Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profiles

GHANA

by
Kwame Oppong-Anane
The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply
the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or
area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of
specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does
not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by FAO in preference to others of a
similar nature that are not mentioned.

The views expressed in this information product are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily
reflect the views of FAO.

All rights reserved. FAO encourages the reproduction and dissemination of material in this information
product. Non-commercial uses will be authorized free of charge, upon request. Reproduction for
resale or other commercial purposes, including educational purposes, may incur fees. Applications
for permission to reproduce or disseminate FAO copyright materials, and all queries concerning
rights and licences, should be addressed by e-mail to copyright@fao.org or to the Chief, Publishing
Policy and Support Branch, Office of Knowledge Exchange, Research and Extension, FAO, Viale
delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy.

FAO 2006
 3

CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION 5

2. SOILS AND TOPOGRAPHY 6

3. CLIMATE AND AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONES 7

4. RUMINANT LIVESTOCK SECTOR 8

5. THE PASTURE RESOURCE 11

Limitation of forage resources 15

6. OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT OF PASTURE RESOURCES 16

7. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS AND PERSONNEL 18

8. REFERENCES 19

9. CONTACTS 20
Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile 5

1. INTRODUCTION

Ghana, officially the Republic of Ghana and formerly

the Gold Coast, lies within latitude 4o 44N and
11o11 N and 3o 11W and 1o11 E. The Republic
of Togo borders Ghana on the east, Burkina Faso
(formerly Upper Volta) on the north-west and north
and Cte dIvoir on the west. The Gulf of Guinea
of the Atlantic Ocean lies south of the country,
forming a coastline 550 km long. The Volta River
basin, including the artificially created Lake Volta,
dominates the countrys drainage system (Figure 1).
Ghana has a population of 18.4 million with
a growth rate of 2.5% per annum and a mean
population density of 77 persons/km2 (according to
the World Factbook the population was estimated at
22409572 in July 2006 with a 2.07% growth rate).
The population distribution is varied across the 10
administrative regions and eco-zones of the country
with 68% and 32% living in the rural and urban Figure 1. Map of Ghana
Courtesy of The General Libraries, The University of Texas at
areas respectively. About 52% of the labour force are Austin
engaged in agriculture, 29% in services and 19% in
industry. Approximately 39% of farm labour force are women. Agriculture contributes 54% of Ghanas
GDP and accounts for over 40% of export earnings while at the same time providing over 90% of the
food needs of the country. Ghanas agriculture is predominantly smallholder, traditional and rainfed
(SRID, 2001).
About 136 000 km2 of land, covering approximately 57% of the countrys total land area of
238 539 km2, is classified as agricultural land area out of which 58 000 km2 (24.4%) is under
cultivation and 11000ha under irrigation. About 60% of all farms in the country are less than 1.2ha,
25% are between 1.2 to 2.0ha with a mere 15% above 2.0ha, and the mean farm size is less than 1.6ha.
Small and medium size farms of up to 10.0ha account for 95% of the cultivated land (SRID, 2001).
Ghanas farming systems vary with agro-ecological zones. However, certain general features are
discernible throughout the country. The bush fallow system prevails wherever there is ample land to permit
a plot to be rested enough to recoup its fertility after one to three years cultivation. Staple crops are often
mixed-cropped while cash crops are usually monocropped. In the forest zone, tree crops are significant with
cocoa, oil palm, coffee and rubber being of particular importance. The food crops in this area are mainly
inter-cropped mixtures of maize, plantain, cocoyam and cassava. The middle belt is characterized by mixed
or sole cropping of maize, legumes, cocoyam or yam, with tobacco and cotton being the predominant
cash crops. Cotton and tobacco are also important in the northern sector, where the food crops are mainly
sorghum, maize, millet, cowpeas, groundnuts and yam. Rice is important in all the zones. Although the
majority of rural households keep some sort of livestock, livestock farming is adjunct to crop farming.
Poultry predominates in the south, while cattle production is concentrated in the savannah zones. Sheep and
goat production is generally widespread throughout the country (MoFA, 1998).
Livestock production is a major feature in Ghanas agriculture and contributes largely towards
meeting food needs, providing draught power, manure to maintain soil fertility and structure and cash
income, particularly for farmers in the northern part of the country. The livestock sector contributes in
direct products about 7% of agricultural GDP (SRID, 2001), excluding manure and draught power that is
provided to the crop sector. Ruminant livestock play a major role in the socio-cultural life of the farming
communities as a partial determinant of wealth, payment of dowry, and act as a bank and insurance in
times of difficulty. Sheep and goats are often slaughtered for various occasions and functions such as
births, funeral and marriages (MoFA, 1990).
Domestic livestock meat production is low and amounted to 66283tonnes in the year 2000 (Table1)
of which beef contributed about 27%, mutton about 18%, goat meat and pig meat about 17% each,
6 Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile

and poultry meat about 21% (SRID, 2001) Table 1. Domestic meat production (tonnes) and
[According to FAO data there were also offtake rates (%)
57 000 tonnes of game meat produced in Species 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Offtake
2000]. Domestic milk production is estimated Cattle 15 411 17 160 17 325 18 029 18 570 11
Sheep 9 315 10 886 11 232 11 940 12 298 30
at 13700tonnes for the same period (although Goats 8 408 9 879 10 370 11 216 11 552 30
FAO data suggest higher levels see Table 3). Pigs 11 680 11 360 11 104 11 173 10 056 80
Both the meat and milk production represent Poultry 10 466 1 104 12 710 14 534 13 807 80
about 30% of the national animal protein Total 55 310 60 389 62 741 66 892 66 283
requirements. The country depends on imports Source: SRID, 2001

of livestock, meat and milk to meet the animal

protein shortfall. It is, however, difficult to estimate the amount of livestock and meat imported, as most
of the live imports from the northern neighbours, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, are not recorded. The
quantity of livestock product imports (through the main port at Tema) in 1998 was 22727tonnes; made
up of 10143.5tonnes poultry, 1724.0metric tonnes beef, 757tonnes pork, 9941.1tonnes dairy and
362.7 other products (LPIU, 1999).
The livestock marketing system operates fairly well, following well-defined rules and practices,
and involves itinerant traders, middlemen and butchers. The general flow of cattle, sheep and goats is
from the three major livestock producing regions of Upper West, Upper East and Northern as well as
the Volta Region to the urban centres in the southern sector of the country. The itinerant traders canvass
the hinterland purchasing animals from livestock producers. They move the animals to the secondary
markets where they sell them to individual consumers, local butchers and big traders, who bulk their
purchases and ship truckloads of livestock to the terminal markets. Prices of ruminant livestock,
especially sheep increase during festive seasons of Christmas, Easter and Ramadan.
Legally, all land in Ghana is vested in the state. However, land is predominantly regulated by
customary rather than statutory laws. The statehas the power to appropriate land anywhere in the country
for development purposes; however, compensationhas to be paid to the traditional owners. Channels
of access to land in Ghana include the family, spouses, sharecropping, lease, outright purchase, deed of
gift and mortgages or pledges. Communal ownership is the major feature of land tenure in most parts
of Ghana with family heads, chiefs (traditional rulers) and tindanas as the custodians of land on behalf
of the people. Although some individual ownership does occur, this comprises a small fraction of the
countrys landmass (Fianu et al. 2001). After cropharvest all members of the communityhave the right
to graze their stock on any farmland, and grazing land (natural pasture) is generally communally owned.

2. SOILS AND TOPOGRAPHY

Most of the soils of Ghana are developed on thoroughly weathered parent materials, with alluvial soils
(Fluvisols) and eroded shallow soils (Leptosols) common to all the ecological zones. Generally, most of
the soils are plagued with inherent or human induced infertility (MoFA, 1998).
The soils in the Forest zone are grouped under Forest Oxysols and Forest Acid Gleysols. They are
porous, well drained and generally loamy and are distinguished from those of the
Savannah zones by the greater accumulation of organic matter in the surface resulting from
higher accumulation of biomass. They occur in areas underlain by various igneous, metamorphic and
sedimentary rocks, whichhave influenced the nature and properties of the soil (MoFA, 1998). Soils of
the Savannah zones, especially in the Interior Savannah, are low in organic matter (less than 2% in the
topsoil),have high levels of iron concretions and are susceptible to severe erosion. Thus well-drained
upland areas tend to be droughty and when exposed to severe incident sun scorch, tend to develop
cement-like plinthite. These conditions make it imperative that manure be incorporated regularly into
the soils in the Savannah zones (MoFA, 1998).
The topography of the country (see Figure 2) is mainly undulating with most slopes less than 5% and
many not exceeding 1%. The topography of the high rainforest is, however, mainly strongly rolling. The
Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile 7

Figure 2: Relief map of

Ghana
Courtesy of The General Libraries, The
University of Texas at Austin

uplifted edges of the Voltarian Basin give rise to narrow plateaux between 300 to 600m high. Despite the
general undulating nature of the terrain, about 70% suffer from moderate to severe soil erosion (Boateng,
1998). A high degree of gully erosion is common in the savannah zones along the north and south, and
to some extent along the west.

3. CLIMATE AND AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONES

Climate Ghanas climate is influenced by the hot, dry and dusty-laden air mass that moves from the
north east across the Sahara and by the tropical maritime air mass that moves from the south-west across
the southern Atlantic ocean. The climate ranges from the bimodal rainfall equatorial type in the south
to the tropical unimodal monsoon type in the north. The mean monthly temperature over most of the
country never falls below 25 oC, a consequence of the low latitude position of Ghana and the absence
of high altitude areas. Mean annual temperature averages 27 oC. Absolute maxima approach 40 oC,
especially in the north, with absolute minima descending to about 15oC. In the coastal areas, where the
modifying influence of the sea breeze is felt the annual range of temperature is between 5 and 6 oC. In
the interior on the otherhand, the range is higher, about 7o to 9C (Dickson and Benneh, 1988; Benneh
et al. 1990).
The rainfall generally decreases from the south to the north. The wettest area is the extreme southwest
where the rainfall is over 2000mm per annum. In the extreme north, the annual rainfall is less than
1100mm. The driest area is in the southeastern coastal tip where the rainfall is about 750mm. Much
8 Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile

of the rain falls in intense storms of short Table 2. Agro-ecological zones

duration, especially at the beginning Zone Area % of Mean Growing period
(000ha) total annual (days)
of the season resulting in heavy runoff area rain Major Minor
(mm)
and erosion. The annual mean relative season season
humidity is about 80% in the south and Rain Forest 750 3 2 200 150160 100
Deciduous Forest 740 3 1 500 150160 90
44% in the north (Dickson and Benneh,
Transition 6 630 28 1 300 200220 60
1988; Benneh et al. 1990). Guibea Savannah 14 790 63 1 100 180200 -
Sudan Savannah 190 1 1 000 150160 -
Agro-ecological zones Ghana is divided Coastal Savannah 580 2 800 100110 60
into six major agro-ecological zones: Source: SRID, 2001.
these are Rain Forest, Deciduous Forest,
Forest-Savannah Transition, Coastal Savannah and Northern (Interior) Savannah which comprises
Guinea and Sudan Savannahs (Table 2). The bimodal rainfall pattern in the Forest, Deciduous Forest,
Transitional and Coastal Savannah zones gives rise to major and minor growing seasons. In the Northern
Savannah the unimodal distribution results in a single growing season. The rainfall determines largely
the type of agricultural enterprise carried out in each zone.

4. RUMINANT LIVESTOCK SECTOR

Livestock resources. The ruminant industry is composed largely of small-scale enterprises involved
in the rearing of cattle, sheep, and goats. The ruminant livestock population stood at 1.3million
cattle, 2.7million sheep and 3.1million goats in the year 2000 (Table 3). In addition, there were
2700 horses and 13100 donkeys. By 2004 FAO data indicate that there were 1.37million cattle,
3.11million sheep and 3.6 million goats (as well as 300000 pigs and 29.5million poultry). Table3
also provides details of meat and milk production, live cattle and chicken meat imports as well as
milk equivalent imports.

Cattle. The most prominent cattle breed in the country is the West African Shorthorn (WASH). The
name of the breed is coined as a general descriptive term to cover all the variations of small non-humped
cattle, generally black and white in colour but sometimes fawn and white. It is an indigenous tough
breed of cattle, thick set with short fine-boned limbs. Zebu influence in the WASH becomes much more
marked towards the northern frontier and especially towards the north-east where the tsetse challenge
is much less (Hutchinson, 1962). The breed accounts for about half the cattle in the country and has
developed a degree of tolerance to tsetse-borne trypanosomiasis. The Sanga, a natural cross between the
WASH and the large humped Zebu cattle, follows the WASH in abundance. The Zebu cattle, which are
susceptible to trypanosomiasis, are found mainly in tsetse fly free areas. There are no pure exotic dairy

Table 3. Ghana statistics for livestock numbers, meat and milk production and live cattle, meat and
milk imports for the period 19952005
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Cattle nos (,000,000) 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.29 1.30 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.37 1.39
Sheep nos (,000,000) 2.42 2.47 2.52 2.66 2.74 2.77 2.92 3.02 3.11 3.21
Goats nos (,000,000) 2.34 2.63 2.74 2.93 3.08 3.20 3.23 3.56 3.60 3.63
Pig nos (,000) 317.9 353.3 351.8 332.0 324.0 312.0 310.0 303.0 300.0 305.0
Beef and veal prod. (,000 mt.) 20.9 20.8 20.8 21.3 23.8 24.0 24.1 24.4 24.6 25.4
Sheep meat prod. (,000 mt) 6.3 6.4 6.6 6.7 9.5 9.6 10.1 10.4 10.7 11.1
Goat meat prod. (,000 mt.) 5.6 6.2 6.5 6.9 10.2 10.6 10.7 11.8 11.9 12.0
Pig meat prod. (,000 mt) 9.7 10.8 10.8 10.1 10.9 10.5 10.4 10.2 11.4 10.3
Total milk prod. (,000 mt.) 32.5 32.8 33.1 33.4 33.8 34.2 34.6 35.1 35.5 36.0
Live cattle imports (,000 head) 16.1 57.4 71.4 55.7 60.5 71.9 78.4 76.8 53.8 n.r.
Chicken meat imports (,000 mt) 5.3 5.9 6.1 13.6 13.9 11.3 24.8 36.0 44.9 n.r.
Milk equiv. imports (,000 mt) 6.8 20.5 58.6 67.2 89.3 107.0 149.7 129.6 145.6 n.r.
Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile 9

cattle in the country at the moment. Most of the crossbred dairy cattle available now, about 500, were
produced through artificial insemination with imported semen.

Sheep. The major sheep breed, the indigenous West African Dwarf or Djallonk breed is distributed
nation-wide. The breed is acknowledged for itshardiness, trypanotolerance, prolificacy and suitability
for year-round breeding. Although it is a small animal, with an adult weight of 2530kg in males and
2025kg in females, the Djallonk does not exhibit traits associated with dwarfism. The larger and long-
legged Sahelian sheep, and crosses between the Djallonk and the Sahelian sheep, are found mostly in
the north of the country and peri-urban areas.

Goats. Most goats in Ghana are of the indigenous West African Dwarf (WAD) breed, an achondro-
plastic dwarf. The adult male weighs 2025 kg and the female 1822 kg. The breed is very prolific,
precocious and trypanotolerant and are found throughout the country. There are considerable numbers
of the much larger and long-legged and exotic Sahelian as well as crosses between the WAD and the
Sahelian goats in the north of the country and in the peri-urban areas.

Non-ruminant herbivores. Most horses in the country are used as symbols of authority and wealth by
chiefs in the northern sector of the country and for racing and polo games. Donkeys are used mainly
for carting goods. Ghana has an array of herbivorous wildlife that ranges in size from the massive
elephant to rodents, which live on forages and food crops. They are present in all the agro-ecological
zones, vegetation types and farming systems. Wildlife is a source of considerable value to the nutrition
and economy of many rural households as a source of animal protein and income respectively. The
species of wildlife commonly exploited for food in the country is the West African grass (sugar cane)
cutter, Thrynomys swinderianus (ADB, 2001). Attempts are being made by researchers and farmers to
domesticate and breed the grass cutter and render it more available to reduce the rate ofharvest from
the wild.

Ruminant livestock production systems. Ghana has no major pastoral or transhumant population
relying on extensive cattle and small stock production. The main production system is based mainly
on extensive grazing or free range among smallholder farmers with only a few commercial farmers
operating mainly in the Coastal Savannah zone.

Smallholder agro-pastoralism. The smallholder agro-pastoralism, the main cattle production system
in Ghana, is geared towards beef production. It is linked with milk production system whereby milk
is shared between the herdsman and the calf, with the surplus going to the market (Okanta, 1992). In
this system, settled farmers whose main occupation is crop cultivation own livestock. Ownership may
be direct, personal and individual, or in the form of trusteeship for family group property held in trust.
Where a large herd is found the owning family group may be several, varying widely in size and in
relationship. It frequently occurs that the apparent owner is not the sole owner and he is unable either to
authorize or approve extensive interventions without consultation with the co-owners.
The practice of herding under smallholder agro-pastoralism has not changed over decades. It has
been described by Hutchinson (1962) as a function of the type of settlement and distribution of the
community, influenced by other factors such as proximity to the frontier, security of danger from
predators and cattle thieves and by the availability of and quantity of grazing areas. In the compound
farming areas, the cattle-owning people live in scattered compounds each surrounded by a farm. Soon
after dawn each herd is released from the compound and driven through the compound farm by the
owning familys children. Herding is, however, by adult members of the family where there are standing
crops. The young children then take charge and herd them to a rendezvous where a number of herds
are combined under the leadership of an older boy for grazing. Towards the end of the afternoon they
gradually make their way back towards their homes.
Afterharvesting annual crops, it is the practice of some communities in the north-west and the north-
east of the country to drive their herds from the compounds into the unfarmed areas without any form of
herding, where they remain wholly untended until the next farming season. This is an annual event and
10 Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile

generally cattle from a group of compounds tend to keep together and go to the same grazing grounds year
after year. They follow the same annual itinerary from one grazing place and watering point to another
until with the approach of the next farming season make their way on their own accord to the vicinity of
the settlements from which they came. Diseases, accidents and theft tend to diminish the stock population
during this period of free range. Elsewhere in the country, human settlements are nucleated and herding
methods are consequently different. Cultivated land is located at a little distance from the settlement and
grazing land is much further away. In these circumstances herding is usually by hired Fulani herdsmen.

Integrating livestock with tree crop plantations. There is a long history of integrating livestock into
farming systems in Ghana, the major one being rearing of cattle and sheep under tree crop plantations.
This is mainly found on oil palm, citrus and coconut plantations. Introduced forage species of Centrosema
pubescens and Pueraria phaseloides constitute the main diet of these animals in the plantations.
However, a wide range of volunteer forbs and grasses, such as Aspilia africana, Asystasia gangetica,
Euphorbia hirta, Panicum maxium, P. laxum and Phyllanthus muellerianus, contribute significantly to
the forage biomass. Green herbage yield of cover crops under citrus plantation averaged 20.8 metric
tonnes/ha. However, the herbage biomass could be significantly reduced in old plantations due to dense
overhead canopy (Fianu et al, 1994). Farmers whohave adopted the technology of integrating livestock
with tree crops show higher standards of stock husbandry than the agro-pastoralists.

Backyard small ruminant rearing. Backyard small ruminant rearing is popular in peri-urban areas.
In this system, simple pens are usually provided for sheep and goats within or attached to the owners
house. The pens are constructed from locally available materials such as timber offcuts, bamboo, tree
branches and mud, and roofed with leaves, split bamboo or metal sheets. Children often undertake daily
management, such as provision of water, feed and bedding as well as cleaning of pens. The system is
based on cut and carry of forages, and the use of household wastes, mainly cassava and plantain peels,
crop residues and crop by-products. Breeding is normally not controlled and the animals are therefore
open to conception as soon as puberty is attained. Although most farmers have access to veterinary
services, curative self-medication is commonly practised at times using various herbal concoctions.
The backyard system supplies fattened rams and bucks for the expanding urban market, particularly
during religious festivities.

Commercial. Commercial cattle farming, with absentee ownership by professionals and businessmen,
are almost entirely limited to the Coastal Savannah zone with varying levels of management. There are
also a few farms belonging to para-statal institutions with herds ranging from 1000 to 3000. In this
system, cattle graze on sown pastures as well as natural pastures, which are often improved with forage
legumes. The system represents a comparatively safe, automatically incremental and readily realizable
investment. There are no large-scale commercial sheep and goat farms in the country.

Feeding systems. Sustenance for cattle, and to lesser extent small ruminants, is almost entirely dependent
on grazing on natural pastures, with its extreme seasonal variation in quantity and quality. Most farmers
practice supplementary feeding, using crop residues, in the dry season. Those who fatten cattle and back-
yard sheep and goat farmers in the cities and towns practise stall-feeding. The animals are fed on both
crop residues in the form of groundnut tops, maize cobs, by-products from grain winnowing, cowpea
pods, and peels of plantain and cassava. These are often supplemented with cut grass and browse as well
as leaves from fodder plants. In some communities practising compound farming, sheep and goats are
only let loose after the crops areharvested. Otherwise they are tethered and graze in a limited area. The
animals are moved to different areas daily to ensure that theyhave access to adequate forage.

Limitations. The growth of the domestic ruminant livestock industry has been impeded by several
constraints such as lack of improved breeding stock, disease, poor nutrition, inadequate stock water, poor
marketing, lack of capital, high interest rate on loans and lack of a grassland policy. Notwithstanding
this, recent developments show that the countryhas the potential to increase the off-take of livestock and
produce good quality meat and milk to satisfy a greater part of the nations animal protein requirements.
Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile 11

Diseases. In the area of animal disease and disease control the dominant factor is the continental
character of the country. Except for the comparatively short coastline in the south, the country has a
long land frontier, marked by few natural features that would serve as effective barriers to the passage of
infection. Vectors of disease of all kinds may therefore pass unhindered into and out of the country. Main
diseases of concern in cattle are contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, Brucellosis, anthrax, tuberculosis,
rabies, foot and mouth disease, trypanosomiasis, dermatophilosis, heartwater and babesiosis. Helminth
infestation is a problem with all ruminant livestock countrywide, and is often associated with low
standards of animal management. It is a prime cause of ill health and unthriftness in all classes of
livestock with high mortality in the young and low productivity in the adult. In small ruminants, Peste
de Petite Ruminants occurs as an epidemic with usually high morbidity and mortality rates, while
ectoparasitism caused by ticks and mange is a major cause of poor productivity.

Stock water. Provision of water for livestock is not a problem in the rainy season. However, considerable
difficulties are encountered in the dry season in the Savannah zones as supplies dwindle. The livestock
owners trek cattle over long distances, causinghardships to both herders and livestock. Some cattle get
dehydrated which often leads to loss of condition and mortality.

Access to improved breeding stock and artificial insemination. Lack of improved breeding and
growing stock is a major constraint to increasing livestock production and productivity. The indigenous
livestock breeds are small, and the cattlehave limited genetic potential for milk production and remain
mediocre producers even when the best possible conditions are provided. Improved sires are scarce
and are available to only a few farmers. There is an on-going programme for artificial insemination in
the production of dual-purpose cattle for the peri-urban dairy scheme in place of the dermatophilosis
prone exotic dairy cattle. However, inadequate logistics and indefinite oestrous behaviour in the Sanga
cowhave limited the impact of artificial insemination in enhancing milk production.

Use of animals in herding. Cattlehave to be trekked over long distances in the dry season in search of
feed and water in most places in the Savannah zones causing considerable stress to herders and stock.
Children, on a limited scale, ride on oxen and donkeys in herding cattle. Horses and dogs are not used.

Socio-economic limitations. High illiteracy among farmers, low adoption of appropriate technology,
unwillingness to sell animals as well as communal ownership of grazing lands are among the
impediments to the improvement of the ruminant livestock industry. Furthermore, agriculture extension
is biased towards crop production with very little emphasis on livestock production and health. Although
there is a national livestock breeding policy whose remit is to ensure the genetic development of the
indigenous livestock breeds and limit indiscriminate importation of animals for breeding purposes ithas
not been effectively implemented.

5. THE PASTURE RESOURCE

Vegetation. The vegetation of Ghana (Figure 3) forms part of the complex of types, which lie, without
regard for political boundaries, between the Sahara and the Gulf of Guinea. The main vegetation
formations as described by Benneh et al. (1990) are the Coastal Strand and Mangrove, the Coastal
Savannah, the Closed Forest, the Derived Savannah and the Interior Savannah.

The Coastal Strand and Mangrove. Coastal Strand and Mangrove vegetation occurs along the coastline,
around lagoons and estuaries of the larger rivers. Its total area is small and therefore relatively unimportant.
Mangrove trees grow to a height of 1215 m and are closely packed and green throughout the year.
Ecologically however, it provides a definitehabitat. The zone is of relatively little agricultural importance
and does not support livestock. The plants that occur include Ipomoea pes-caprae and Avicenna sp.
12 Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile

The Closed Forest. The Closed Forest,

covering an area of about 135 670 km2,
is floristically divided into rain forest
and semi-deciduous forest. High
temperatures coupled with heavy rainfall
of 1 5002 200 mm, which is well
distributed throughout the year in the
zone, promotes very rapid plant growth.
The zone has an even tree canopy at
3040 m while emergents may attain
60 m. Canopy trees may be deciduous
in the dry season but the understorey
shrubs and trees are evergreen. A
herbaceous layer which may include
a few specialized grasses occurs over
a variable portion of the forest floor.
Compared to that of the Savannah
zones, pasture resources in this zone
are not very significant. Furthermore,
ruminant livestock production is of
minor importance as the area is not
only dominated by food and tree crop
farming but also associated, in some
places, with heavy infestation of tsetse
flies, the transmitter of trypanosomiasis.
Figure 3: Vegetation types of Ghana
The Savannah Zones. The Savannah Dickson and Benneh (1988)
zones may be conveniently divided into
the Interior or Northern Savannah and the Coastal or Southern Savannah which is also known as the
Coastal Scrub and Grassland. The three northern political regions, Northern, Upper West and Upper
East, carry two-thirds of the nations grasslands, while the Coastal Grasslands make up one-third of the
Savannahs. Between the Interior and Coastal Savannah is the Derived Savannah Zone or Ecotone of
Forest-Savannah Transition fringing the Forest Zone between latitudes 7 o and 8 o N.

The Coastal Savannah. The Coastal Savannah occupies about 20000km2, and comprises the Ho-Keta
Plains, the Accra Plains and a narrow strip tapering from Winneba to Cape Coast. The main climatic
factor is rainfall, which comes in two peaks. MarchJuly is the main season and September-October,
the minor rainy season. August is a dry but cloudy break during which bright sunshine may be less than
two to four hours per day. Eight hours of sunshine per day occurs during the long dry season, except for
theharmattan months of December to February when thehaze of sand laden north-easterly winds from
the Sahara prevail. The annual total rainfall is about 700 to 800mm in the Accra Plains, and slightly
higher in the westernhalf of the zone.
In the past four decades, human activity, notably cultivation, firewood extraction and bush
burning, has changed the tree cover of the Accra Plains from the forest relicts of Ceiba, Bombax,
Antiaris and occasional Triplochiton and the introduced Azadirachta. There may also be a sprinkling
of pockets of short trees and shrubs like Albizia, Baphia, Milettia, Clausena, Lonchocarpus, Carissa,
Dicrostachys and Xanthoxylon. The grass cover is still dominated by Vetiveria fulvibarbis, but a high
frequency of Sporobolus and Imperata or Rhynchelytrum along with Ctenium newtonii on lighter soils
reveals the effects of overgrazing and cultivation, respectively. Gravelly soils carry Ctenium newtonii,
Brachiaria falcifera, Schizachyrium schweinfurthii, and Andropogon canaliculatus dominate grazing
land in excellent condition. The more humid areas which line the north-western boundary of the Accra
Plains, feature Panicum maximum, Hyperthelia dissoluta and an occasional Andropogon gayanus var.
bisquamulatus as indicators of excellent grazing (Fianu et al. 2001).
Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile 13

The Winneba-Cape Coast Plains are more wooded than the Accra Plains because the population
pressure is much less so cultivation and tree cutting are less intense. Besides, the frequent estuaries
of streams entering the sea support fringes of forest relicts. Nonetheless, areas of open Panicum-
Hyperthelia grassland are quite evident over patches of exhausted soils of abandoned farm sites. In the
vicinity of Winneba, Vetiveria fulvibarbis is dominant over the heavy clays with Sporobolus indicating
overgrazed areas (Fianu et al. 2001). The carrying capacity of the plains is about 2.5ha per adult ox
(Hutchinson, 1962).

The Interior Savannah. Rainfall in the Interior Savannah zone comes in one peak, which starts in
April - May and builds up slowly to a height in AugustSeptember and declines sharply in October-
November. The total precipitation is about 1100mm per annum, with a range from about 800mm to
about 1500mm. Average ambient temperatures are high year round (about 28C) but theharmattan
months of December and January are characterised by minimum temperatures that may fall to 13C at
night, while March and April may experience 40C in the early afternoon.
The zonehas an extension through the Akosombo gorge and into the Ho plains in the south-west, and
covers an area of about 129000km2. It is typically Guinea Savannah, i.e. a tree Savannah or a continuous
grass cover interspersed with generally fire resistant, deciduous, broad-leaf trees. In the most luxuriant
form the trees show varying completeness of canopy. A narrow strip of degraded grassland vegetation
fringing the countrys northern border corner, about 7 200 km2, is sometimes classified as Sudan
Savannah on account of its shorter grasses and shrubs. However, in view of the rather high population
pressure in the area, this small patch is more likely the result of degradation by man rather than a climatic
biome. The grasses associated with the Interior Savannah are not uniform but differ according to soil
type and moisture regime. The grassy background of the zone is invariably dominated by Andropogon
gayanus with Hyparrhenia and Schizachyrium as co-dominants in some areas. The tree cover includes
Butyrospermum, Khaya, Ceiba, Pterocarpus, Parkia, Anogeissus, Diospyros and Adansonia (Fianu et al.
2001). The zonehas a wide range carrying capacity of about 4 to 12ha per adult ox (Hutchinson, 1962)
depending on herbage availability.

The Transition Zone. This is an expanding zone along forest fringes where grassland is gradually
replacing forest. Rainfall is in one peak in some years and two peaks in other years, although the double
maximum is more common. This variation in the distribution of rainfall shows the transition nature of
the zone: between the Guinea Savannah to the north and the Forest to the south.
The vegetation is a degraded forest with a wide range of tall grasses. Among the surviving forest
relicts are Antiaris, Phyllanthus and Elaeis. While Borassus, Lophira, Daniellia, Lonchocarpus,
Pterocarpus, Burkea and Parkia represent the Savannah intrusions. Similarly, among the grasses, the
humid zone representatives include Pennisetum purpureum and Panicum maximum, while the subhumid
zone species include Andropogon gayanus, A. tectorum, Hyperthelia and Hyparrhenia spp. (Fianu et al.
2001).

Natural pastures. About 360 000 km2 or 15% of the total land area in Ghana is used as permanent
natural pastures. If the unreserved Savannah woodland area of 71000km2 (i.e., 30% of the total land
area) is added then the potentially available land area for production of pasture is 107000km2 or 45%
of the total land area. The bush fallow areas and land for other uses constitute 6000km2 or 2.5% of the
total land area (SRID 2001). However, this area may be excluded from the potential pasture producing
area as it includes settlements.
The growth pattern of the forages follows the rainfall pattern within the different agro-ecological
zones. In the Coastal Savannah area, there is a growing season of seven months and a non-growing
period of five months while in the Northern Savannah area, the growing season lasts for five months and
the non-growing period for seven months. The annual total dry matter yieldshave not changed much
over the years and are 1965 and 2170kg/ha in the Coastal and Guinea Savannah zones respectively.
In both zones, about 80% of the yields are achieved within the growing season. The ligneous species
within the natural pastures are estimated to give forage dry matter (DM) yield of 700 to 1000kg/ha/
year. The nutritive value of the natural pasture herbage varies over the year according to the season.
14 Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile

Protein content is high (812% DM) at the beginning of the rains but may drop to as low as 2 to 4%
DM in the dry season. Phosphorus levels also vary ranging between 0.16 and 0.06% DM. Forages from
shrubs and fodder trees are very high in protein (12%) and also in minerals and vitamins. The total forage
production in the country is estimated at 10600000tonnes of which some 70% emanate from grassland
herbage. The annual Total Digestible Nutrients, Digestible Protein and Digestible Nitrogen production
levels are 5.93, 0.84 and 0.13million tonnes respectively (Agrovets Consultancy, 1989).

Sown pastures. Numerous indigenous and exotic species of grasses and legumeshave undergone trials
at the agricultural research stations and the promising ones established as pastures on state owned and a
few commercial and small holder farms. About 2750ha of forageshave been established as pure grass
and legume stands or as mixed pastures, while a further 110 ha of intensive fodder plots comprising
mainly forage trees, and averaging 0.1ha per plot,have been set up close to dwellings for zero grazing.
Ghanahas about 8500ha of sown pastures including rangelands oversown with Stylosantheshamata
and Andropogon gayanus as well as forages introduced into plantation crops. Although the rate of
establishing pastures in the countryhas generally been low, the role of sown pastures in supplementing
grazing from natural pastures, and in particular during the dry season, is well acknowledged by
both commercial and smallholder farmers. The major constraint to expanding smallholder pasture
developmenthas been encroachment by alien herds and wildlife as the pastures are not fenced. Recent
increasing demand for forage seeds among both existing and emerging commercial farmers and for
rehabilitation of lands thathave been subjected to surface mininghas been very encouraging. In view
of the limited availability of locally produced forage seeds some commercial farmers and mining
companieshave resorted to importing seeds for their own use.
The grass species cultivated include Panicum maximum, Cynodon nlemfuensis, Chloris gayana,
Andropogon gayanus, Bracharia ruziziensis, Tripsacum luxum, Setaria sphacelata and Cenchrus
ciliaris. The legume species widely used are Centrosema pubescens, Macroptilium atropurpureum,
Pueraria phaseoloides, Stylosanthes spp., Flamingia congesta and Lablab purpureus. A number of
forage trees, prominent among which are Leuceana leucocephela, Sesbania grandiflora, and Gliricidia
sepium, as well as a few indigenous palatable browse species such as Pterocarpus evinacelus, Afzelia sp.
and Ficus sp.have also been cultivated for fodder. The browse plants are mainly found as shade trees on
paddocks, in intensive fodder plots and as fencing posts.
Cajanus cajanhas of late become very important as a dual purpose crop in the Savannah zones as
forage and seed for livestock and human consumption respectively. Grazing trials in the Guinea and
Sudan Savannahs indicate that sown pastures of Andropogon gayanus survive only when grazed heavily
and given adequate periods of rest thereafter. Constant light grazing causes the pasture to revert to
Heteropogon contortus and Aristida sp., both of which are almost useless from the grazing point of view.

Improved natural pastures. Stylosantheshamata Cv. Veranohas been identified as one of the most
appropriate legumes for natural pasture improvement in Ghana. It is estimated that about 5,000ha of
natural pastures have been oversown with the legume in almost 300 communities in the Savannah
zones since 1994. The legume has, however, spread over a larger area as a result of dispersal of the
seed by wind, rain and through droppings of grazing ruminants. Alternative methods of introducing
Stylosantheshamata into the farming systems, including undersowing annual crops,have been used to
a lesser extent. Undersowing crops with Stylosantheshamata benefits the crop through nitrogen fixation
that reduces the need for inorganic fertiliser. After the crop has been harvested the residue including
legume forage is either grazed in situ or collected and fed to stock or conserved for later use. Sufficient
seeds usually remain in the field at the end of the dry season for the legume to re-establish itself in
subsequent years. Andropogon gayanus has also been used to improve natural pastures in the Sudan
Savannah zone

Crop residue. Afterharvest, crop residues normally complement standinghay and in some cases take
the place of natural grasses in the range in providing the bulk of ruminant feed. Many possibilities for
using crop residues are ignored by farmers and not many attempt to recover from the field, store and
improve the quality of these valuable resources. In spite of this, crop residues, such as groundnut and
Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile 15

cowpeahaulms, bean vines, maize, sorghum and millet stover, constitute the bulk of ruminant feed during
the dry season. It is estimated that about 8000000metric tonnes of cereal stalks and 3500000metric
tonnes of residues from roots and tubers are potentially available as animal feed in each year. However,
quantities of these that are actually fed to livestock form a very small fraction of the available crop
residues. Large scale systematic feeding of crop residues is hindered by alternative uses such as fuel
source (e.g. sorghum and millet stalks), thatching, and by the problem of collection (MoFA, 1998) in
view of the bulkiness of the residue and in some cases distance from settlements. Other potential feed
resources, which are not made adequate use of, include by-products of the agro-processing industries.
Among these are spent brewers grains, wheat bran, rice bran and hulls, cocoa husk and oil seed products.

Forage seed production Mainly national agricultural institutes produce forage seed. These are the
Animal Research Institute, the Crops Department at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science
and Technology, the Plant Genetic Resources Institute and the Crop Services and Animal Production
Directorates of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. The forages multiplied are the types well adapted
to lowland tropical areas, viz., Centrosema pubescens Macroptilium atropurpureum, Stylosanthes
guianensis, Stylosanthes scabra cv. Seca, S.hamata, Macroptilium lathyroides, Cajanus cajan, Leucaena
leucocephala, Cenchrus ciliaris cv. Gayndah, Andropogon gayanus, Brachiaria brizantha and Urochloa
spp. Forage seed yields from manualharvests are much higher for legumes than grasses. Highest yields
of Centrosema pubescens and Cajanus cajan, were 505 and 3896kg/hg respectively, while the grasses,
Cenchrus ciliaris and Andropogon gayanus yielded 333 and 114kg/ha respectively at Pokuase in the
Coastal savannah zone (Barnes and Alhassan, 1993). Sixty-eight small holder farmers trained by the
Ministry of Food and Agriculture in S.hamata seed production produced a total of 11.2tonnes of clean
seeds in 1998 from an average of 0.4ha per farmer (Alhassan et al. 1999).

Limitation of forage resources

Infertile soils. As indicated in Section 2, the soils of the Savannah zones generallyhave low organic
matter that imparts a low fertility status to the soil. In the past, fertility regeneration was achieved
through long fallow periods, which as a result of increased human population have been very much
reduced or fast disappearing. The extensive grazing system pertaining in the zones results in thinly
spread manure over a wide area of the grazing land. Furthermore, night kraaling of livestock does not
enhance return of large qualities of manure to the fields. Manure is now in great demand in both the
rural and urban areas. In the farming communities manure would rather be used to improve soil fertility
for cash crops such as maize rather than to improve pastures. Since chemical fertilizers are not used on
natural pastures, the soils tend to lack some essential nutrients and minerals, which affect the condition
of pastures (MoFA, 1998).

Poor quality of natural pastures. Most of Ghanas natural pastures are under-utilized, and the grasses
are characterized by very rapid growth, with feeding value high only in the early part of the wet season,
declining rapidly thereafter and becoming extremely low in the dry season. Even where the supply of
dry matter is adequate in the dry season, it is seriously deficient in protein, vitamins and minerals. The
resultant inadequacy of feed, in terms of quantity and quality, negatively affects the productive and
reproductive performance of grazing livestock.

Weed encroachment and poor pasture management. Overgrazing of natural pastures, bush burning
and felling of fodder trees for fuel-wood, have led to the decline in the quality and quantity of the
biomass which supports livestock. Grasses of mediocre nutritive quality and acceptability to livestock,
such as Heteropogon sp. and Sporobolus sp. have invaded the natural pasture at the expense of the
more nutritive and palatable ones. The preferred species are now endangered and could disappear
entirely in favour of invaders of poor nutritive quality. Most natural pastures are communally owned for
grazing purposes and as such, there is no obligation on stockowners and herders to either ensure proper
management or invest in its improvement. Unlike farming land, no permission is needed before grazing
and herders graze their animals anywhere there is feed irrespective of the pasture condition. Thishas
resulted in denuding of large patches of the natural pastures.
16 Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile

Lack of access to high quality seed and planting materials. Pasture establishment is not a culture
in Ghanaian livestock farming. Consequently the demand for forage seeds and vegetative planting
materials is extremely low, and erratic. There are no commercial forage seed producing companies at
present. A few multiplication units, on request from livestock farms, produce forage seeds byhand. A
big extension effort is needed to educate livestock farmers on the need to introduce improved pastures
into farming systems, while ensuring that seed and vegetative planting materials are readily available.

Bush fire. Bush fires often occur as a result of illegal and uncontrolled burning of bush afterharvest
to remove rank vegetation, or for hunting or just for fun. The incidence of bush fires can be correlated
with human presence, as indeed can cattle density, since fires occur most frequently in areas with
very high cattle populations. Damage done by fire to the natural pastures is very significant and is a
major contributing factor in the decline in the condition of both natural and sown pastures as well as
the greatest constraint to the success of oversowing natural pasture with forage legumes. Uncontrolled
bush fire destroys standinghay and crop residues lying in the field. Although therehave been efforts
at educating the farming communities against bush burning, the impact has not been very effective,
particularly in the Coastal Savannah zone. This may be due partly to lack of collaboration among the
sectors in anti-bush fire campaign and inadequate logistic support to fire fighting volunteers. Whereas
a group of anti-bush fire campaigners place emphasis on early-burning as a solution to the wanton
incidence and the devastating effect of bush fire, others preach no-burning concept, which tend to
confuse the farmers (Alhassan et al. 1999).

6. OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT OF PASTURE

RESOURCES

Rehabilitation of natural pastures. Excellent results have been obtained in the denuded and badly
eroded land in the establishment of grassland by broadcasting Andropogon gayanus seeds in the
Sudan Savannah zone (Rose Innes, 1962). The method has proved itself as an effective instrument
in the rehabilitation of eroded land and the grasshas persisted for about 40 years after establishment.
Rehabilitation of heavily grazed natural pastures by oversowing with Stylosantheshamatahas been very
promising in view of the numerous benefits observed by farmers associated with the exercise. The major
ones are improvements in productivity and health of livestock, improvement in soil fertility, and increase
in feed quality and availability (Alhassan et al., 1999). It is therefore necessary that efforts be made to
increase the coverage of the natural pasture improvement.
The evident palatability, bulk, suitability forhay making, viability, ease of establishment and natural
adaptability to local conditions makes A. gayanus and S.hamata the ideal forage species for improving
natural pasture in the Savannah zones. However, pasture improvement on a large-scale demands equally
large quantities of forage seeds which are prohibitive to import in view of the high cost. There is
therefore a need to improve and expand the developed local capacity for producing forage seeds among
farmers and the agricultural institutes.

Grassland policy. A grassland policy, whose absence has negatively affected the development and
management of the nations grassland resources, willhave to be introduced. Such a policy should be
simple and reflect the peculiarities of the various vegetation zones. It should focus on the Savannah areas
with emphasis on indigenous forage species. It should incorporate studies on the introduction of adapted
exotic grass and legume species on forest fringes and valley bottoms in the Interior Savannah where
large tracts of land previously under rice cultivation are being abandoned due to soil impoverishment
and heavy weed invasion (Alhassan and Barnes, 1993).

Integration of forages into farming systems. Other than Andropogon. gayanus, Stylosantheshamata,
Cajanus cajan, Desmodium intortum, Dolichos lablab and the tree species of Leucaena leucocephala
Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile 17

and Gliricidia sepium there has not been any effective and deliberate introduction of forage species
into the farming systems. The prospects are good for a simplified approach for introduction of fodder
trees and shrubs. There is also a good scope for the incorporation of some more intensive on-farm
strategies based on forage legumes. A combination of these strategies would facilitate the development
of relatively sustainable and productive cropping and livestock systems. Extension advice is, however,
needed to convince farmers that the forage legumes will benefit companion crops and are not in
competition for nutrients.

Intensive fodder production. Cattle owners and herders, particularly under the peri-urban system,
should be encouraged to establish intensive fodder plots with forages of high nutritive quality near their
kraals to supplement range grazing. Suitable forages for intensive production that are amenable to zero
grazing include Stylosanthes hamata, Panicum maximum and Cenchrus ciliaris. A one ha intensive
fodder plot, zero grazed, will provide substantial supplementary feed for a 50 cow herd and their calves.

Weed control. Rehabilitating sown pastures is concomitant with weed control since weed encroachment
is a major problem. Most pasture weeds are annuals. The few perennial weeds found are coppiced shoots
from plants missed during land preparation. Some of the pernicious weeds commonly found in developed
pastures are Imperata cylindrica, Sporobolus sp., Icacina sp., Mimosa sp. Chromolaena odorata, Sida
acuta, Commelina sp., Hyptis sp. and Azadirachta indica. The manual weed control normally undertaken
in pastures is very laborious and time consuming. The use of chemicals of proven efficacy, such as
glyphosate and dalapon, both of which are safe, as possible adjuncts to cultural methods for controlling
very stubborn weeds in pastures will ensure better establishment and increased productivity of forages.

Forage conservation. In order to prevent losses in animal productivity especially in the dry season,
feed conservation in the form ofhay and or silage should be undertaken. Natural grasslandhayhas been
successfully made but not much usehas come out of this abundant resource as a reserve for dry season
feeding. Since the most suitable stage of growth forhaymaking coincides with a period of heavy rainfall,
high temperature and high humidity, silage making could be a logical alternative. Silage of excellent
qualityhas been made from a variety of fodder crops in the country, notably sorghum, millet and maize.
Bothhay and silage making are, however, not popular among farmers and need to be encouraged.

Crop residue and agro-industrial by-products. A lot of good feed resources, such as groundnut vines
and cereal stalks, are left in the fields after harvest and lost through bush fires. Most farmers know
their feeding value and would like to feed to their stock to improve productivity. Under-utilization of
crop residues is rather due to their bulky nature that makes carting to the homesteads laborious. The
use of inexpensive appropriate wooden baling crates would enhance compactness of the products into
sizes that can be conveniently conveyed to the households, even by bicycles. The crude protein content
and digestibility of some of the products, such as cereal stalks and maize husk, could also be increased
significantly by urea treatment. There is a gradually increasing conservation and use of crop residues
and agro-industrial by-products for fattening small ruminants in the peri-urban areas. The success
of commercial cattle farms and peri-urban dairy production depends largely on ready availability of
large quantities of good quality and inexpensive feed. Procurement, handling and transportation of
crop residue and agro-industrial by-products would, however, interfere with the running of the farms.
It is therefore necessary that entrepreneurs are encouraged to take up the supply of such products as a
separate activity from food crop and livestock farming.

Stock water. On the whole, provision of stock water in the Savannah zones is not a problem in the rainy
season, but becomes a major constraint to ruminant production in the dry season. The shortage of water
causes livestock owners to trek cattle over long distances, causing hardship to both herders and their
animals. Since access to adequate water year-round is a pre-requisite to a successful livestock enterprise,
provision of simple water facilities in cattle rearing areas deficient in reliable water bodies will
undoubtedly improve the productivity (including milk yield) and health status of cattle in these areas.
18 Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile

7. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS AND

PERSONNEL
The Animal Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the Faculties
of Agriculture in the universities are the main institutions dealing with pasture and range research. The
Ministry of Food and Agriculture undertakes implementation of range improvement programmes and
extension services in pasture development. The institutions and key personnel involved in pasture and
range research and development are:

Ministry of Food and Agriculture,

P. O. Box AN 5779, Accra-North.
Fax: +233 21 670274.
E-mail: apd@ghana.com
Dr. K. Oppong-Anane, Head, Forage and Range Unit: Forage/pasture development, range rehabilitation.
Mr. Michael Asomani-Adem, Senior Animal Husbandry Officer: Stylosanthes agronomy.

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research

Dr. W. S. Alhassan, Director General: Ruminant nutrition, Forage utilization

Animal Research Institute,

P. O. Box 360, Achimota.
Fax: +233 21 511588.
E-mail: ari@africaonline.com.gh
Dr. J. K. Adu, Principal Research Officer: Soil science, Forage agronomy
Mr. Addo-Kwafo, Research Officer: Forage agronomy
Dr. K. Karbo, Senior Research Officer: Forage utilization, pasture rehabilitation
Mr. C. Domozoro, Research officer: Forage agronomy

Institute of Renewable Resources,

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.
Fax: +233 051 60357
E-mail: sko86@hotmail.com
Dr. S. K. Oppong, Lecturer: Range management:

Faculty of Agriculture,
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.
Fax: + 233 21 60326
E-mail:agricfac@africaonline.com.gh
Mr. Stephen Duku, Research officer (Crop science): Forage agronomy.
Mrs. Stephanie Duku, Lecturer (Crop science): Forage agronomy; range management.
Dr. A. K. Tuah, Professor (Animal Science): Ruminant nutrition, forage utilization.

Department of Agricultural Education,

University College of Education, Mampong Campus, Mampong-Ashanti.
Fax: + 233 0561 22232
E-mail: gcentre@africaonline.com.gh
Dr. F. K. Fianu, Professor (Animal Science): Crop livestock integration, forage agronomy, range
management.

Faculty of Agriculture,
University of Ghana, Legon.
Fax: +233 5001680.
E-mail
Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile 19

Rev. Dr. K. Amaning-Kwarteng, Senior Lecturer: Ruminant nutrition, Forage utilization.

Dr. T. Adogla-Bessa, Research Officer: Browse conservation, range management

8. REFERENCES
African Development Bank. 2001. Ghana: Livestock Development Project. Project Preparation Report.
Abidjan.
Agrovets Consultancy. 1989. Livestock Study: Ghana. Preparation of the Medium-term agricultural
Development Programme. Accra.
Alhassan, W.S. and Barnes, P. 1993. Problems and prospects for forage improvement and utilization in
Ghana. Proc. XVII International Grassland Congress. New Zealand and Australia. pp. 499500.
Alhassan, W.S., Karbo, N. Aboe, P.A.T. and Oppong-Anane, K. 1999. Ghanas Savanna Rangelands:
Agro-ecology, current improvement and usage practices, research needs and sustainable criteria. National
Agricultural Research Project. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Accra, Ghana.
Barnes and Alhassan, W.S,P. 1993. Status of forage seed production in Ghana. Proc. XVII International
Grassland Congress. New Zealand and Australia. pp. 17581759.
Benneh, G., Agyepong, G.T. and Allotey, J.A. 1990. Land degradation in Ghana. Food Production and
Rural Development Division. Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House. Pall Mall. London.
Boateng, E. 1998. Proceedings of workshop on land use planning. FAO Land Use Planning Project. TCP/
GHA/6715/A.
Dickson, K.B. and Benneh, G. 1988. A new geography of Ghana. Longman Group UK Limited. Longman
House, Burnt Mill,harlow, Essex, England.
Fianu, F.K., Addai, P.C. and Adjorlolo. 1994. Sheep rearing under tree crop plantation in Ghanas forest
zone: Problems and prospects. In: Lebbie, S.H.B. and Kagwini, E. (eds). Small Ruminant Research and
Development in Africa. Proceedings of the Third Biennial Conference of the African Small Ruminant
Research Network. UICC. Kampala, Uganda. 59 December 1994. International Livestock Research
Institute, Nairobi, Kenya. pp. 8781.
Fianu, F.K., Fialor, S.C., Asante Mensah, S. 2001. Commercialisation channels of distribution of forage
seeds in Ghana. Consultancy Report. UK Department for International Development/Ministry of Food and
Agriculture. Accra. Ghana.
Hutchinson, R.A. 1962. Stock methods of animal husbandry. . In: J. Brian Wills (ed). Agriculture and land
use in Ghana. Oxford University Press, London. pp 425436.
LPIU (Livestock Planning and Information Unit). 1999. Analysis of meat and animal products imports.
Occasional Report No. 8. Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Accra, Ghana.
MoFA (Ministry of Food and Agriculture) 1998. National soil fertility management action plan. Directorate
of Crop Services. Accra. Ghana.
MoFA 1990. Ghana Medium Term Agricultural Development program (MTADP). An agenda for sustained
agricultural growth and development (1991-2000) Accra. Ghana.
Okanta, S.A. 1992. Partial milking of cattle in smallholder herd in the Accra Plains: some factors affecting
daily partial milking yield and milk composition. Animal Production. 54: 1521.
Rose-Innes, R. 1962. Grasslands, pastures and fodder production. In: J. Brian Wills (ed). Agriculture and
land use in Ghana. Oxford University Press, London. pp.416424.
Statistics, Research and Information Directorate (SRID). 2001. Agriculture in Ghana. Facts and figures.
Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Accra. Ghana.
Veterinary Services Directorate, 2001. Livestock Census. Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Accra. Ghana.
20 Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile

9. CONTACTS

For information on forage production and range management

Prof. F. K. Fianu
Department of Agricultural Education, University College of Education, Mampong-Ashanti.
Fax: + 233 0561 22232

For information on Stylosanthes agronomy and utilization

Mr. Michael Asomani-Adem
Animal Production Directorate,
Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
P. O. Box AN 5779, Accra-North.
Fax: +233 21 670274

For information on forage utilization and rehabilitation of natural pastures.

Dr. K. Karbo,
Animal Research Institute,
P. O. Box 360, Achimota.
Fax: +233 21 511588

This profile was prepared by Dr. Kwame Oppong-Anane who is a Deputy Director of Animal Production
and Head of Forage and Range Unit.
Animal Production Directorate
Ministry of Food and Agriculture
P. O. Box AN 5779
Accra North
Ghana
Fax: + 233 21 670274
E-mail: koanane2000.yahoo.com.

This profile was written in August 2001 by Dr. Kwame Oppong-Anane who also will undertake periodic
updating.

[Editing was undertaken by J.M Suttie and S.G. Reynolds and in August 2006 some minor changes were
made by S.G. Reynolds including the updating of Table 3.]