Gomoa Ankamu (C/R), March 7, GNA - The Acting Gomoa District Chief Executive, Ms Joyce Aidoo has advised farmers and fishermen to take advantage of other income generating ventures to sustain themselves during the lean season.

She said ventures such as mushroom production and grass-cutter and snail rearing could be sources of additional income to strengthen their financial position.

The Acting DCE was opening a three-day course on mushroom production at Gomoa Ankamu near Apam in the Central Region on Friday. The course was organised by the Women and Youth Development Association (WOYODA) an NGO. The acting DCE identified poverty reduction, HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancies and rural-urban migration as the greatest challenges of the people.

She stressed the need to equip the youth with skills and commended organisations that had taken the initiative to empower them through training and pledged the support of the Assembly to those who would enter mushroom production.

Mr Francis Tandoh, Vice Chairman of the Board of the Gomoa Rural Bank at Apam, said the bank had decided to support various poverty reduction programmes in the area but advised the people to pay back loans promptly.

Alhaji Moro Usman Fukuyama, Executive Secretary of WOYODA said the organisation had decided to establish a market complex and an agro-processing centre to assist the youth to market their products. He appealed to donor agencies, the District Assembly and financial institutions to help the organisation to achieve its aims.