The effect of agricultural development on the environment (a case study of the farming systems in the Ga District of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana)

Abstract

Agriculture supports 80% of the total population of Ghana through farming, distribution of farm produce and the provision of other services to the agricultural sector. It is also the largest contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) accounting for 45 percent. However, the issue of meeting food requirements given the rapid population growth has resulted in mounting pressure on the country’s natural resources as well as the destabilisation of the ecosystem. This research reports on the effect of farming systems on the environment within the Ga District of the Greater Accra Region. The study reports on findings from a survey of 15 farmers in each of 10 selected farming communities. The survey also covered officials of the district office of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana National Fire Service, Ministry of Lands and Forestry and the Ga District Assembly. The findings revealed that small holder farmers representing 78.7 percent of the farming population employ the slash and burn method of land preparation contributing to the high incidence of bush fires during the dry season in the district. The study further revealed the use of outmoded farming practices such as the extensive system of livestock management resulting in over grazing, over-dependence of agro-chemicals, poor land use planning which has resulted in land degradation and the pollution of water bodies among others. The biological productivity of environmental resources that support agricultural development has therefore been reduced. Farmers within the district however attributed the lack of finance, poor farmer-extension agent relationship among others as limiting factors to the effective performance of their work which has contributed to their continued use these outmoded farming practices. In the light of these findings, it is recommended that proper coordination be established between the various stakeholders involved in agricultural production and environmental protection. These stakeholders should be adequately resourced to facilitate better and improved relations with farmers. In addition off-farm economic activities should be promoted in the various communities to reduce the pressure on the land whilst enhancing the income of household in rural areas. Reduction in rural poverty will go a long way to halt the cycle of poverty associated with resource depletion.