The Economy of the people is largely subsistence with Agriculture being their main occupation. Over 80% pf the people depend on Agriculture for their livelihood.  Out of the total land area of 535,000 hectares, arable land constitutes 481,000 hectares out of which only 15% in under cultivation. 

Other economic activities include weaving, agro-processing (shea butter extraction), eat processing, fish mongering, wholesale and retail of general goods, transport and many others.  These activities are on a medium and small scale.

The economic potential of the  Municipality in Agriculture is enormous.  The land is suitable for the cultivation of cereals, tubers and rearing of animals.  Animals reared include cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry birds for domestic and commercial purposes.

A good number of the populace are engaged in small scale manufacturing business.  They include smock weavers, blacksmiths, bakers, mechanics, shea butter extraction and groundnut oil extraction.

  Investment And Business Potential

The eastern corridor of the Northern Region serves as the food basket of the region. In both production and marketing, Yendi Municipal is a tested example of a truly agro-based area on account of its strategic location. Since the institution of the National Annual Farmers Day, several awards have been received by farmers from the Yendi Municipal, these being evidence of the Municipality’s natural advantages and the sheer productivity of its farmers.

The major crops grown in the Municipality are maize, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava, yam, groundnut and beans, all of which are outstandingly productive in the area. Instructively, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture estimates that the yields per hectare for these crops in Yendi Municipal are all higher than the averages for the whole of the Northern Region.

This provides significant advantages for investors establishing farming operations in Yendi Municipal. Efforts have been made by the Yendi Municipal Assembly to encourage the cultivation of cash crops such as cashew by individuals as well as organized groups. Due consideration is therefore given to interested person and groups under the  Municipality’s Poverty Alleviation Programme to promote the cultivation of this potential export crop.

Indeed, Yendi Municipal has plenty of potentials in the area of agro-processing industrial operations, both local and export marketing. The Municipal Assembly itself is willing and able to go into partnership with private investors, to set up industrial enterprises. In fact, the Assembly has already initiated action to establish an industrial estate in Yendi town.

In the main, it is expected that the estate will facilitate investment in agro-processing and small-scale iron mongery. The Municipal Assembly is hoping to get support from the Village Infrastructure Project (VIP), in establishing the industrial estate, which will have all off-site and on-site infrastructures such as access roads and utilities including electricity, water and telecommunications.

  Financial Institutions

There are two banking institutions both in the Yendi town. These are branches of the Ghana Commercial Bank Limited (GCB) and Bonzali Rural Bank Limited.  The Agriculture Development Bank Ltd (ADB) has acquired a place to develop and re-establish a branch in Yendi town