Population and agricultural land use in the Manya Krobo District

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Date
1993-09-09
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Abstract
The Mann Krobo District is in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The predominant people of the district are the Krobo who are mostly farmers. Indeed a number of researchers have described the Krobo as industrious farmers. Another characteristic feature of the district is the rapid population growth. The two variables: the rapid population growth of the Krobo and their agricultural activities, make the Manya Krobo District an ideal rural area for the examination of the relationship between population growth and agricultural land use. By 1731, the Krobo had become firmly established on the Krobo Mountain in the north-eastern part of the Accra Plains. As a result of rapid population increase, they acquired agricultural land from their Akan neighbours. By 1950, the Krobo had penetrated Akan lands as far as the southern parts of the Afram Plains, about 30C’ kilometres north-west of the Krobo Mountain. The land acquisition process was greatly influenced by the changing attitude of the Akan landowners. Thus while the process was peaceful at some stages at other stages, it was characterised by clashes. The rapi4 population growth of the district has great impact on the, land use. Indicators of population stress like: land fragmentation, changes in frequency of cropping, environmental degradation, changing landholding patterns, decreasing crop yields changing crop patterns and disputes over land ownership are now common features of the agricultural landscape. The population, in turn, does not remain static: it is responding to the agricultural land use change. There are signs of population mobility, changing perception about fertility level and the use of family as a source of labour, rising educational levels and occupational change chance. To address the problem of population pressure in the district, there is the need for carefully planned programmes to tackle both the problems of rapid population growth and inefficient agricultural land use.
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A thesis presented in fulfillment of the requirements for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Geography and Resource Development, University of Ghana, 1993. David Kene Bedele is a staff of KNUST and was given a study leave and a research grant when studying at the University of Ghana.
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