diversification of agriculture in the district has called for the productions of crops and animals (which used to be produced on subsistence level) not only as food but on commercial basis to satisfy all monitory needs.  In effect this crops and animals are produced to bird more income to and improve standard of living of the farmers.
Tomato production in Ziope and Akpokope areas continue to increase every year.  Tomato has become the cash crop of the farmers and therefore is produced in large quantities attracting traders from far and near.  The value placed on tomato in the area is very high and therefore calls for the establishment of a processing unit to process this tomatoes in order to forestall the problems usually encountered with glut.
The production of mango and pineapples are also being stepped up as large acreages of mango plantations are being established in the Akwetey and Wumenu areas.  In the next few years mango stands a chance of being an export commodity in the district.
Climatic condition, good vegetation and other factors favour bee-keeping and honey production.  Beekeeping and honey extraction is widespread in the district but mainly concentrated at A Helekpe and Abuadi operational areas.  Many farmers need financial assistance to buy equipment to step up production.  In fact there is a vision for honey as exportable commodity in the district.

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
The total road network in the district is about 213km. The only bitumen road in the district is the main road linking the district capital to Ziope and Ho totaling 41 kilometers.  All the 120 communities are connected with different levels/degrees of roads. There is a relatively good road network condition in the district.  Transportation in the district is relatively easy most especially in the Adaklu Traditional area. The major road linking the district to North Tongu and Ho Municipal is currently under construction and therefore there will be more improvement in transportation network in the near future. Farm access roads are available for carting of foodstuff.  There is a regular programme of resurfacing of the roads by the district assembly.

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
The Unity Rural Bank with headquarters at Ziope serves the banking needs of the people in the district with a branch at Kpetoe.  The Banks usually provide credit facilities to promote agricultural production as well as commercial activities in the district.
TRADE AND COMMERCE
The major markets in the district are situated in Kpetoe, Ziope and Adaklu Waya. The markets have five days cycle These markets enable the people in the district to move from place to place in order to buy and sell. The
The district is an important producer of food crops, livestock and fish in the region and as a result a number of market settlements have developed where vigorous trading takes place. These markets offer producers locations to meet buyers and also give them opportunity to buy agricultural inputs.
MAJOR LOCAL MARKETS

The major foodstuffs that are normally found in these markets include tomatoes, okro, yam plantain cassava among others. The district imports items from other parts of the country Apart from foodstuffs that are cheaper in the district other non-foodstuffs such as building materials and cosmetics and detergents are brought from Ho, Aflao and Accra into the district.

The only bank in the Adaklu Anyigbe District is the Unity Rural Bank- Ziope with a branch at Kpetoe. The absence of major commercial banks in the district discourages investment. Many workers have to travel to Ho in order to access banking facilities.
As a way to ensure adequate security for business to flourish two police stations are established at Ziope, Kpetoe Tsrefe and Adaklu Waya.
The district links economically with major marketing centres in the neighbouring districts and towns. Trading goes on between the district and Ho municipality, Akatsi, Ketu South. Ketu North, Accra, Tema the Republic of Togo.
TOURISM POTENTIALS
Adaklu Anyigbe district is a major tourism destination in the region.. The rich culture of the District which is displayed during festivals and some major physical landmarks are major tourism potentials.

Tourism Potentials

AGRICULTURAL POTENTIALS
Available Farm Lands/Irrigation Potentials
The total land area of the district is 1060.61 sq km. About two-thirds of this land is suitable and available for diverse agricultural productions and therefore of a great potential to any investor into agriculture in the district. Use can be made of the few rivers and streams in the district in development of irrigation because almost all the water resources have large tracts of suitable and fertile lands on their banks. Thre are some lands which are government owned.

Available  Farm Lands