Welcome to the Official Website of the Ministry of Food & Agriculture, Ghana. West Africa.

BACKGROUND

Located in the South –Western centre of Ghana, the central Region shares boundary with the Ashanti Region in the North, Eastern Region to the North-East, Greater Accra Region to the South-East and on the West by the Western Region.

It is one of the smallest regions in Ghana, only bigger than Upper East and the Greater Accra Regions.

Total Population is 1,593,823 i.e.8.4% of Ghana’s population (Ghana Statistical Service; 2000)

• Male                                      760,221
• Female                                   833,602
• Rural Population                     995,481
• Urban Population                   598,405

The population density is of an average of 162 per sq. km.and the people are Agona , Assin, Breman, Denkyira, Effutu and Fantis.

Total land area of Ghana.is 9,830 km2, 4.1% and total cultivable land area is estimated at 7,864 km2 (about 80% of the Region’s Total Land Area). However, only 3,932 km2 (40% of the Region’s Land area) is under cultivation. Approximately 371,703 forming 23.3% of the region’s population are engaged in farming (GSS, 2005)

LAND USE, VEGETATION, SOILS AND CLIMATE

Land use
Total Land Area                      9,830 km2 i. e. 983000 ha
Agricultural Land Area           7,864 km2 i. e. 786400 ha
Per Capita Land Area (1/3)                             0.6
Per Capita Agric. Land Area (2/3)                  0.5
Agric. Land Area Per Farm Worker(2/4)        0.47
Agric. Land Availabilty Coefficient (2/1)          0.8
Area Under Cultivation                                   393,200 ha
Farming Intensity Coefficient (9/2)                  0.5

Climate 

1. Temperature:       The Temperature is generally high and ranges between 24oC and 34o C
2. Rainfall:     The region has a bi-modal rainfall pattern averaging 800 mm to 1500 mm with the coast having the least. The major season spans April to July and the minor, September to November.
3. Relative Humidity: it has a relative humidity of between 50% and 85%.

Vegetation
Four (4) distinct vegetation zones are represented. The mangrove swamps, the Coastal Savanna, Moist Semi-deciduous forest and the Tropical rain forest.

Rivers
Pra, Offin, Okyi and Ayensu are the major rivers. 

This is a very important industry in the region, accounting for about 5% of agricultural GDP.

There are two main types namely; Marine and Aquaculture.

Marine

The region has the longest coastline of 150 km with 42 fishing villages and 92 landing points. It has the widest continental shelf and accounts for 36% of national production.

Main cache include exportable species such as Lobster, Shrimps, Sea bream, Squid, Octopus, Grouper, Barracuda, Tuna, Sardinella, Cassava fish, Sole, Moonfish, Mackerel, Burrito etc.

Districts include Mfantsiman, KEEA, AES, Gomoa, and Cape Coast.

Aquaculture

The region has a total of 441 ponds covering an area of 13.0 ha belonging to 185 farmers in all the twelve (12) districts with the highest potential being the Upper Denkyira. The Twifo – Hemang/Lower Denkyira and Assin districts.

Major species cultivated are Tilapia, and catfish and yield is estimated at 7.0 tonnes. Other districts comprise Mfantsiman, AES and AAK.

Major agricultural produce in order of importance and areas of comparative advantage are as follows:

There are two (2) main irrigation projects in the region. They are located at Baafikrom and Okyereko in the Mfantisman and Gomoa Districts respectively. Other sites are Kwanyako and Ajumako in the Agona & AEE districts respectively.

At the Baafikrom Irrigation site, only 10 ha out of 18 ha of land have been put to vegetable cultivation.

Rice is cultivated at the Okyereko site.