Introduction

Ghana’s economy is regarded as agrarian, largely due to the sector’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) generally, labour absorption and to foreign exchange earnings. The contribution of agriculture to foreign exchange earnings averaged 45 percent in the 1990s but dropped to 40 percent in the 2000s (ISSER 2000, 2011). The sector’s contribution to GDP also declined from over 40 percent in the 1990s to 30 percent in the 2000s (ISSER, 2000, 2011).   

Agriculture plays a vital role in the socio-economic development of a region. The agricultural sector comprises crops, livestock, fisheries, agro forestry and non-traditional commodities. Ghana’s agricultural sector has and continues to be the largest sector of the Ghanaian economy since independence.  The 2010 PHC is the first time data has been collected on agricultural activities in a population census in Ghana. This chapter provides information on households engaged in agricultural activities including the cultivation of crops, tree planting, fish farming and livestock rearing. The chapter seeks to analyze the activities of households in agriculture.  

Households in Agriculture

A household is classified as an agricultural household if at least one of its members is engaged in agricultural production even if the member of the household does not earn from agricultural activity alone.

Table 7.1 provides information on households by agricultural activities and locality. The Table shows that out of the total households of 19,291, only 29.0 percent are engaged in agricultural activities. Proportion of agricultural activities by households in the rural areas of the District constitutes 76.4 percent, while the urban areas constitute 23.6 percent. Crop farming (92.7%) constitutes the major agricultural activity undertaken by households in the District, with rural and urban proportions of 94.8 percent and 44.3 percent respectively. As shown in the Table, livestock rearing accounts for 20.5 percent, tree planting constitutes 3.1 percent and fish farming is 0.2 percent.  

More households are engaged in tree planting in the urban areas (9.1%) than the rural areas (3.7%). The major agricultural activity in the urban areas of the District is crop farming representing 44.3 percent. Livestock rearing by households in the District is slightly higher in the rural areas (21.6%) than the urban areas (15.4%).

Distribution of livestock, other animals reared and keepers

Table 7.2 shows the distribution of livestock rearing in the Shama District.  Chicken rearing is the most predominant farming activity in the District accounting for (62.3%).  Livestock reared in the District include goat (21.1%), duck (5.2%), sheep (5.0%) and guinea fowl (1.9%). Proportions of the remaining livestock as shown in the Table constitute less than one percent.