Agricultural Production in West Africa / Ghana

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, sub-sectors, crops, and export dynamics from the lecture notes.

Traditional farming / subsistence

Farming largely for household consumption with a small surplus for local sale; uses simple tools, is not capital intensive, rainfed, low technical skill, relies on indigenous knowledge, and typically has small farm sizes. Includes shifting cultivation, permanent cultivation, and mixed farming.

Rainfed agriculture

Agriculture that relies on rainfall rather than irrigation or controlled water supply.

Large-scale (commercial) agricultural production

Farming aimed at commercial purposes with a limited range of crops (e.g., cotton, sugar, rubber, cocoa); usually on plantations, using modern techniques, hired labor, and higher technical skill.

Plantation

A large farm focused on growing a few cash crops for commercial sale, often with mechanization and organized labor.

Modern techniques

Advanced farming methods used in large-scale agriculture, such as tractors, weedicides, and fertilizers.

Forestry

The management and exploitation of forest resources and forest products, which are important for subsistence and export in West Africa.

Hardwood

Timber from hard timber species (e.g., mahogany, wawa, sapele, odum/iroko) commonly exploited for export.

Timber exports

Ghana’s export value from timber and timber products, which fluctuates; recent figures indicate a decline from 2022 to 2023.

Livestock production

A major economic activity, especially in the savanna; includes cattle rearing and other animals like sheep, goats, donkeys, and fowls.

Fulani

A major pastoral (nomadic) group in West Africa involved in livestock herding.

Fishing

Marine fishing along the coast and inland fishing in lakes/rivers (e.g., Volta Lake, Bosomtwe, Weija).

Volta Lake

The largest inland lake in Ghana, a significant site for inland fishing.

Gender division of labour in fishing

Men usually catch fish while women process, preserve, and sell fish.

Trawling / Overfishing by foreign trawlers

Use of large trawl nets by foreign vessels leading to overfishing, depletion of stocks, and input/access issues for local fishermen.

Non-traditional export crops

Exports beyond traditional crops (like cocoa), including horticultural products and fruits such as pineapple and mango, promoted since the 1980s for export-led growth.

GEPA

Ghana Export Promotion Authority; government body that promotes exports (part of institutional support for diversifying exports).

Ghana Standards Authority

Public agency responsible for setting and enforcing product quality and safety standards.

Horticulture

Cultivation of fruits, vegetables, and flowers for export; supported by public-private partnerships and industry associations.

Pineapple

Export crop with growing importance in Ghana; major importers include Belgium, Switzerland, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the UK; produced by smallholders and large-scale producers.

Mango

Export crop; Ghana began EU exports in 2004; two harvest seasons (major Nov–Dec; minor season starting late July/early August).

Cashew nuts

Export crop grown in areas like Techiman, Nkoranza, Wenchi; significant in West Africa and a notable Ghanaian export.

Shea nuts

Nuts from the shea tree, widespread in the savanna belt; a major non-traditional export used to produce shea butter and other products.

Shea butter

Product derived from processing shea nuts; used for cooking, cosmetics, and as an export commodity.

Benefits of Shea tree

Provides foreign exchange, food value, medicinal uses, raw materials for cosmetics, and wood resources; supports women’s livelihoods and poverty reduction.

Challenges in the shea industry (women)

Health risks, limited finance, inadequate processing equipment, quality and market access issues, unfair prices, lack of social security, and exploitation by middlemen.

Major crops in Ghana

Cocoa, Cashew, Cassava, Peanuts (Groundnuts), Corn, Shea nuts, Bananas, Millet, Sorghum; distributed across forest, savanna, and coastal regions.

Cocoa

A major traditional export crop grown mainly in the forest belt; historically dominant in Ghana’s export earnings.

Palm oil

Oil palm crop grown in several West African countries; Ghana is among key producers alongside Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire.

Top exports (Ghana)

Gold bullion; petroleum oils; cocoa beans; cocoa paste; manganese ores; cashew nuts; shea nuts/oil; tuna; iron/steel; other products; total exports comprise a large share of the economy.

Top imports (Ghana)

Diesel (AGO); light oils; cement clinkers; kerosene-type fuels; cereal grains; secondhand vehicles; herbicides and related equipment; miscellaneous inputs.

GEPA (revisited)

Ghana Export Promotion Authority; promotes export diversification and supports exporters, especially in the horticultural sector.