Breman Ayipey, (C/R), June 18, GNA- A two-day workshop has been organised for 100 farmers in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District to be trained in bee-keeping and vegetable production under the Self Training Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)

The farmers were registered in November, 2003 by the Ministry of Manpower Development and Employment in the four communities under the STEP at Breman Ayipey, Breman Kuntanase, Baako and Nwomanso In an address, Mr Sampson Anfako, the District Chief Executive, said the government has found it proper to create jobs not only for the people in the urban centres but those also in the rural areas to improve their standard of living.

He said the government has earmarked enough funds for farmers after the training to start business.

Mr Anfako regretted that when the Ministry of Manpower Development and Employment opened the registration for the unemployed, some farmers also wrote their names whereas they could make use of idle land lying fallow. He dismissed the erroneous impression that farming is not lucrative and that it is meant for school dropouts.

He urged the youth in the district not to dissipate their energies on unprofitable ventures but rather take advantage of opportunity given them by the government to do something to earn a better living. Mr Anfako said the district assembly has put in place plans to train people in mushroom, snail, and grass-cutter farming.

He cautioned the youth who are not married to abstain from sex to avoid contracting the HIV/AIDS.

Nana Kofi Agyei, Regent of Breman Ayipey commended the government, for making the STEP programme a reality.

He urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously and improve their living conditions.

Dr Evans Lawson, Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District Director of Agriculture urged farmers to form groups so that they could source assistance from financial institutions

He assured vegetable growers that extension officers would offer them the needed assistance on modern farming methods so that they could increase production.

Dr Lawson said the Ministry of Agriculture has designed more varieties of vegetables and urged the beneficiaries to seek advise from the Ministry after the training. 18 June 04