Major food crops grown by farmers include plantain, cassava, cocoyam, rice and maize. Cocoa is the main cash crop cultivated in the district. Major tree crops cultivated include oil palm and citrus. Vegetables such as tomatoes, garden eggs, pepper and onions are cultivated. In recent times, vegetables like cabbage, carrot sweet pepper are becoming popular. The district has comparative advantage in plantain, cocoa, maize and cassava.

Table 1.21: Crop Production (metric tons) 2012

Source: MOFA Survey, 2012

Farming Methods

Farming systems practiced in the district include mixed farming, mix cropping and mono cropping. The Table below shows the percentage of the major farming systems in the district

Table 1.22: Farming Types Practiced

Source: MOFA Survey, 2012

Generally, farmers practice shifting cultivation and mixed cropping with a few of them practicing mono, cropping and crop rotation. Similarly, livestock and poultry keeping are practiced on extensive system with a margin keeping to intensive system.

Production Areas of Agriculture Produce

In the district, certain communities’ serves as food basket, ie they are into agricultural production. Some of these communities include Oyira, Kyekyerewere, Boamang and are mostly found in the northern part of the district. The Table below shows the areas under where agricultural production is mostly done.

Table 1.23: Areas under the District/DADU in production

Source: MOFA Survey, 2012

Agricultural Extension Services

The district is endowed with seventeen (17) agricultural extension officers. These agricultural extension officers play a major role in promoting agricultural activities by assisting the farmers in the district. These include:

1. Provision of technical support
2. Promote and enhance adoption of required farming technologies to farmers
3. Provision of improved seed and seedlings to farmers
4. Correct use of agro-inputs Linking farmers to input to get quality inputs to enhance their business
5. Facilitate the formation of farmers based organisation
6. Sensitization on important issues relating to agriculture eg. PPRS, Anti-Rabies campaign, early warning sign for grasshopper infestation.

Food Security

Food security is said to be the availability and access to food at all times (all year round) in the District at affordable prices. Food security is assured and sustained in the District due to mixed cropping practices and the closeness of the District to other agriculture dominated Districts like Offinso, Atwima and Sekyere South. The District is a net exporter of food products.

In the next planning period, efforts should be made to establish- agro based industries to process agricultural products to ensure availability of food all year round and also reduce post harvest losses to the barest minimum. Markets and storage facilities should be provided at the areas known to be food basket for the district.  Feeder and tract roads should be improved to ensure easy carting of food stuffs to marketing centres.