PROFILE – 2011
Major activities carried out by Directors include supervision and monitoring of staff under their jurisdiction.
Introduction
The Western Region covers an area of approximately 239,221 square kilometers, which is 10% of Ghana total area. The region has 17 agricultural districts. The regional capital is Sekondi-Takoradi which is the seat of Regional Directorate of Agriculture.
Vegetation
The region has about 75% of its vegetation within high forest zone of Ghana and lies in the equatorial climate zone that is characterized by moderate temperatures.
Rainfall
It is the wettest part of Ghana with an average rainfall of 1600 mm per annum.
Population
The population of the region is 1,924,577 representing about 10% of total population of the country with farming the population. The population growth according to the 2010 census is 3.2%.
Major Occupation
The major occupations in the region are farming, fishing, animal husbandry i.e. (58%)
Economic Characteristics
The region is endowed with considerable natural resources which give it a significant economic importance within the context of national development.
It is the longest producer of cocoa, rubber, coconut and one of the major producers of oil palm. As a top-up, the discovery of oil in commercial quantities of which drilling has started.
The rich tropical forest makes it one of the largest producers of raw and sawn timbers as well as processed wood products.
A wide variety of minerals, including gold, bauxite, iron, diamond and manganese are either being exploited or are potentially exploitable.
Forest Reserves
The popular forest reserve in the region is Ankasa Conservation Area, which is comprised of Nini-Snhie National Park and the Ankasa Resource Reserve. It is about 500 km2.
Land Use
- Arable land area: 17,641 km2 (73.8% of land area).
- Land under cultivation: 6,720 km2 (38.1% of arable land area).
- Major agricultural activities include:
– Crop production-account for 74% of regional agric output.
– Livestock production and
– Agro-processing
Crop Production
Starchy Crop: Maize, Cassava, plantain, yam, cocoyam and rice.
- Cash Crops: Cocoa, coconut, rubber, oil palm and coffee.
- Potentially Crops: Rice and citrus
Estimate Area and Production of Major Food Crops – 2010
| Crops | Area (Ha) | Production (Mt) |
| Maize | 56,094 | 79,887 |
| Rice | 15,439 | 20,513 |
| Cassava | 74,429 | 735,792 |
| Yam | 12,329 | 94,848 |
| Cocoyam | 39,393 | 229,736 |
| Plantain | 58,137 | 567,530 |
Livestock Production
- Poultry:
Mostly poultry production is concentrated in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis and its surrounding.
- Grasscutter:
The region has a stock size of 2600 and at the moment over 200 farmers are trained in rearing of grasscuter.
Fish Production
The sea serves as a source of employment for those around the costal belt that is from Shama through Abuesi, Sekondi, New Takoradi, Axim to Half Assini. About 45% of fish on the local markets are from the seas of Western Region.
Special Projects
| Name of Project | District |
| Inland Valleys Rice Development | Shama, Mpohor Wassa East, Jueboso, Aowin Suaman, Amenfi West, Nzema East |
| Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programme (RTMP) | Bia , Jueboso, Sefwi Wiawso, Bibiani and Aowin Suaman |
| Block Farming | In all the districts |
MOFA OFFICERS- WESTERN REGION
| DISTRICT | CAPITAL |
| STMA | Sekondi/Takoradi |
| Shama | Shama |
| Ahanta West | Agona Nkwanta |
| Mpohor Wassa East | Daboase |
| Nzema East | Axim |
| Ellembelle | Nkroful |
| Jomoro | Half Assini |
| Tarkwa/Nsuaem | Tarkwa |
| Amenfi East | Wassa Akropong |
| Amenfi West | Asankragua |
| Aowin-Suaman | Enchi |
| Biabiani-Ahwiaso/Bekwai | Bibiani |
| Sefwi Wiaso | Sefwi Wiaso |
| Juabeso | Juabeso |
| Bia | Essam-Debiso |
ACHIEVEMENTS FROM 2008-2010
- Establishment of mechanization centre in the region to train farmers
- Intervention being put in place in construction of water management structures such as weirs, dikes, canals, laterals, drains, bunds, leveling etc. This as a result will increase production to 2000 metric tons of paddy
- Livestock Development Centres have been established in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis and Nzema East municipality which will train farmers on livestock structures, storage of feed and production of pasture and silage.