Agricultural Development

Mainly due to the small physical size of the Region and the poor nature of the soils and absence of major water bodies, agricultural production does not play a significant role in the economy of the Region but nevertheless the potential exists for agriculture to play an increasingly important role in the Region’s economy.  The Region’s major agricultural activities revolve around fishing, crops production, poultry and livestock.

Crops production in the Region centres around the cultivation of staples like maize and cassava, vegetables, bananas and pineapples and is mostly done under rain-fed conditions.  There is however an immense potential for irrigation agronomy in the Accra Plains, and the Region has tow small-scale irrigation projects at Weija and Dawhenya with a total Capacity of 250 hectares.

The Region has a very viable poultry industry mostly due to the existence of a ready-made market in addition to easy access to both Day-Old-Chicks, poultry feed, drugs and vaccines.

A great proportion of the Region’s Plains are relatively free from tsetseflies and are therefore able to support cattle rearing especially in the Shai and Dangme areas.

It is generally acknowledged that cattle rearing in the Region could be greatly improved with greater availability of water, fodder and provision of the needed infrastructure.

The Region contributes significantly to the country’s fishing industry, producing over 25% of the total.   Again the estimated 30 000 fishermen in the Region constitutes about 30% of the total number in the country.

The Region’s small scale canoe fishermen produce about 70% of the total landing in the Region with the remaining 30% produced by large ocean-going vessels operating from the Tema Fishing Harbour.  The major fishing communities in the Region are Bortianor, Chorkor, Jamestown, Teshie, Nungua, Tema, Kpone, Prampram, Ningo and Ada.