The Agriculture Research Station (ARS) – Anwomaso, about 10 kilometers from the main University campus has a total land area of 554.492 hectares (ha) (1,386.23ac) of extensive arable land suitable for livestock/crop production, as well as fish farming, of which less than 10% of the total land area is developed into the Station’s oil palm and citrus plantations. It shares boundaries with the following settlements – Anwomaso, Domiabra, Kwamo, Fumesua and Bebre.

Activities:

The activities of the Station over the period included:-

• Research
• Plantation development and arable crop production.
• Extension and  Community services
• Establishment of Forage and Weeds museum
• Briefing visiting students to the Station

Research:

Research being undertaken at the Station include:-

• Integration of pastures and small ruminants in oil palm plantations
• Performance of various forage species in the semi deciduous forest zone of Ghana
• Tolerance of forage species to oil palm canopy cover.

Plantation Development and Arable Crop Production:

The Station established an oil palm nursery from which transplantable seedlings were used to fill vacant spaces of the replanted 4 ha (10 ac) field and for establishment of new over grown fields. Other activities during the period included maintenance of the nursery, oil palm and citrus plantations, harvesting of farm produce and vegetable production.

Extension and Community Service:

The Station continued to sell farm produce (main income earner of the Station) viz oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB), citrus fruits, maize and vegetables to the University community, the Animal Science Department, St Louis Girls’ High School, the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and resident communities around the Station. Some farmers interested in oil palm cultivation visited the station for some advice on the cultivation of the crop.  

The second year regular students (2009/2010 group) of Faculty of Agriculture, visited the Station in one of the practical periods to observe and study the various forage species (legumes and grasses) established in the Forage and weeds museum at the Station.

Problems/Challenges:

The Station continues to operate without the basic facilities viz: a residential and office accommodation, electricity, water and therefore continues to use an old zinc shed, the only structure available for an office, changing room for workers and students, as well as a store for records, farm inputs and implements. Other setbacks include the following:-

• Aging labour force,
• Non-replacement of retired employees
• Inability to attract casual labour due to low minimum wage rate compared to private rate
• Annual bush fires in the dry seasons resulting in the slow development and low yield of palms.
• Degradation of arable land due to sand winning activities.