Question

urbanization scheme of the government and its impact on agriculture

Answer 1

Answer:

The twin pressures of rapid urbanisation and a fast growing population have wreaked havoc on

agricultural land relations and land management in Tamale. A major problem of rapid urban

growth is changing land use patterns. The general characteristics of rapid urbanization

experienced by most sub-Saharan countries, such as Ghana are rampant changes in land and

building uses [1]. Growth in urban population goes with no equivalent growth in land supply [2].

Land is fixed in supply and does not increase with increasing population growth. The pressure

exerted by increases in population and rapid urbanisation deprive other sectors of the needed

land. Agricultural lands are most affected by rapid urbanization and its functions of demand.

Land uses for residential, industry and commercial, civic and culture tend to dominate

agricultural lands in the bid for space in the urban place. This dominance tends to deprive

farmers of arable land to cultivate thereby reducing agricultural productivity. There is a clear

depiction of this situation in the Tamale metropolis and its trajectory areas.

In Ghana, over 60% of the populations are involved in agriculture as a major source of

employment to the populace. Depriving the sector of land therefore brings an increase in the

unemployment rate. In the urban areas, the cumulative effect of succession and dominance

factors have made land increasingly scarce for peri-urban farmers. Rapid urbanization has

adversely affected development efforts in many cities. One of these is changes in land use

subsequently leading to decreased agricultural land in favour of the provision of residential

accommodation in most urban settlements. This is reflected in the form of dormitory and satellite

towns that are being developed in the urban peripheries which were agricultural lands in the

urban setting. The key challenge of the urbanization process is the rapid conversion of large

amount of prime agricultural land to urban land uses (mostly residential construction), in the

urban periphery. The effect is the unavailability of prime agricultural lands. The consequence is

low agricultural productivity, low standard of living and food insecurity. With an annual growth

of about 2.4 million people, Ghana’s population is constantly on the increase.

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