INTRODUCTION
The Ga East District is bounded on the north by Akwapim North District of the Eastern Region, on the south by Accra Metropolitan Authority, on the west by Tema Metropolitan Authority and on the east by Ga West District.
The District has a total land size of about 166km2. About 58.10km2 of the total land size is urbanized whilst 107.90km2 is for agricultural production. It is divided into four (4) zones with sixteen (16) operational areas consisting of forty-two (42) communities.
The Ga East District lies in the savannah agro-ecological zone. Rainfall pattern is bi -modal. The average annual temperature ranges between 25.1ºC in August and 33ºC in February and March. February and March are hotter months.
Agricultural activities constitute 55% of the economically active population. About 70% in the rural areas depend on Agriculture for their livelihood. Again about 95% of farmers are small holders .The main crops grown in the district are maize, cassava, okro, pepper tomatoes and garden eggs. Animal production includes sheep, goats, pigs, rabbit rearing, grass cutter and poultry farming. Majority of the farmers use simple tools such as hoes and cutlasses.
The women mostly farm and process Cassava into Gari and Cassava dough.
Alternate livelihood includes mushroom, snail production, grass cutter rearing, rabbit and poultry farming.
Petty trading, stone cracking and artizanary are the non-agricultural activities carried out in the district.
Soil Type
The table below shows the various types of soils that can be found in the district and the types of crops that are suitable for them.
Soil Type
| No. | Type | Location | Characteristics | Suitable crops |
| 1 | Fete Consociation | Gonten, Abokobi, Bobomase, Akporman, Adenkrebi, Kponkpo | Very shallow, excessively well drained, pale coloured sandy loam, contains small pieces of rock on steep slopes | Suitable for permanent forestry |
| 2 | Nyigbenya, Haatso Complex Association | Oshiyie, Frafraha, Agbogba, Haatso, Kwabenya, Taifa, Dome | Well drained, red, sandy clay loam to clay with abundant rough stone concretions and quartz gravels | Maize, yam, cassava, groundnut, sweet potato, vegetables, etc. |
| 3 | Oyarifa-Mamfe Complex Association | Ayimensah, Manmomon, Adoteiman, Otinibi, Oyarifa | Deep, orange brown to bright red, sandy clays, red clay loam containing abundant ironstone concretions and gravels. | Maize, cassava, groundnut, tobacco, millet, sorghum, sisal, pineapple, yam, vegetables and tree crops |
| 4 | Danfa-Dome Association | Danfa to Dome | Red, well drained concretionary clay loam; deep, plastic concretionary clay; yellowish brown with lime concretions; deep black, calcareous cracking clays. | Irrigated rice, cotton, sugarcane, vegetables |
| 5 | Fete Bediesi Complex Association | Taboadidi, Berekuso, Sesemi, Ayim | Consists of yellow brown and alluvial sand; red, well drained sandy clay loam | The and shallow skeletal type is good for forestry. The well drained deep soils are good for maize, cassava, yams, pineapple, cowpea, soyabean, sisal, sunflower and tree crops like cashew, mango, citrus, teak, etc. |
Overview of Agricultural Activities
- Land size
About 35% (i.e. 58.10km2) of the total land size in the Municipality is urbanized whilst 65% (107.9km2) is for agricultural production. Farmlands are available in the rural communities but scarce in the urban centres.
- Land Tenure System
Land in the district is owned by:
- Outright ownership by purchase
- Family lands/type that could be rented
- Nnoboa
- Leasehold
Agricultural Productivity in the District.
The major crops cultivated in the district are:
Table: Major crops
| Crop | Type |
| Vegetables | Pepper, tomatoes, exotic types (cabbage, carrots) |
| Fruits | Watermelon |
| Cereals and grains | Maize, rice |
| Legume | Cowpea |
| Root crop | Sweet potato, yam, cocoyam |
| Agroforestry | Cassia, Neem |
Crop Production
The table below shows the location where particular crops are cultivated.
Crop Production
| Crop | Location | Practices |
| Maize | In all communities | Irrigated by wind pipe. Improved seeds and agrochemicals are used by the farmers. Some of the farmers employ rain-fed conditions. Other farming practices include crop rotation. |
| Yam | Danfa, Ayimensah, Kweiman | |
| Rice | Taifa Burkina | |
| Cocoyam | Kweiman | |
| Vegetables (carrot, cabbage, okra, pepper, etc.) | Kweiman, Musuko, Kwabenya, Atomic (on large scale) | |
| Cowpea | In all communities |
General view of Livestock Production
Poultry
There are about 2800 local birds in the Municipality.
Rabbit
There are about seven (14) farmers known in the district; three (3) at Akporman, three (3) at Boi, two (2) at Ashongman and one (1) at Abokobi and five (5) at Kweiman and Ayimensah.
Livestock Production in the District
| Livestock | Location | Size per household | Practices |
| Sheep | Mostly produced in all communities | Small scale : 10
Large scale : 30 – 40 |
Mainly producded by extensive system |
| Goat | Mostly produced in all communities | Small scale : 10
Large scale : 30 – 40 |
Mainly producded by extensive system |
| Pig | Mostly produced in all communities | They are normally produced on small scale | Mainly producded by extensive system |
| Poultry | Oyarifa, Pantang, Abokobi, Ashongman, Abladjei and Boi. | Small scale : 20
Large scale : 5000 layers per farmer |
For large scale, it is mechanized. Farmers follow vaccination and feeding regimes. |
Irrigation Facilities
Irrigation facilities for farming are located in the following areas (mainly for vegetable production):
- Kweiman – This community has a wind mill that pumps water from the ground purposely for irrigation of farm crops.
- Musuko – This community has a stream that flows from a source which is used by farmers to irrigate their crops on the farm.
- Kwabenya – This community also has a stream that flows from a source which is used by farmers to irrigate their crops on the farm.
Input Suppliers
AGRIMAT is the main supplier of agricultural inputs in the district. However, there are other 10 (ten) small shops in the district that supply agricultural inputs. Inputs supplied include:
1) Seeds
2) Machinery
3) Chemicals (NPK 15:15:15, Ammonia, Roundup, Ceresate)
Commercial Farms
Some of the farms produced on commercial basis are:
- Crop farms
- Livestock /Poultry
- Processing factories
Processing
Bagging and packaging of produce namely yams and pineapples are done at Agbogba and exported. The packaging is done on large-scale basis. Pineapples are also processed into fruit juice and sent to the local market..
Nkulenu factory located at Madina also processes vegetables and fruits on large-scale.
Feed mill
The major centres where feed mills are located are:
- Adenta – 1
- Oyarifa – 1
- Abokobi – 1
- Amrahia – 1
Marketing
The produce is bought at the farm gate level as well as the marketing centres at Madina, Taifa and Haatso markets. External marketing is also carried out. Commodities exported in the district are mainly vegetables such as tinda, pepper and cauliflower.