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

BACKGROUND

The Northern Region is the largest Region in the country. It is made up of 20 districts and has Tamale as its Regional Capital.
The region lies in the north of the country and is bordered in the northwest by the Upper -West Region, in the northeast by the Upper East Region, in the southwest by the Brong-Ahafo Region, in the southeast by the Volta Region, in the west by Côte d'Ivoire (the Ivory Coast) and in the east by Togo.
The region covers an area of 70,380 sq km2 (7 million hectares) which covers about 33% of the total landmass of Ghana.

The Northern Region has a population of about 2,200,000 people (Projection based on 2000 population census) and a growth rate is about 2.6% per annum. The population is sparse with a density of about 26 per km2. Females’ forms about 51% of the entire population whiles their males counterparts form about 49% of the population.

The region has a heterogeneous population. The major tribe in the region is the Dagomba. Other major tribal groups are the Gonja, Konkomba and the Nanumba.  However there are big populations of other regional tribes resident in the region from Upper East, Upper West and the Southern Sector.
Whiles majority of the indigenes reside in the region, migration from the region to other regions, especially the regions of southern Ghana is also very pronounced.

The region is endowed with vast land majority of which is productive. The Northern region, described as the ‘food basket’ of the country contributes immensely to the production of food and livestock in the country. From facts and figures, the region contributes more than half of the cereals, tubers and legumes produced in the country.  It also contributes about one-third the cassava requirement of the country. 
      
About 80% of the region’s economically active population is engaged in agriculture whiles the rest are engaged in other professions like civil service, marketing, transportation, dressmaking, hairdressing, wood processing  and other profession as listed below;

Macro Economic Activities

Livelihood in the region basically depends on;

• Farming (at the peasant level)
• Fishing along the Black Volta
• Agro – processing (food processing)
• Trading
• Sand winning
• Dressmaking and Weaving
• Hairdressing
• Minor repairs (vehicles, bicycle & vulcanizing)
• Blacksmithing

LAND USE, VEGETATION, SOILS AND CLIMATE

Land use
Land in the region is owned by natives. The average farm size per holder is about 2 hectare. Land is either used for crops / livestock farming, tree planting (Afforestation), game /forest reserves (Wildlife), road and building construction.

Generally, farmers practice shifting cultivation and mixed cropping with a few of them practicing mono cropping and crop rotation. Similarly, livestock and poultry keeping are practiced on extensive system (free range) with a margin keeping to the semi – intensive system.

Climate
The Northern Region is much drier than southern areas of Ghana, due to its proximity to the Sahel, and the Sahara. Between May and October is the wet season, with an average annual rainfall of 750 to 1050 mm (30 to 40 inches). The dry season is between about November and April. The highest temperatures are reached at the end of the dry season, the lowest in December and January. However, the cold Harmattan winds from the Sahara blow frequently between December and the beginning of February.
In the Northern Region the temperatures can vary between 14°C (59°F) at night and 40°C (104°F) during the day with a single rainfall pattern which begins in March and ends in October with an average total rainfall of 1000mm and 1200mm.

Vegetation
The vegetation consists predominantly of grassland, especially savanna with clusters of fire and drought-resistant trees such as baobabs, acacias etc.
The vegetation greatly supports the production of cereals and legumes, root and tubers and also the rearing of livestock. The vegetation also supports the growth of tree crops such as Shea trees.
  

Tomato: Tomato processing remains the chief bottleneck to increased tomato production in the region partly due to Northern Star Tomato Company Limited (NSTC Ltd) not operational. Currently, proposals are being prepared for possible financial consideration.

Meat Processing: Bolgatanga Meat Factory is currently under divestiture and therefore needs an investment support as has been done to the Pwalugu Tomato Factory now Northern Star Tomato Company Limited

Vegetable oil: Local industries for vegetable oil extraction such as sheabutter, groundnut, and soybean are on small scale with low capital.

Rice: Rice processing for value addition can contribute to improved storage or shelve life, marketing, incomes and nutrition in the region and the   country as whole. Quality rice processing will revamp the subsector processing centers like Nasia Rice in Tamale, ICOUR in Upper East, Single Mothers Association, Trade Aid Integrated and many other centers, thus reducing the revenue spent on importation. This will consequently lead to a boost in the Block Rice Farms and create employment for the rural population

Fruit: Watermelon processing for value addition has a potential for increasing incomes of farm families and improving nutritional status in the region and the country as whole.

Livestock and poultry rearing are done by almost every household on small scale. The prominent livestock / poultry kept are cattle, sheep, goats, pig, local fowl and guinea fowl.

The table below shows the annual production figures for the major livestock produced in the region.

Annual Production Figures of selected livestock

Crop production accounts for more than 70% of agricultural output. The major crops produced in the region are as indicated below.
Crops grown in the region are:

1. Food Crops – Cereal (maize, rice, millet, sorghum)

   Legumes (groundnuts, bambara beans and cowpea)
   Root & Tuber (yam and cassava)
   Vegetables (tomato, pepper, onion, amarantus, neri and agushi)

1. Tree Crops - Mango, Cashew, Sheanut and Dawadawa
2. Cash Crop – cashew, cotton, groundnuts.

 The table below shows the annual production figures for the major crops produced in the region.

Annual Production Figures of selected crops (‘000 Mt)