Types of agricultural activities under taken by Households

Agricultural business in the Municipality is a universal household livelihood activity for the people. Table 1.12 presents households in agriculture within the Municipality. Out of the 82.2% indicated earlier, 66.8 percent of the urban households are into agriculture, as against 88.8 percent rural households. However, fish farming recorded the least (only 0.1% households), which is an indication that limited attention has been given to fish farming activities in the district, especially in the rural areas (0.0%). This calls for more interventions and efforts to encourage fish production in the Municipality.

It can be deduced from the above graphical presentation that the majority (17.1%) of the urban working population are employed in the commerce/ services sub-sector. On the other hand, majority (64.4%) of the rural working population are employed in the agricultural sector. The industry sector employs the minority of the working population represented by 4.4 and 0.6 percent of the total working population of the Municipality respectively.

As indicated in the table below, food and vegetable crops currently grown in commercial quantities include Yam, Cassava, chilli-pepper, maize, oil palm, cashew, cocoa and plantain. Major production centres include Kwameseikrom, Atuna, Adamsu, Miremano etc

Farmers in the district virtually practice the traditional shifting cultivation, bush fallow or slash and burn methods, which are associated with problems like deforestation, soil erosion and decline in soil fertility. Farmers therefore need to be sanitized on the negative effects of such methods so as to increase food production and sustain the environment.

Food Security

Food Security can be defined as availability of good quality nutritious food, hygienically packaged and attractively presented, available in sufficient quantities all year round and located at appropriate places at affordable prices (MOFA, 2002).

In this connection, the Municipal sees it important to detail out measures to deal with food security concerns at the district level. The Municipal is an agrarian one which should naturally not suffer from food insufficiency, agriculture thus crops and animals production is mostly cherished and well-practiced by many (about 72% of the population). The introduction of government flagship programme thus “Planting for Food and Jobs” would also help in maintaining food security in the district. The issues that should be of great concern are, land and environmental management which ensure natural sustainability in the Municipality.

Again, aquaculture which has a natural potential in the Municipal needs to be further explored and developed as a compliment to food crops production. Municipal stakeholders should also examine ways of ensuring that raw agricultural produce, especially perishable ones are properly stored so that the benefits can accrue to the district population at appropriate time.