Charles Adu-Anning 265
Figure 1. Map of the study areaSource: ESRI Data and Maps 2002.on rattan exploitation. The discussion with Forest Service Division officials
focussed mainly on regulations, taxes and the control of illegal activities.
Additional discussions with personnel of the Ghana Export Promotion Council
involved an assessment of the export potential of rattan products, business
assistance and tax concessions for producers.RAW MATERIAL PRODUCTION AREA
The raw material production areas are located in the south-western part of
Ghana, in the ‘wet’ and ‘moist evergreen’ forest types (Foggie 1941; Hall and
Swaine 1976). The annual rainfall of between 1,800 mm and 2,200 mm is the
highest in Ghana (Quarshie-Sam et al. 1990). The soils are predominantly
oxysols, few parts having a combination of oxysol and ochrosol. Hence these
soils are highly acidic and poor in nutrients because of excessive leaching
(Hall and Swaine 1976). The major occupation of the majority of the people of
the area is farming, on both subsistence and commercial scales. Only 60% of
the villages in the region have some form of access roads from the production
sites to the marketing centres.Harvesting of canes rattans
Rattan is harvested mainly from disturbed forest reserves, fallow lands and
community forests. Collection for commercial purposes is undertaken15Rattan.p65 265 22/12/2004, 11:05