Investment Opportunities

1. Fertile lands for cash crop cultivation e.g. Citrus, Cocoa and Oil Palm

2. Mining – Diamond at Akwatia, Wenchi, Kusi, Takrowase, Nkwaakwaakrom etc.

3. Gold – Kwae, Takyiman, Dokyi Apenamang etc.

4. Agro-processing – Oil Palm, Palm Kernel and citrus processing.

5. Forest Resources – Timber etc

Agriculture is the major economic activity in the Kwaebibirem District. It is dominated by food crop production (maize, cassava, plantain, rice, okra, garden eggs, pepper and cocoyam). This is followed by cash crop production (cocoa, oil palm, black pepper cola, Para rubber and citrus).

In terms of occupational structure agriculture employs 76.8% of the labour force. Agriculture in the District is on subsistence level and very few farmers are engaged in plantation farming. Farmers in the District have farms with sizes above one acre. The average farm size in the district is about 5 acres. There is little application of modern agricultural technology ad there is over dependence on the weather as a result agricultural production is generally low.

Farming System

Farming System includes mono-cropping, crop rotation, agro-forestry, mixed cropping and mixed farming. These systems are modifications of shifting cultivation and bush fallow systems.Clearing land for farming is by slash and burns technique, which most often results in bush fires and soil degradation. These systems have also contributed to degradation of forest in the District.

Livestock Production

Livestock are kept by farmers who are engaged in crop farming. The main animals kept are sheep, goats, poultry and pigs Cattle rearing is not much practiced. Production from 2003 in the District is shown below:

Soils and their Suitability for Agriculture

There are three major soil associations in the District that have developed over the lower Birimean soil type. These are: Bekwai-Oda Association (that is silty-clay-loamy type of soil) in the North-West and South Eastern parts of the District; Birimean - Chichiwere Association (sandy loam clay) in the North, middle and southern parts and the Atiwa-Asikuma-Ansum Association (mainly silty clay loams)’ in the East. The distribution of the soils and their characteristics in the District are presented in the pdf below:

Land Tenure System

Land is a very crucial factor in production and its ownership and use have a very significant effect on agricultural production. Land is acquired through (1) Lease land (2) Stool lands (3) Family lands and (4) share cropping Stool Lands form (75%) and families (25%) of total land acquisitions. There is little or no land reform in the District. Land is still vested in the stool and other individuals. It must be noted that any major land reform that will have impact on land in the District will have to emanate from the Central Government.

Another common feature identified in the District is that many of the farmers have more than one plot of land of medium in sizes. The model farm size is about 5 acres. 1 hese are scattered over the areas often at considerable distance from one another. The acquisition of land by GOPDC for large scale oil palm plantation has resulted in scarcity of land in some areas like Okumaning and Kwae. The prevalence of large plantation farms such as citrus and oil palm for individuals has reduced the acreage of land available for food crop farming in areas like Okumaning, Nkwatanang, Kade. Asuom.

The high population density keeps the size of holdings small and the need for expansion in the sizes of land for agricultural and industrial purposes has resulted in the upsurge of land disputes and high rates. These constitute a formidable barrier to agriculture and industry and makes efficient production difficult. The small medium-size farms also make it uneconomical to introduce the process of agricultural innovations like mechanization and irrigation.

Extension Services

The objective of Agricultural extension services is to assist local farmers to increase agricultural produce and introduce farmers to new and improved technology through training and farm demonstrations. However Services are inadequate in the district as only 53.6% of farmers have access to Extension Services presently, the Extension Officers -Farmers ratio is 1:946 as at September, 2006 which is unfavourable when compared to the national standard of 1:800

Source of Finance for Agriculture

Financing of agricultural activities in the district in largely from own savings. As saving rate among the citizens is very low, capital formation becomes difficult and even when it is accomplished it is too low to impact positively on agricultural activities in the district. Other sources of finance are from relatives and moneylenders. Problems associated with credit facilities are:

• High interest rates

• Lack of collateral security and other lending policies of the few banks in the District

• High rate of loan defaulting

The situation makes it difficult for those engaged in gainful employment in commerce and industry to access credit to expand their business.

Agriculture Key Problems

Like other areas the sector is saddled with the following problems

1. Low agriculture production

2. Low level of modern agriculture technology

3. Inadequate storage facilities

4. High post - harvest losses

5. Low price for agriculture produce

6. Unfavourable land tenure system

7. Bad roads

8. Inadequate road network

9. High cost of farm inputs

10. Inadequate market facilities

11. Inadequate irrigation

12. Over dependence on rain fed agriculture

13. Land degradation due more farming and mining

14. High lending rate

15. High agricultural extension agent farmer ratio

16. Difficulty with mobility on the part of Agric extension agents

Agriculture is the major economic activity in the Kwaebibirem District. It is dominated by food crop production (maize, cassava, plantain, rice, okra, garden eggs, pepper and cocoyam). This is followed by cash crop production (cocoa, oil palm, black pepper cola, Para rubber and citrus). In terms of occupational structure agriculture employs 76.8% of the labour force. Agriculture in the District is on subsistence level and very few farmers are engaged in plantation farming.

Farmers in the District have farms with sizes above one acre. The average farm size in the district is about 5 acres. There is little application of modern agricultural technology ad there is over dependence on the weather as a result agricultural production is generally low. Farming System Farming System includes mono-cropping, crop rotation, agro-forestry, mixed cropping and mixed farming.

These systems are modifications of shifting cultivation and bush fallow systems. Clearing land for farming is by slash and burns technique, which most often results in bush fires and soil degradation. These systems have also contributed to degradation of forest in the District. Livestock Production Livestock are kept by farmers who are engaged in crop farming. The main animals kept are sheep, goats, poultry and pigs Cattle rearing is not much practiced. Fish farming Fish farming is gradually catching up with farmers in the District. This type of farming is predominantly practiced at Akwatia, Asuom, Abodom, Adankrono and Soabe.

The surface areas of fish ponds are between 900m2 and 3,600m2. There are about 24 fish farmers in the district who have form into an Association of Fish Farmers. Tree planting Tree planting as a farming system and a means of livelihood has not caught on well in the District. Storage Facilities Perishable produce e.g. vegetable and fruits cultivated in the District are sold fresh since there are no storage facilities for the staples and fruits, maize is however stored in traditional barns and roofs of kitchen.

The unavailability of appropriate storage facilities for food crops consequently results in post harvest losses in the District. The bulk of agricultural produce such as cassava, plantain, and oranges, are sold unprocessed. However, storage facilities for oil palm exist in Kusi, Kwae and Darmang and are being operated by private companies like GOPDC and Obooma farms.

Markets The development of the District necessitates the exchange of good between the urban and rural areas of the District. There is also the need to exchange goods between the District and other Districts.

Agricultural produce forms the major commodity of trade between markets and settlements within the District, whilst manufactured goods form the bulk of good inflows into the District. Apart from the trunk road from Asamankese through the District Capital – Kade to Asuom and the road from Subi to Nkwantanang, all the roads are rough and untarred.

Vehicular transport on the roads becomes very difficult during the rainy season. Generally, the situation compels farmers to sell their produce at low prices to the few traders who are able to make their way to the farming communities and this has also contributed the low price for agricultural produce in the District.

To streamline distribution and expose rural settlements to market centres, the District Assembly has placed much emphasis on improvement of the condition of the roads. Land Tenure System Land is a very crucial factor in production and its ownership and use have a very significant effect on agricultural production. Land is acquired through (1) Lease land (2) Stool lands (3) Family lands and (4) share cropping Stool Lands form (75%) and families (25%) of total land acquisitions.

There is little or no land reform in the District. Land is still vested in the stool and other individuals. It must be noted that any major land reform that will have impact on land in the District will have to emanate from the Central Government. Another common feature identified in the District is that many of the farmers have more than one plot of land of medium in sizes. The model farm size is about 5 acres.

These are scattered over the areas often at considerable distance from one another. The acquisition of land by GOPDC for large scale oil palm plantation has resulted in scarcity of land in some areas like Okumaning and Kwae. The prevalence of large plantation farms such as citrus and oil palm for individuals has reduced the acreage of land available for food crop farming in areas like Okumaning, Nkwatanang, Kade, Asuom.

The high population density keeps the size of holdings small and the need for expansion in the sizes of land for agricultural and industrial purposes has resulted in the upsurge of land disputes and high rates. These constitute a formidable barrier to agriculture and industry and makes efficient production difficult.

The small medium-size farms also make it uneconomical to introduce the process of agricultural innovations like mechanization and irrigation. Extension Services The objective of Agricultural extension services is to assist local farmers to increase agricultural produce and introduce farmers to new and improved technology through training and farm demonstrations.

However Services are inadequate in the district as only 53.6% of farmers have access to Extension Services presently, the Extension Officers – Farmers ratio is 1:5000 as at September, 2009 which is unfavourable when compared to the national standard of 1:500 Source of Finance for Agriculture Financing of agricultural activities in the district in largely from own savings.

As saving rate among the citizens is very low, capital formation becomes difficult and even when it is accomplished it is too low to impact positively on agricultural activities in the district. Other sources of finance are from relatives and moneylenders. Problems associated with credit facilities are: (a) high interest rates, (b) Lack of collateral security and other lending policies of the few banks in the District. (c) High rate of loan defaulting The situation makes it difficult for those engaged in gainful employment in commerce and industry to access credit to expand their business.

Key Problems Like other areas the sector is saddled with the following problems

• Low agriculture production

• Low levels of adoption of improved and modern agriculture technology by farmers

• Inadequate appropriate storage facilities

• High post harvest losses

• Seasonal fluctuation of price for agricultural produce

• Unfavourable land tenure system

• Bad roads

• High cost of farm inputs

• Inadequate and inappropriate market facilities

• Lack of irrigation facilities

• Over dependence on rain fed agriculture

• Land degradation due more to illegal mining

• High lending rate for agriculture

• Low agricultural extension agent farmer ratio

• Immobility of Agric Extension Agents