The Study on Upper West Integrated Agricultural Development in the Republic of Ghana
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Ministry of Food and Agriculture No. The Republic of Ghana The Study on Upper West Integrated Agricultural Development in the Republic of Ghana Final Report Part I Main Report March 2010 JAPAN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGENCY KAIHATSU MANAGEMENT CONSULTING, INC. CTI ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD. GNO JR 10-004 Ministry of Food and Agriculture The Republic of Ghana The Study on Upper West Integrated Agricultural Development in the Republic of Ghana Final Report Part I Main Report March 2010 JAPAN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGENCY KAIHATSU MANAGEMENT CONSULTING, INC. CTI ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD. Preface In response to the request form the Government of Ghana, the Government of Japan decided to conduct the Study on Upper West Integrated Agricultural Development and entrusted the study on Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). JICA Selected and dispatched a study team headed by Mr. Hiroshi OKABE of Kaihatsu Management Consulting, Inc. between May 2008 to March 2010. The team held a series of discussions with the officials concerned of the Government of Ghana and conducted field surveys at the study area. Upon returning to Japan, the team conducted further studies and prepared this final report. I hope that this report will contribute to the promotion of the plan and to the enhancement of friendly relationship between our two countries. Finally, I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the officials concerned of the Government of Ghana for their close cooperation extended to the study. March 2010 Eiji HASHIMOTO, Vice President Japan International Cooperation Agency March 2010 Mr. Eiji HASHIMOTO Vice President Japan International Cooperation Agency Tokyo, JAPAN Letter of Transmittal Dear Sir, We are pleased to submit herewith the Final Report of the Study on Upper West Integrated Agricultural Development in the Republic of Ghana. The Final Report was prepared based on the results of the Study conducted from May 2008 to March 2010. The objectives of the Study are to (1) formulate a Master Plan which consists of guidelines for the development and dissemination of agricultural technologies as well as proposals for agricultural development projects, and (2) enhance the capacity of Ghanian counterpart personnel, partner organizations, and community-based organizations, for contributing to assure food security and increase income for the farmers in the area. In the Study, a project for staple food production has been proposed in the Master Plan since it is considered to bring substantial effects on food security in the area by using appropriate technologies. Moreover, the considerable amounts of food will be produced as the surplus, which will turn into the incomes of the producers. In addition, the projects related to cash crop production, livestock development and processing have also been proposed in the Master Plan for increasing the income of the people in the area. The Study was conducted based on continual partnership of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture Headquarters, Upper West Regional Office including the officers and the extension agents in the district offices, farmers and other stakeholders. Their opinions and intensions were incorporated in the Final Report. We wish to express our deep appreciation and sincere gratitude to the officials concerned of your Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Japan for the courtesies and cooperation kindly extended to us. We would also like to express our gratitude to the officials concerned of the JICA Ghana Office, the Embassy of Japan in Ghana, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Upper West regional and district governments, and other stakeholders for close cooperation and various forms of assistance extended to us during the field investigations and studies in Ghana. Finally, we hope that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture will execute the Master Plan and the proposals for agricultural development projects envisaged in the Final Report for improving livelihood of the people in the Upper West Region. Very truly yours, Hiroshi Okabe Team Leader of the Study Team for the Study on Upper West Integrated Agricultural Development in the Republic of Ghana Location Map Upper West Region Lambussie District Lawra District Jirapa District Nadowli District 0 25 50 75 100 km Study Area The Republic of Ghana MOFAUWR Operational Areas in Lawra District Burkina Faso Communities where PDAs are implemented (Puffien, Tome-kokoduor, and Zakpee) Kokoligu ● ● Burkina Faso Tantuo Nandom Zone Puffien Betaglu ● Nandom ● ●Brutu Lambussie District ● Monyulle Gengenlepe ● Lawra District ●Ko ● Tome-kokoduor ● Lissah Tabier ● Eremon Tome Zone ● Zambo ● Doweni ● ◎ N Lawra Tampie ● Kalsagre ● Jirapa District Babile Zone LEGEND Talibri ● ◎ District Capital Zakpee ● Operational Area Capital Zonal Border Burkina Faso Babile Operational Area Border ● Trunk Road Feeder Road ● Birifo 0 10 20 30km MOFAUWR Operational Areas in Jirapa District and Lambussie District Burkina Faso Hamile N ● Billaw Koro ● ● Communities where PDAs are implemented (Naawuie, Kogri, and Nyani) Sissala District ● Lambussie ● ● Lawra District Piina Samoa Naawuie Kpare Lambussie District ● Kogri Han ● ● Ullo Karni ● Jirapa District ● Sigri Duori ● Tizza Jirapa ● ZONE A Jirapa ZONE C ● Sabuli Tuggo Tampoe ◎ Jirapa ● Gbare ● Nyani ● ● LEGEND Tampaala ◎ District Capital Jirapa ● ● Operational Area(OA) Capital Yagha ZONE B OA Zonal Border Nadowli District OA Border Trunk Road Burikina Faso Feeder Road 0 10 20 30km N MOFAUWR Operational Areas in Nadowli District Communities where PDAs are implemented Jirapa District (Da ffiama, Tabiesi, and Nanvilli) Fian Zone ● Sissala District Bussie Tuori ● Nadowli District Dapuori Daffiama ● ● Issa ● ● Tangasia Fian ● NADOWLI ◎ Kojokpere ● Charikpong Nadowli West Nadowli East ● Tabiesi ● ● Naro ●Serekpere Nadowli Zone Sombo ● Nator ● ● Jimpensi Wa East Burkina Faso ● Sankana ● LEGEND Nanvilli ● ● Jang Takpo ◎ District Capital ● Operational Area Capital ●Kaleo Zonal Border Kaleo Zone Wa Municipal Operational Area Border Wa West Trunk Road Feeder Road 0102030km Executive Summary 1 Background of the Study The Study on the Upper West Integrated Agricultural Development (the Study) has been conducted to formulate a Master Plan (M/P) which consists of guidelines for the development and dissemination of agricultural technologies as well as proposals for agricultural development projects. The M/P will be the basis for the agricultural development model that is most appropriate for the area, and the dissemination of that model will help farmers increase their incomes. The Study concentrated on the four districts of the Upper West Region (UWR); namely Lawra, Jirapa, Lambussie, and Nadowli (the Study Area). 2 The Major Problems in the Study Area 2.1 Summary of the Problems The major problems identified in the Study Area can be summarized as follows: (1) Unstable Rainfall The amount of rainfall in the Study Area is less than that in the other areas of the country, and also the current trend of rainfall is more unreliable, irregular and unpredictable. The duration of rain has become shorter, and the amount of the precipitation at one time is frequently either too much (flooding) or too little (drought). (2) Low Soil Fertility The soil quality is generally poor in the Study Area. In particular, upland soils are shallow and gravelly, light textured at the surface, and dry up quickly after rainfall. Due to population pressure, the fallow period has become shorter, which further deteriorates soil fertility. The Study Area mostly consists of marginal and fragile land, and therefore low soil fertility is a major constraint for crop cultivation. (3) Soil Erosion As a result of the expansion of crop production areas, the vegetation in the area has been degrading. In particular, the northern part of the UWR, where slopes are steeper and population pressure is higher than in other parts, soil erosion is a more serious problem. (4) Traditional Technologies The farming practices are traditional methods such as mound ridge, and they are further constrained by the lack of inputs. A small quantity of certified seeds is produced in the area, but they are seldom used. Little chemical fertilizer is used because the prices are beyond the farmer’s reach. Organic materials such as animal dung are available but not sufficient in quantity, and also due to lack of awareness, organic fertilizer is not used. As a result, crop productivity remains low. EX-1 (5) Huge Post-harvest Loss The harvested crops are dried on various materials or even directly on the ground, and then the crops are stored before they are adequately dried or without properly sealing the storage facilities. As to storage, the problem of weevils is also often seen, particularly for cowpea. Those facts result in huge post-harvest losses of the crops. According to a MOFA document, “post-harvest losses of agricultural produce in Ghana have been estimated conservatively to be between 10 and 20%.” Thus the issue of post-harvest loss should be taken into account if the food shortage problem is to be solved. (6) Low Production of Main Food Crops The main food crops cultivated are drought-resistant, such as sorghum, millet, etc., which are generally less productive than the other food crops prevailing in the country. The cultivation areas, the production volumes, and productivity of sorghum and millet have been decreasing. In addition, rainfall and its patterns fluctuate every year, which significantly affects crop production volumes in an unpredictable way. (7) Low Selling Prices of the Products The farmers receive a low price for their products at harvest time, and later have to pay much higher prices when they buy food. The farmers are usually in need of cash, and therefore cannot afford to wait until a favorable moment to sell their products comes. (8) Low Profits from Livestock Livestock is important as an income source, and also for various socio-economic aspects. Most of the people however regard livestock rather as a safety net than as an income source. Sufficient attention is therefore not given for rearing livestock, which leads to low profits from the sales of livestock.