Ministry of Food and Agriculture Activities
Mission Statement

MOFA’s mission is to promote sustainable agriculture and thriving agric business through research and technology development, effective extension and other support services to farmers, fishermen, processors and traders for improved human livelihood.

Objectives Of MOFA

To accomplish its mission, MOFA will pursue the following objectives:

1.     Ensure food security

2.     Facilitate the production of agriculture commodities for export.

3.     Facilitate effective and efficient input supply and distribution system.

4.     Facilitate the production of agricultural commodities for export.   

Sectors Under The Department

Currently, the Agric Department has seven (7) sectors operating in the Municipality.

They are:

1.     Extension Service Sector

2.     Veterinary Sector

3.     Women in Agriculture Development (WIAD)

4.     Animal Husbandry Sector

5.     Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Department (PPRSD)

6.     Crops Services Sector

7.     Agric Engineering Services Sector

Staff Strength And Distribution

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture employs staff strength of thirty-one (31)

The department is headed by a director.  There are six (6) field supervisors referred to as Municipal Development Officers (MDOs) who supervise the activities of sixteen (16) Agricultural Extension Agents (AEAs).

Currently there are sixteen (16) operational or working areas manned by AEAs who address farmer’s agricultural problems.

There is also a veterinary doctor who attends to day-day health needs of farm animals and birds.  He is also assisted by two veterinary AEAs.

There is an account clerk from the Controller and Accountant general attached to the department.  There are two (2) laborers, a night watchman and a driver.

Agricultural  Potential In The Bekwai Municipality

The Bekwai Municipal is an Agricultural endowed which abound in vast arable lands.  The vegetation is predominantly forest and the topography undulating in most places. The soils are predominantly loamy and support plantation, vegetable, roots and tuber crops, cereals and leguminous crops.

Food Crops

Major foods grown in the Municipality are plantain, cassava, garden eggs, maize and pepper.  Cassava production is virtually cultivated in almost every part of the Municipality.  However, the Amoamo catchment’s area of the Municipality has the largest concentration.  Average acreage grown is estimates around one acre.

Plantain and maize are important staples grown in the Municipality.  The cultivation of these crops is grown in every part of the Municipality.  Estimated average acreage cultivated is two and one acre respectively.

Vegetable Crop

Bekwai Municipal is also noted for it vegetable cultivation.  Notable crops grown are garden eggs, okro and pepper.  Areas noted for these crops are Abodom, Daa and Ofoase Kokoben area.  Average acreage grown is two acre.

Cash Crop

Important cash crops grown are citrus, cocoa oil palm.  Concentration of cocoa is found in Kokotro catchment area and Poano, Ntinanko catchment’s area.  Estimated average area cultivated is five acres.

Oil Palm, palm cultivation is also virtually done in almost every part of the Municipality.  However concentration of the crop is found in Ntinanko, Poano catchment’s area.  Average acreage cultivated is six acres.

Citrus cultivation has gradually assumed an important position in the Municipality.  Adams, Ahwiren catchment’s areas are noted for the production of the crop.  Estimated average acreage is five acres.

Aquaculture

An aquaculture activity in the Bekwai Municipality is not a popular enterprise.  However Anwiankwanta is one particular area where the activity is carried out on commercial scales.  About twelve (12) different dimensions of fish ponds sited at one location can be found in the area and the ponds are stocked with different species of fishes.    

Extension Farmer Ration

The extension farmer ratio is inadequate for the Municipality. Currently, the department is constrained with staffing difficulty.  This problem has been worsened as a result of the previous district been divided into two.  Some staff has been lost to Bosome-Freho district, thus weakening the staff strength in the Municipality.  Currently the estimated extension farmer ratio is 1:2500.

Challenges Facing the Department

a.     Inadequate Staffing is hampering the Department in carrying out its duties effectively and efficiently.

b.     There is also lack of means of transport such as motor-bike to facilitate the activities of AEA’s and DDO’s.

c.      Untimely and inadequate release of funds to carry out planned activities on scheduled is affecting the output of the Department.    

d.     Inadequate Office Accommodation is also affecting the smooth running of the office.

Economic And Investment Potentials In The Municipality

Bekwai Municipal Assembly has identified a number of Economic and investment opportunities in various sectors of the local economy.
Below provides assessment of these investment areas, policies and incentives instituted to attract investment.

Agricultural Potentials

The Municipality is endowed with the following agricultural potentials.

Rich Soils and Favourable climate conducive to food, tree crops plantation

Availability of land for river valley rice production

Cultivation of citrus, oil palm and cocoa seedlings nursery and plantation