Agricultural policy in northern Ghana during the colonial era

bibliographic database
Line

Periodical article

Title:	Agricultural policy in northern Ghana during the colonial era
Author:	Der, B.G.
Year:	1979
Periodical:	Universitas
Volume:	8
Pages:	3-18
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Ghana Great Britain
Subjects:	colonialism agricultural policy
Abstract:	In the years before 1930 the British colonial administration had no definite agricultural policy for the Northern Territories (Ghana). What interest was taken in agriculture in the area arose from the activities of the British Cotton Growing Association which tried to introduce commercial farming into the North. With the advent of indirect rule or native administration, mixed farming, based on implemental tillage and the use of animal power, was adopted as the major means of improving agriculture and animal health in Northern Ghana. The policy aimed at replacing the traditional methods and implements of tillage by the plough and the use of farmyard manure. In this the colonial policy failed, amongst others because of the economics of the scheme (the average farmer could not afford the capital cost of a mixed farmer's equipment), a shortage of ploughs and bulls, the lack of water supplies, and the fact that the Department of Agriculture tended to concentrate its attention almost exclusively on the northeastern areas. Ref.