Population and Land Use, Cover Dynamics in the Volta River Basin of Ghana

Download or read book Population and Land Use, Cover Dynamics in the Volta River Basin of Ghana written by Samuel Nii Ardey Codjoe and published by Cuvillier Verlag. This book was released on 2004 with total page 197 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The study assesses effects of population growth on agricultural land and forest in the Volta River Basin of Ghana. Most districts of the research area are experiencing shortfalls in land suitable for agriculture and deforestation. The number of farm holdings is decreasing and practice of fallow lands (last consequences of the former shifting cultivation) is also vanishing. Although households are wealthier due to new sources of off-farm income, the use of tractor, inorganic fertilizer and improved seed variety for farming is still low due to high costs. On deforestation, increases in fuel wood use and agricultural extensification are the major causes.