Ledzorkuku Krowor Municipal

SUMMARY OF MAJOR ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT IN THE MUNICIPALITY BY DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE

The mission of MADU–LEKMA is to promote sustainable agriculture and thriving agribusiness through research and technology development, effective extension and other support services to farmers, fishers, processors and traders for improved livelihood in the Municipality.

The unit with its current strength of 9 AEAs and 6 MAOs under the Municipal Director continued to extend improved agricultural technologies on crops, livestock, fishing and agro-processing to farmers/fisher folks   and agro-processors in the Municipality.

Veterinary officers in the Municipality ensure good animal health through awareness creation and vaccination campaigns on diseases such as Rabies, PPR, Newcastle and many more.

The Management Information System Officer in collaboration with the Municipal Director of Agriculture prepared annual work plans and budget for submission to the Regional Agricultural Development Unit and the Municipal Assembly, LEKMA.

The Municipal Director of Agriculture in collaboration with his staff and with support from the Municipal Assembly organized the annual Farmers Day Celebration to award hardworking farmers in the Municipality.

The unit assisted farmers in the Municipality to benefit from the fertilizer subsidy programme by ensuring that the dealer had regular supply of fertilizer and also directing farmers to the fertilizer depot in the Municipality.

The unit also assisted farmers to benefit from the Cockerel Project by training them on poultry management and distributing   1,040 cockerels to 102 (male: 60 female: 42) farmers. A farmer also received 75 broilers rangers which are growing very well.

Thirty five (35) (male: 27 female:8 )  farmers within the Municipality also benefited from the LDP Credit In-Kind Scheme by receiving 358 sheep under the scheme.

The Management Information System Officer in partnership with the MAOs and AEAs and with supervision by the Municipal Director of Agriculture had submitted reports on all agricultural activities carried out in the Municipality to the Regional Agricultural Development Unit and the Municipal Assembly LEKMA.

INTRODUCTION – DEMOGRAPHICS, WEATHER, LAND USE AND INVESTMENTS

DEMOGRAPHICS

The estimated population of the Municipality as at 2008 was 261,571. Approximately 51% of the population is females and 49% males.  This gives a sex ration of 1:1.04 males to females.  The dominance of females over males is a reflection of the nationwide trend where the estimated ration is 1:1.03.  The need to target women in any development programme in the Municipality can therefore not be overemphasized.

The youth under the age 24 years constitute 50.7% of the population. It is also realised that approximately 43% of the population between 16 and 45 years constitute the active labour force.

With an estimated land area of 50 square kilometers and an estimated population of 261,571 in 2008, the general population density is calculated as 5,231 persons per square kilometer.

WEATHER

LEKMA lies in the coastal savanna zone which experiences a double maxima rainy season pattern. The average annual rainfall is about 730mm, which falls primarily during the two rainy seasons. The first begins in May and ends in mid- July while the second season begins in mid- August and ends in October. The predominant wind direction is from the WSW to NNE with speed normally ranging between 8 to 16 km/hr. Annual temperature figures are also relatively stable with very little variation in annual temperature figures. Relative humidity in the area is also generally high varying from 65% in the mid-afternoon to 95% at night.

LAND USE

The total land area of the Municipality is estimated at 50 square kilometers. There are three key vegetation zones in the Municipality which is made up of shrub lands, grassland and coastal lands. The grassland where crop farming is done in the Municipality is serious under threat by estate developers.

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MAJOR CROPS PRODUCED

The nature of Food Crop Production in the municipality is mostly backyard and small scale farming. The average land area per farmer is about 0.5 acre.

Maize, plantain, cassava, pepper, okro, garden eggs and watermelon are mostly the crops cultivated in the municipality.

Farming areas at Teshie are; Teshie Military Camp, bush road, Okpoigonno, Tsuibleo, Marteytsuru, Tebibiiano, Korjor and Demo. At Nungua, the farming areas are Nautical, Adogonno, Blekesse Gonno and Buade. Most of the farmers are into vegetable cultivation and few stable crops like maize and cassava

CROPPED AREA OF MAJOR CROPS

Table: Statistical data on major crops under cultivation in 2010

Source: 2010 Farmers’ Registration data MADU-LEKMA

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Maize farms in the Municipality

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Sweet pepper in the Municipality

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Typical sheep production in the Municipality

LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION

Animal production especially small ruminants and poultry are considered as an integral part of the livelihood of most households in the municipality. Most Households depend on these animals as a source of income and protein.

During the major season, small ruminant farmers feed the animals with pasture. Some livestock farmers also preserved straw with urea against the dry season. Cassava and plantain peels are used as supplementary feed.

Grass cutters and rabbits production are gradually taken its root in the municipality as source of alternative income. These ventures seem to be feasible in the Municipality because their productions do not require large land size and hence their productions are being promoted by the Municipal Agricultural Development Unit.

Statistical data on major animals reared in the Municipality

Source: 2010 Farmers’ Registration data MADU-LEKMA

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Goats feeding on cut grass

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Typical sheep production in the Municipalit

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A typical ranch in municipality

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Rabbit production in the Municipality

The unit assisted farmers in the Municipality to benefit from the fertilizer subsidy programme by ensuring that the dealer had regular supply of fertilizer and also directing farmers to the fertilizer depot in the Municipality.

The unit also assisted farmers to benefit from the Cockerel Project by training them on poultry management and distributing   1,040 cockerels to 102 (male: 60 female: 42) farmers. A farmer also received 75 broilers rangers which are growing very well.

Thirty five (35) (male: 27 female:8 ) farmers within the Municipality also benefited from the LDP Credit In-Kind Scheme by receiving 358 sheep under the scheme.

FISH PRODUCTION

Teshie-Nungua is one of the major fishing communities in the Greater Accra Region. The nature of fishing in the municipality is basically marine fishing.

The type of fish that are caught  in the municipality include Herrings (Round and Flat sardines), Bumper, Tuna (Atlantic little tuna, Spigacer, Chuv Mackerel), Burico, Anchovies, Cassava fish, Thread fin, Shad, Tandora, etc.

Fish processing (smoking, salting and drying) in the municipality is mostly done by the women.

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Harvested fish in the basket

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Fish processing in the Municipality

INFORMATION ON FERTILIZER SUBSIDY PROGRAMME

The fertlizer sudsidy programme was carried out in the Municipality in 2010. The unit assisted farmers in the Municipality to benefit from the fertilizer subsidy programme by ensuring that the only dealer in the Municipality had regular supply of fertilizer. Farmers were also directed to the fertilizer depot.

SPECIAL PROJECTS

COCKEREL PROJECT

The Cockerel Project, (under APD), is supporting local poultry farmers to improve upon their nutrition and income levels  by supplying eight week old cockerels to them. Eighty six local poultry farmers (M=60 F=26) have been trained on housing, nutrition, disease recognition, prevention and control and I2 vaccination under the project.

A total of 1,040 cockerels were received from Nungua National Livestock breeding Station and distributed to 102 farmers (M= 60 F= 42) in the Municipality.

A farmer has also received 75 broiler rangers and all are doing well.

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Cockerels under cockerel project

LDP CREDIT IN-KIND SCHEME

MADU -LDP had trained 37 sheep farmers (M=29 F=8 ) on:

1. Housing and nutrition,
2. Supplementary feeding,
3. Record keeping,
4. Disease recognition and control, and
5. Livestock farming as a Business.

Three hundred and fifty eight (358) sheep under the LDP Credit In-kind Scheme were received and distributed to 35 (M=27 F=8) livestock farmers in the Municipality.

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LDP Credit In-kind sheep

INFORMATION ON NEW INITIATIVES

INTRODUCTION OF DRIP IRRIGATION

MADU-LEKMA is initiating drip irrigation system to farmers in the Municipality to help them crop all year round.

ACHIEVEMENTS 2008-2010

9.1  RABIES CAMPAIGN AND VACCINATION IN 2010

The unit with the support from the Municipal Assembly carried out anti-rabies campaign and vaccination in 2010, a total of 2,424 dogs, 349 cats and 6 monkeys were vaccinated.

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A veterinary officer vaccinating a dog against rabies

FARMERS DAY CELEBRATION

The following regional and award winners were produced in the Municipality

• Best regional watermelon farmers 2009
• Best National  AEA 2010
• Best Regional Fish processor 2010
• Best Regional  youth in agriculture for poultry 2010

INVESTMENTS

Some examples of investment activities in the district

DISTRIBUTION OF OUT BOARD MOTORS TO FISHER FOLKS

The Municipal Assembly assisted 14 Fisher folks in Teshie and Nungua with 14 out board motors at a total cost of GH¢14,000.00.

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Figure: Hon. Municipal Chief Executive presenting outboard motors to fisher folks

CONSTRUCTION OF SLAUGHTER HOUSE AT TESHIE LASCALA MARKET

The Municipal Assembly also constructed a slaughter house at Teshie Lascala market for butchers in the Municipality.