The government is taking measures to set up three agro industries and smock factory in the Northern Region to reduce unemployment and curb the rural-urban drift.

The industries would also reduce poverty in the country, particularly in the rural areas.

Mr Sam Akati Mahama, the Bole District Chief Executive (DCE), said this when the Northern Regional Executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), paid a familiarization visit to Sawla, Bole and Damongo constituencies in the Northern Region.

The executives, who were led by Alhaji Salifu Abduramani, the Regional Chairman of the party, was to enable the party officials to acquaint themselves with problems affecting the NPP in the region.

Mr Mahama said the Bole District Assembly was developing proposals to harness resources for a number of productive ventures in the district.

He said the District was collaborating with the Social Investment Fund (SIF) to establish shea-butter extraction factories for women groups in the area.

Mr Mahama said the Northern Region was endowed with natural resources including shea-nut and cashew adding that the establishment of agro-industries would offer employment to the people to improve their living conditions.

He said the industries would be established in Bole, West Gonja and Yendi Districts and gave the assurance that the government would set up more industries and factories in the North in future.

The DCE said even though the Northern Region is perceived as poor it possesses a very rich culture and human resources that could be exploited to uplift the living standards of the people.

He said the Bole District produces cassava, shea-nut, cashew and smocks.

"The only thing left is to boost creativity and technical expertise to harness and exploit these resources to the advantage of the people".

Mr Mahama said the District was also developing proposals to establish a factory for the production of starch while it would explore the possibility of entering into joint partnership with the West Gonja District Assembly for the setting up a factory for the production of smock.