POPULATION GROWTH, LAND SCARCITY AND COMPETITIVE USE IN THE BONGO DISTRICT

Rapid population growth and low economic standards of living have had consequences for agricultural land resources in Ghana. Land shortage and poverty taken together lead to non-sustainable management practices which contribute to the direct causes of land degradation. Land degradation in turn contributes to low and declining agricultural productivity which also contributes to the continuing or worsening poverty levels in Ghana. The Bongo District of the Upper East Region is no exception. The focus of this study is "Population Growth, Land Scarcity and Competitive Use in the Bongo District". Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) Tools were used in data collection and analyses. These tools included Focus Group Discussions, Observations, Interviews and Questionnaires among others. The information was collected from major stakeholders such as land users, Chiefs, Tindanas (land priests), Herbalists and Organizations interested in and working in the area of natural resource management. Also, secondary data from Government agencies as well as information from the Internet, journals and books that were relevant to the study were used. The results revealed that the causes of land degradation in the Bongo District include continuous cropping, soil erosion and climate change. Indicators cited as evidence of land degradation were those that directly affected the yield components of land users - reduced crop yield, soil infertility, and soil erosion. The underlying causes mentioned included poverty, human population growth as well as ignorance and inadequate environmental education. The resulting effects however were loss of productive lands, reduced yields, and increased cost reduced vegetation and drought. Respondents suggested strategies for the management of land degradation and these included: cultivation along contours, stone bunding, tree planting, environmental education and the provision of agricultural inputs by Government.