Upper Denkyira West District Assembly was carved out from the Upper Denkyira East Municipality, by a legislative instrument, LI 201 in the year, 2006.

The District has a population of about 31, 300. About 80% of the farming population works on cocoa as a cash crop on commercial basis, maize, cassava, cocoyam, plantain, vegetables etc to feed the household. 15% of the farming population produces food crops on subsistence basis and oil pal and citrus as supplementary cash crop. Less than 105 are commercial farm animals and poultry producers and Fish farmers and non-traditional farmers of snail, grass cutters and beekeepers form only about 2% of the farming population. 

The District is bordered in the North West by Bibiani- Anhwiaso- Bekwai District, North East by Amansie West and Amansie Central Districts, South West by Wassa Amenfi East and Wassa Amenfi West districts and South by Upper Denkyira East Municipal.

Weather and Climate

The District has two main cropping seasons, thus a bi – modal rainfall pattern.  The Major rainy season spans from April to July with short dry spell in August follow by a Minor season from September to December. These seasons are warm but humid and facilitate two cropping seasons in a year. The period between January and March experience cold dry conditions which turn later into very hot dry condition.

Soil Type

The soils of the district are the generally of the soil ochrosol. The series consists of brown to yellowish-brown slightly acidic and moderate well drained clay loams develop on alluvium. This depicts two soil types of Akroso series . They have good physical conditions and favourable for plant growth. However, they are leached and require fertilizer use. They are also rich in alluvial gold.

Drainage

The land is gently slopped therefore well drained. However, several swarms available in valley bottom suitable for fish farming and valley bottom rice production.

Vegetation

Semi-deciduous rain forest.

Land Use

Most of the indigenous are farmers. The total area under cultivation is 23,490 (HA). The main food crops cultivated are maize, cassava, plantain and cocoyam. Vegetables such as pepper, garden eggs, tomatoes, okra are produced. Tree crops such as Cocoa, Coconut, oil palm, citrus, and banana are produced exclusively in the district.  Cultivation of cabbage and Sweet pepper and water melons are progressing steadily. Production of pineapples and rice has begun springing up. The District has potentials to increase in the production of these crops.

Investments

More of SMEs, Agro –businesses and Agro – processing businesses are springing up. Agro – chemical retailers are gradually springing up. Farmers are looking into most cash crops and export crops such as citrus. More farmers are forming groups and are dealing with more financial institutions such as Rural Banks. There are NGOs entering into animal rearing in the District. New NGOs could seek collaboration with the District Assembly to explore opportunities.

The District Assembly is collaborating with other institutions, such as financial institutions and NGOs to establish more agro – business and agro- processing sectors. These are aimed at expanding the economy of the District, increase income, create jobs, ensure food security and enhance the standard of living.

There are more investment opportunities in the District in enterprises such as agro – processing and Agro – chemical distributions. Ventures such as poultry and pig production have high comparative advantages. The non-traditional   sector such as agriculture, aquaculture, snail farming and afforestations woodlot establishment possess high comparative advantages in the District. The land tenure system is very flexible for investment business.

The crop production sector possesses tremendous areas for investment which would rack in high returns. Raw materials such as cassava, sugar cane, oil palm, citrus and Copra / Coconut are more available for processing. Farmers could be supported with irrigation facilities to facilitate all year round production of crops and vegetables for the local market and export.

There are avenues for export crops such as banana and citrus in the District.

Contact

Upper Denkyira West District Assembly

P. O. Box 50 Diaso Central Region

Ghana W / Africa