Why is Ghana’s forest region important for agriculture?

Ghana’s forest region is vital to the country’s agricultural sector for several key reasons:

• Economic Output: The region is the primary source of Ghana’s most significant export crops, most notably cacao, as well as timber and various minor cash crops.12
• Food Security: A large portion of the foodstuffs consumed domestically in Ghana is produced within the forest zone.2
• Soil Quality: The forest zone contains relatively fertile soils, such as ochrosols, which are considered among the best in the country for agricultural purposes.3
• Productivity: The environment supports permanent cultivation, particularly for tree crops like cacao, which has been a staple of the region's economy since its introduction in 1879.2

Because the region's soils are intrinsically low in nutrients, they rely heavily on the humus provided by the natural vegetation cover. Consequently, maintaining this delicate balance is essential, as the land's fertility can be easily compromised by overuse or uncontrolled burning.3