INTRODUCTION
The Dangme West District is one of the Ten (10) Districts in the Greater Accra Region. It forms about 41.5% of the landmass of the Region and therefore the largest. The total land area is 1,442 sq km (144,201ha), which consists of total cultivable land of 129,600 hectares and has a coastline stretch of about 37kms. The District has 22km of the Lower Volta River running through and along the Northern to Eastern boundaries. About 45,600ha of the land is currently under cultivation with about 2,200 hectares under irrigation.
The vegetation is mainly coastal savannah with a small transitional zone along the foothills of the Akwapim Range. The soil type is mainly of the heavy Akuse series with sandy and sandy-loams in certain areas. The rainfall pattern is bimodal and the main agricultural activities undertaken are livestock and crop production, fish production, fishing and fish processing and other agro-processing activities.
Crops production includes maize, cassava, rice, tomatoes, garden eggs, okra, pepper, watermelon, sugarcane, banana, pineapple, pawpaw and exotic vegetables (for export). Tree crops grown are mainly mangoes with a few small-scale cashew plantations in the Ningo area.
Livestock production comprise of cattle, sheep and goats with a large local poultry population, some medium scale holdings (ASAS, Sapporo Farms, Raflo Farms etc.) and few commercial holdings (e.g. Gateway (AAH) McBaron for Ostiches, Farmer George for broiler production etc.) Fish production in inland waters is undertaken by Tropo Farms, Malika Farms, Fishrite Farms privately owned business enterprise and Aqua Agric, a development NGO with a few dams and dugouts being stocked with fish by the communities. Marine fishing and traditional fish processing are the main activity undertaken along the 37km stretch of coastline. The District is also home to a prolific beekeeping activity that produces arguably the best honey in the country.
The District, in spite of its proximity to the national capital is basically rural with a poor state of socio-economic and infrastructure development. By virtue of its strategic location, that is the nearness to urban Accra and Tema which have the airport and sea port respectively and the Volta Lake Transport System that links the South to the North, the District has the potential to be converted into a preferred agribusiness destination. This we are determined to achieve in the near future.
MAJOR ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN
• All the District Agricultural activities are formulated and pursued with sensibility to gender concerns. eg Backyard gardening for women, fish processing cassava processing etc
• The main business of the DADU is to provide the needed technical services, technology and measures that will improve the Agribusiness sector. This is done through:
• Regular capacity building activities organised for both staff and farmers.
• Continuous collection and analysis of relevant data for planning purposes.
• Maintaining linkages with other relevant institutions like World Vision Ghana, Ghana Export Promotion Council, Animal Research Institute, FBOs, Community Development etc. which complement our activities.
• Facilitating farmers, fishermen and processors access to credit and market for efficient operations e.g. CBRDP, SIF, Shai and Dangme Rural Bank and Agricultural Development Bank.
MAJOR CROPS PRODUCED
The viability of an agro processing industry for any of these crops could be high and without dispute.
Crop Type Ave yield, mt / ha Estimated hectares under cultivation in the District
Cereals Maize 2.0 848.6
Rice 5.5 2,267.2
Vegetables Pepper 3.5 1,000
Okro 3.8 346.8
Garden egg 3.03 68.0
Tomato 5.0 278.7
Tree Mango 5.0 7000.0
Fruits Pineapple 85.0
Water melon 350.0
Banana 125.0
Tubers Cassava 2.0 402.8
1. INFORMATION ON LIVESTOCK
NO. TYPE OF LIVESTOCK STOCK
1. Goats 10,212
2. Sheep 5,160
3. Cattle 29,279
4. Pigs 4,524
5. Local Fowls 48,738
6. Guinea Fowls 6203
7. Turkeys 1301
8 Exotic Poultry 70,000
DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT POTENTIALS
The land size of 1,442 km2 has a total cultivable area of about 129,600 ha with a forest reserve of about 1,372 hectares located in Chipa, Fiakonya and Afienya and 45,600 ha under cultivation.
• The presence of about 20km stretch of the Volta River for irrigation, fresh water fishing and transportation.
• A 37-kilometre stretch of coastal land along the Gulf of Guinea for tourism, fishing and salt Production.
• Presence of Game Rese Shai Hills and Dodowa forest as tourist attraction sites
• 32,400 ha of vast savannah land for livestock grazing
• Large livestock population, (Cattle-37, 685+, Sheep and Goat -11,000+)
• Suitable climatic condition for the cultivation of wide range of crops (cereals, tubers, tree crops, vegetables and legumes). Mean annual rainfall is 762.5mm at the coast and 1220 mm in the Northeast. Temperatures (30-400C) are high for most parts of the year with November-March being highest whiles July-August are the lowest.
• Establishment of exportable mango plantations are under cultivation of varieties like Keitt, Kent, Palmer, Springfield etc.
• Proximity to Accra, the National Capital provides
• Easy accessibility to the international market. Heavy fertile soils good for storing water for irrigation, aqua-cfulture and watering livestock.
MAJOR STRENGHTS
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• Possibility of all year round cultivation under irrigation
• Proximity to the Capital and the Market
• Stable socio-cultural environment.
• Availability of agro by-products like rice straw and bran for livestock feeding.
• Good trunk roads facilitating movement.
• Readily available labour.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS AS AT MAY 2011
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INFORMATION ON LOAN RECOVERY
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DANGME WEST DISTRICT SUMMARY ON FERTILIZER SUBSIDY PROGRAMME
|
No. |
Main Distributor |
Sales Agent |
Type of fertilizer 50kg/bag |
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
15-15-15 |
16-16-16 |
23-10-5 |
Urea |
SOA |
Total Value |
Total Value |
|||||
|
|
|
|
In |
Out |
In |
Out |
In |
Out |
In |
Out |
In |
Out |
In (GH¢) |
Out (GH¢) |
|
1 |
Abians |
Abians |
2088 |
2063 |
3262 |
2769 |
0 |
0 |
1871 |
1266 |
2219 |
1704 |
231,167 |
192,786 |
|
2 |
Altimate |
Altimate |
2862 |
2862 |
2990 |
2990 |
0 |
0 |
1679 |
1679 |
2755 |
2755 |
249,569 |
249,569 |
|
3 |
Okle, Pure and perfect |
Okle |
1617 |
1617 |
26 |
26 |
70 |
70 |
655 |
655 |
1228 |
1228 |
84,730 |
84,730 |
|
4 |
Green Agric, Altimate |
Green Agric |
18 |
18 |
70 |
9 |
4 |
4 |
78 |
12 |
64 |
12 |
5,586 |
1,353 |
|
5 |
Pure and Perfect |
SEMCAD |
243 |
243 |
105 |
105 |
48 |
48 |
179 |
179 |
40 |
40 |
15,887 |
15,887 |
|
6 |
Pure and Perfect |
Unique Ventures |
132 |
132 |
0 |
0 |
30 |
30 |
0 |
0 |
30 |
30 |
4,914 |
4,914 |
|
7 |
Okle Farms |
Harambee Ventures |
0 |
0 |
40 |
40 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1,080 |
1,080 |
|
8 |
Okle Farms |
The Royals Agrochemical |
16 |
16 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
432 |
432 |
|
9 |
Okle farms |
Harambee Agro Input Shop |
0 |
0 |
60 |
60 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1,620 |
1,620 |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
6,976 |
6,951 |
6,553 |
5,999 |
152 |
152 |
4,462 |
3,791 |
6,336 |
5,769 |
24,479 |
22,662 |
|
|
|
Cost/bag |
27.00 |
27.00 |
27.00 |
27.00 |
27.00 |
27 |
25.00 |
25.00 |
18.00 |
18.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
VALUE (GH¢) |
188,352 |
187,677 |
176,931 |
161,973 |
4,104 |
4,104 |
111,550 |
94,775 |
114,048 |
103,842 |
594,985 |
552,371 |