Location and size

The Atiwa District which covers a total area of 2,950 square kilometers is one of the twenty-one Districts in the Eastern Region of Ghana.  Lying between longitudes O° 3? West and O° 50 East and latitudes 6° 10? North and 6° 30? North.  The District is bounded on the North by Kwahu West and Kwahu South Districts, on the North-East by the Fanteakwa District, East Akim to the South-East, Kwaebibrim to the South and Birim North to the West. The strategic location of Atiwa District, sharing boundaries with districts that are famous in agricultural production, provides an opportunity to develop agro processing facilities to make use of raw materials from these areas.The large area under the jurisdiction of the District has implication for many small settlements whose population may not measure up to the population threshold for provision of certain socio-economic infrastructure. And being a relatively new districts it may also require enough financial resources to be able to  close the infrastructure gap.

Topography and Drainage

The gentle and undulating land rises about 240m to 300m above sea level with the highest point at the Atiwa ranges which rise over 350m above sea level. Different types of rock formed gave the different relief features, which include flat bottom valleys to steep-sided high lands which are covered with iron pans, bauxite and kaolin.  The steep sided highlands have created some wonderful sightseeing waterfall around Adasawase and Pameng.

The Birimian rock formation covered over (75) percent of the forest zone.  Granite occurs in parallel belts and contains different mineral deposits among which includes: Gold, diamond, bauxite and Kaolin.  Major perennial rivers like, Birim, Densu, Adenchensu, Merepong and Pra have their catchment areas within the Atiwa forest with other several seasonal streams in the District.  The pattern of flow is largely north-south in direction and very good water drainage basic in the district. The rock formation has significant implication for growth of the quarry industry serving as a great potential for the production of chippings for road construction. The unique rock formation resulting in development of waterfalls provides great potentials for tourism development. Effort should be made to identify these natural attraction and such partnership to develop the to additional revenue for development.

Climate and Vegetation

Climate

The Atiwa District lies in the wet semi equatorial zone characterized by a bi-modal rainy season, which reaches its maximum during the two peak periods of April-July and September-October.  The annual rainfall is between 1,250mm and 1,750mm.Temperature ranges between a minimum of 26°C and maximum of 30°C.  A relative humidity of 65-75 percent during the dry season and 75-80 percent in the rainy season is a characteristic of the district. This climate is very good for agriculture for both food and cash crops. Atiwa District is quite close to Accra and agro-processing factories farmers will there be encouraged and supported to go in to cash such as cocoa, citrus and palm plantation

Vegetation

The District is located within the mist semi-deciduous forest.  The forest reserve covers the Atiwa Scarp and its surroundings.  Commercial tree species covering 12% land area include; Odum, Wawa, Ofram, Asamfra, Mahogany, Okyenkyen etc. The vegetative cover is suitable for intensive agricultural and agro-based industrial activities including food processing, sawmail or wood processing. However pragmatic measures should be put in place to protect the forest cover in terms of reforestation and checking of illegal chain saw operators.

Geology and Soil

Soils and Suitability for Agriculture

The predominant soil type is the Atiwa series; these are usually reddish-brown, well-drained, deep gravel-free silty loams and silty clay loams, located on the relatively high lands while the valley bottoms are mainly of the Oda series with poorly drained alluvia silty clays.  Food crops like Cassava, Maize, Plantain, Cocoyam and yam and tree crops like cocoa, oil palm, coffee and citrus thrive well on it. Since the farmers in the district have comparative advantage in the production of the above mentioned projects, farmers will be encourage and supported to produce more to increase their income level