Brief Of The Department

The Department of Agriculture is an agricultural development unit engaged in the task of delivering messages on improved agricultural technologies and practices, other relevant agricultural support services to crops and livestock farmers, fisherman and fish mongers, processors and traders towards their economic and social progress for improved human livelihood. It is headquartered in Axim. The Department performs these services through its Agricultural Extension Agents who also collaborate with these clients to set up on farm adaptive trials and demonstration as foci for participatory learning. It also embarks on the training of farmer groups and facilitates their access to credit.

The Department further liaises with other stakeholders (e.g. farmers, researches, educational Institutions, NGOs on programmes related to the development of agriculture in the Municipality. In addition it has collaboration with COCOBOD in the Mass Cocoa Spraying Exercise, Presidential Special Initiative on Oil palm production, Inland Valley Rice Development Project, Coconut Sector Development Project, Nzema East Municipal Assembly’s Youth Employment Programme, and some financial institutions (Nzema Manle, Ahantaman, Ankobra West Rural Banks and Agricultural Development Bank).

Staff Position

The Department is headed by the Municipal Director and assisted by four (4) Officers who double also as field supervisors. In addition to an Assistant Accounts Officer, the Department has 13 Extension Agents, whose areas of operation extend from the coastal belt through the middle to the northern parts of the Municipality, and 20 other staff. The table attached gives details of the staff position of the Department.

AIMS

• To facilitate the modernization of agricultural production and to achieve food self sufficiency and food security.

• To facilitate the production of raw material for industry.

• To facilitate the production of agricultural commodities for export.

• To strengthen the institutional capacity of MoFA.

• To establish, strengthen and maintain intra and inter sectoral linkages

Achievements

The Department’s modest contributions to the development of agriculture in the district include:

1. Its collaboration with the University of Cape Coast to introduce two high yielding cassava varieties which are being widely cultivated throughout the Municipality.

2. Increased plantain yields by introducing paring of plantain suckers before planting to reduce disease incidence.

3. Increase plantain production by introducing ‘Bud Manipulation’ – a rapid plantain sucker multiplication technique which has reduced the problem of scarcity and high cost associated with the planting material.

4. Reduced mortality in local poultry due to the introduction of the I vaccine against Newcastle disease.

5. Pig farmers trained to formulate pig feed using available local feedstuffs.

6. Farmers and dealers trained in the safe use and handling of agro-chemicals.

7. Facilitated the development of 23 Farmer Based Organization engaged in various areas of agriculture.

8. Facilitated 19 Farmer Based Organization to access credit.

Problems

• Inadequate number of field staff.

• Lack of motorbikes for field staff and a pool vehicle for field supervision

• Officersecretarial equipment (computers and accessories, photocopier etc.) need replacementupgrading

The Way Forward

1. Increase extension coverage by posting new field staff to the northern part of the Municiapality.

2. Intensify sensitization and education in the production of non-conventional livestock such as grass cutter, rabbits, and bee-keeping etc.

3. Establishment of a Public Relations unit to enhance communication between the department and its public

It is estimated that over 65% of the economically active population are engaged in agriculture (including fishing) and agro-processing.

Land

Most parts of the land in the district are undulating, therefore very unsuitable for mechanized farming (use of tractors for land preparation). Share- cropping (Abusa) is the common land tenure system.

Soils

These are acidic and low in nutrient due to high leaching. Leaching is the result of the high rainfall in the District.

Input/Extension Service

The cutlass and hoe are the main tools for farmers. Most farmers do not use or do not have access to fertilizer, insecticides and herbicides. There are 3 development officers and 6 extension agents located within the 14 agricultural zones in the district. The extension agent to farmer ratio is therefore 1: - which is quite high. The situation is further worsened by the lack of mobility for extension agents.

Cropping

The average farm size is estimated at 4 hectares. Slash and burn is the common practice of land preparation in the district. The major tree crops grown are coconut oil palm, rubber and cocoa with cassava and plantain being the major food crops. Vegetables such as garden eggs, pepper and tomatoes are also cultivated among other crops. Rice is also grown in some low-lying areas like Asanta, Kikam, Esiama and Kamgbunli. Food crops such as cassava, maize, rice, cocoyam and plantain are grown extensively both for subsistence and for cash. However, due to the absence of any efficient processing and storage facilities, post harvest losses are high and farmers income very low.

Coconut Sector

Coconut is grown extensively especially in the southern part. It is processed into coconut oil and exported mainly to Accra, Kumasi, Tarkwa and Obuasi. In recent years, the lethal yellowing disease of coconut locally called Cape St. Paul’s Wilt Disease (CSPWD) has devastated about half of the coconut plantations along the southeastern coast of the district. This has seriously affected the economic livelihood of the people in these areas, leading to low incomes and increased unemployment. The dwindling production base of the local coconut industry has also adversely affected the internal revenue base of the Assembly. The Coconut Sector Development Project launched in 1999 has the following component intended to bring some relief to the people.

Production of planting materials

• Replanting

• Intensification (improved farm management + fertilization) Improvement in small scale oil processing

• Applied research

Replanting of hybrid coconut seedlings for farmers in the district started in the year 2000. So far an estimated acres of farms have been replanted. The major bottleneck is the non-accessibility of the improved planting material to the farmers due to its high cost of production.

Cocoa

Cocoa is grown mostly in the northern part of the municipality, which is a forest area. This has over the past years attracted an influx of cocoa farmers into these parts especially the Gwira area. Crop yield per acre for cocoa in these areas are comparatively lower. It is estimated that there are over 40,000 acres of land under cocoa plantation. Capsid infestation and the Black pod disease are major problems of this crop. Productivity has also been affected by lack of information on soil suitability. Efforts and new measures have been put in place, especially the spraying of the farms, help improve the yield and price of cocoa.

Livestock Production

Ruminants (Cattle, Sheep & Goats) Cattle rearing are only found in a few communities with an estimated population of 500. The rearing of goats is prohibited in many communities because they are said to cause a lot of nuisance. The population of sheep in the Municipality is therefore higher than that of goats. These small ruminants suffer from high worm infestation, mange or scabies and seasonal outbreaks of diarrhoea pneumonia complications e.g. “Peste des petities ruminants” (PPR). These diseases especially PPR leads to high mortality among these animals.

Non-Ruminants (Poultry & Pigs)

Local poultry, especially chicken is reared throughout and in almost every home. However the local chicken population remains low because of annual outbreaks of Newcastle Disease that results in high mortality among these birds. Commercial poultry keeping is only undertaken by a handful of entrepreneurs whose major problem is marketing of their produce. Pig production is the most popular livestock activity in the district, apart from sheep and goat, especially among the youth and women. The availability of by-product from coconut oil processing as a major cheap source of feed for pigs is the reason for their high population in the district. The pigs are fatty because of the high level of oil in the feed. In spite of the immense potential piggery, farmers still use traditional methods of husbandry and therefore cannot improve production to earn more income. Pig production would be vigorously promoted to create alternative employment opportunities through introduction of improved husbandry, processing and marketing to improve farmers earnings.

Marine Fishing

The Municipality ranks second as far as marine fishing in the country is concerned. Of the 90 landing beaches in the region 31 are found in the district. The major fishing season is between July & September with a minor season occurring in November – January. The common types of fish landed being sardinella and the tunas. From the data it would be realized that the district is one of the major fish producing areas in the region. Despite this potential, fishing activities are still based on traditional techniques. There is therefore the need to introduce scientific innovations, besides the use of the outboard motor, to improve catch. The fishing season is very seasonal.

During the major fishing season, economic activities , especially in Axim becomes very brisk with a lot of in migration into the capital. However, during off season period there is recession in economic activities and unemployment level rises. This also adversely affects the revenue base of the Assembly. The seasonality in fishing and farming creates seasonal unemployment. This would be addressed by creating opportunities for non-farming employment through promotion of small/medium scale, labour-intensive, rural enterprises.

CBRMCs

There are six (6) Community Based Fisheries Management Committees (CBFMCs) with these objectives among others;

Enforcing fisheries by-laws

These committees have to a very large extent helped to eliminate the use of inappropriate fishing methods in the district. Efforts should be made to encourage this industry to help improve and increase fish stock and catches as well as income levels

Fish Farming

Inland fishing (fish ponds) is not well developed in the . Most ponds are small in size usually 7 x 10 feet. It is estimated that there are 40 fish farmers with a total of 64 fishponds in the district. Efforts should be made to encourage this industry to help improve and increase fish stock and catches as well as income levels.

Non-Traditional Agriculture (NTEs)

A few farmers in the Municipality are into some non-traditional agricultural production such as black pepper, ginger, miracle berry production and snail farming. Cultivation of timber species is also being vigorously promoted within the Gwira Area by CARE International and their local partners, Friends of the Nation. These needs to be expanded as NTE’s, to improve the income of farmers. Spices such as bird’s eye chilles (mesiwa) have been found suitable for the area. This needs to be developed as NTE for export in collaboration with the Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC).

Post Harvest Infrastructure

Marketing and storage facilities of agricultural produce in the district are generally poor. The various farming communities experience heavy post harvest losses due to the poor conditions of existing traditional storage facilities. Cassava is usually sold fresh with only about 200% processed into gari or cassava dough. Coconut is processed into oil at many centers throughout the district however the flesh is often not dried before procession.

Palm oil extraction is also under taken in the district. However, due to the inefficient technology used the oil recovery rate is quite low. The unsatisfactory work environment and dependence on the traditional hearth poses enormous health challenges to the predominantly women oil processors. There are two coconut and palm oil processing factories at Esiama and Aiyinase, respectively. These are however producing under capacity due to low capitalization and managerial issues. Re-activation of these industries need to be addressed to add value to the agricultural produce and offer employment. A number of farmers have narrow ventilated cribs for drying and storing maize. Generally, most farmers dry and store their maize through the traditional method of hanging in their kitchen. The processing and storage facilities are therefore inefficient and inadequate. The farmers either sell their produce at low prices during the harvest or suffer high post harvest losses.

There are cold storage facilities at Kikam and Apewosika. These however, have low capacities and lack adequate working capital. A divested cold store at Axim owned by Axim Fisheries Co-operative Society has been refurbished with assistance from the Village Infrastructure Project (VIP). However, due to the lack of adequate working capital and managerial ability the facility has been re-divested to Private Entrepreneur in order to reduce post harvest losses. The district also has a small-scale seafood processing facility at Axim exporting live exotic seafood to Europe. There are neither a developed landing site nor fish handling or processing facility in the district. Efforts should be made for the provision of such facilities to help improve the income and Employment levels in the District.

The major marketing centers are at Aiyinase, Asasetre, Dominase and Kutukrom. These are weekly markets. Aiyinase however has two market days. Sheds at these markets are not adequate. Two of the main markets (Asasetre and Kutukrom) have no permanent sheds. The Axim fish market has also no permanent sheds. This further compounds the problems of marketing agriculture produce. Efforts should be geared towards the provision of permanent sheds at these centres to help raise the Revenue base of the Assembly.